Nintendo Cheered Thanks to Glowing 2003

NPD Group’s Funworld report has shown that despite having a tough first half with sluggish GameCube sales, Nintendo managed a bumper year across its range in North America.

The best selling console games of 2003 in the region break down as:

1. Madden NFL 2004 (PS2, EA)
2. Pokemon Ruby (GBA, Nintendo)
3. Pokemon Sapphire (GBA, Nintendo)
4. Need for Speed: Underground (PS2, EA)
5. Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GC, Nintendo)
6. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (PS2, Rockstar)
7. Mario Kart: Double Dash (GC, Nintendo)
8. Tony Hawk Underground (PS2, Activision)
9. Enter the Matrix (PS2, Atari)
10. Medal of Honor Rising Sun (PS2, EA)

Four of the top seven spots are occupied by a Nintendo-published game, including the late-rallying Pokemon duo of Ruby and Sapphire.

In its press release on the subject, Nintendo also points out the following, undoubtedly a retort to disastrous financial reports filed last year, which saw two-decade record lows for the Kyoto giant.

“Game Boy Advance was the best-selling system in 2003 with 8.1 million units sold. GameCube was the fastest-growing system in 2003 with 40% unit sales increase over the prior year (compared to a 25% decline for PS2 and flat sales of Xbox). GameCube was the fastest-growing "game seller" in 2003 with a 77% increase over 2002. Number-one sales growth in 2003: corporate retail revenues increased 16% over 2002. And number-one landmark: Game Boy Advance sold its 20 millionth system in the US in 2003”.

So there!