Sometimes we lose perspective on just how crazy-big this whole video game thing is. Fortunately, Nintendo set us straight with some jaw-dropping figures from its 2013 annual report.
Since it released the Famicom in 1983, Nintendo has sold 269 million home consoles. Since it shipped the Game Boy in 1989, it has sold 385 million handheld consoles.
That's enough to put 1.2 portable Nintendo systems in every U.S. citizens' pocket.
Now for the games: Nintendo has sold 2.2 billion home system games since it launched the Famicom, and 1.9 billion portable games since it launched the Game Boy.
That's 4.1 billion games in 30 years--almost 260 games sold per minute. Wow.
We're getting kind of lost in space, here. Bring us back to the present, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata:
"Nintendo posted an operating loss for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013," Iwata said in the yearly report. "However, we strive to regain 'Nintendo-like' profits for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2014 by providing many people with fascinating games and services. We continue to make brand-new and unique proposals, and make efforts for the growth of the home entertainment industry with a mission that is to pleasantly surprise people and put smiles on the faces of everyone Nintendo touches."
