Nintendo consoles break record

Sales of Nintendo’s Wii and DS consoles broke records last year, according to new figures.

The gaming company has announced that it sold 10.17 million units of its Wii console in the US during 2008, as well as 9.95 million units of the DS during the 12 months.

Both of the systems broke previous yearly unit sales records set by the DS in 2007, with the portable console also accounting for over 70 per cent of all handheld systems sales last year.

Cammie Dunaway, executive vice-president of sales and marketing for Nintendo, said the figures highlighted how "new people will start playing video games" if offered products that change the "definition of what a video game can be".

She added: "Concepts like Wii Fit, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band never would have seemed feasible just a few years ago, and now they’re driving growth for the entire industry."

THQ recently announced plans to launch SpongeBob Squarepants Frantic Fry Cook for the Nintendo DS in March.