We're celebrating the DS' first birthday - it launched exactly one year ago today across America!

Although European gamers had to wait until March this year, one year ago today Nintendo debuted its new dual-screened system in the US and Canada, a Japanese launch following on the second of December.

Already we have seen some great software for handheld - including the smash hit Nintendogs, which have fuelled some amazing sales figures worldwide for both DS software and the unit itself. On top of that, Mario Kart has just launched in America, with its European launch now only four days away (stick with R-E, we've got some great launch celebrations planned).

It has been a great first year, but with the delights of Animal Crossing: Wild World, Metroid Prime: Hunters and the new Wi-Fi Connection, we think the system's second year will be even better than the first.