REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 9, 2004 � Shoppers eager to find the new Nintendo DS� can rejoice � at least for the time being. Nintendo today announced it will increase total shipments of Nintendo DS to North America by 40 percent, to 1.4 million systems before the end of the year. Due to the system's popularity, many retail stores across the country are reporting shortages, and the initial batch of 500,000 units all but sold out a week after Nintendo DS launched on Nov. 21.

To date, North American retail sales have reached 700,000. In addition, sales of Nintendo DS in Japan exceeded half a million systems in just four days after launch on Dec. 2, meaning more than 1.2 million Nintendo DS systems have sold through worldwide.

"Nintendo is doing everything it can to make Nintendo DS attainable for the holidays," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "The enthusiastic response from shoppers has made Nintendo DS 'must-have' � and we're determined to make it 'will have.' "

With its touch screen, wireless communication and voice recognition abilities, the dual-screened Nintendo DS offers video game fans innovative new ways to play. Each unit, available now at an MSRP of $149.99, comes with an embedded communication program called PictoChat�, as well as a demo version of Metroid� Prime Hunters that features both single- and multiplayer action.

The worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home and portable video game systems. Each year, hundreds of all-new titles for the best-selling Game Boy� Advance SP, Nintendo DS� and Nintendo GameCube� systems extend Nintendo's vast game library and continue the tradition of delivering a rich, diverse mix of quality video games for players of all ages. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.9 billion video games and more than 336 million hardware units globally, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario� and Donkey Kong� and launching popular culture franchise phenomena such as Metroid�, Zelda� and Pokémon�. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere.

For more information about Nintendo, visit the company's Web site at www.nintendo.com.