Nintendo's latest half-year earnings show a net loss of $25m; the first loss in ovrer seven years...

Nintendo's earnings for the six months leading up to September showed a net loss of just over 2 billion yen ($25 million). Sales fell by over 33 percent to 363.2 billion yen. In the same period a year ago, the company enjoyed a net profit of almost 70 billion yen. However, Nintendo still forecasts a full-year net profit of 90 billion yen.

The slump is attributed to a number of factors, including an unusually strong yen - up to a fifteen year high against the dollar - and waning sales of the Wii and DS consoles, most likely due to a relative lack of system-selling software.

The company's yearly earnings will also no doubt be affected by the delayed release of the 3DS, now set to miss the holiday period across the world.