N64 ON TOP?
April 20, 2000

The Nintendo 64 is America's top-selling home video game console, thanks to the introduction of the "Funtastic" series of transparent, brightly colored systems, and the demand for the country's top-selling video game, Pokemon Stadium.

According to independent weekly sales data from the NPD Group, the Nintendo 64 captured 46 percent of all console sales in America since the March 6 launch of the "Funtastic" series of systems, as compared to 43 percent for the Sony PlayStation, and 11 percent for the Sega Dreamcast. Nintendo also had the top-selling console and handheld games.

"During March, sales of the Nintendo 64 jumped 30 percent from the same month a year ago, while those of our nearest competitor plunged 32 percent," says Peter Main, Nintendo of America's executive vice president, sales and marketing. "It's a vindication of our corporate mandate to continue supplying our customers with even more fun for their Nintendo systems."

The popularity of Pokemon was reflected in March TRSTS sales data, showing Pokemon Stadium as the top-selling game for the month, outpacing the next most popular game by more than 70 percent. The Yellow, Blue, and Red versions for Game Boy claimed the third, fifth, and sixth top-selling spots respectively for all games.

In the last month, roughly 50 percent of all Nintendo 64 systems sold were in 'Funtastic' colors of Smoke, Ice, Watermelon, Grape, Jungle, and Fire, with Ice (blue) the most popular. The Atomic Purple N64 bundle rounded out the hardware sales.

The strong showing for both the N64 and Game Boy Color in March concludes the most successful fiscal year in history for Nintendo of America (ending 3/31/2000). Overall, the company had a relatively slow year as releases got fewer and further inbetween, but the popularity of Pokemon boosted sales.