500,000 sales in the first weekend

Nintendo has today announced that the new Pok?mon games, Pok?mon Ruby and Pok?mon Sapphire, have achieved fantastic sales across Europe, selling over 500,000 games during the first weekend.

The launch on Friday 25th July of the highly anticipated games, Pok?mon Ruby and Pok?mon Sapphire, has already increased Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Advance SP hardware sales by an amazing 50% across Europe.
Since hitting shops across Europe Pok?mon Ruby and Pok?mon Sapphire have been literally flying off shelves as consumers snap up the games that have been tipped as the ‘must have’ titles for kids this summer. Retailers across Europe are selling out so quickly that they have already begun reordering copies of the games.

David Gosen, managing director, sales and marketing for Nintendo of Europe comments: “Pok?mon Ruby and Pok?mon Sapphire have enjoyed immediate success in America, Japan and now across Europe too.
Pok?mon has been incredibly popular since it was originally launched in Japan in 1996 with 110 million games sold worldwide to date. The success of the video game has also been emulated by a merchandising campaign that has generated over $15 billion in retail sales to date. We are very pleased that the Pok?mon phenomenon continues to bring enjoyment to so many kids across Europe.”
Pok?mon Ruby and Pok?mon Sapphire launched on 25th July 2003 priced at around 45 Euros each.

Click onto http://pokemon.nintendo.co.uk for all of the most up to date official information on Pok?mon Ruby & Pok?mon Sapphire.

-ends-

For Further Information please contact …
Lloyd Major or Andrew Muir
0207 307 3103
The Pok?mon Company UK Representative Office, based in London, UK, manages and oversees the Pok?mon franchise in UK, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, which includes licensing, merchandising, TV animation, theatrical releases, home video entertainment and publication. Pok?mon was launched in Japan in 1996 for the Game Boy?, the world’s best-selling video game system. The Pok?mon franchise is now a worldwide phenomenon. Since Pok?mon was first introduced into Europe in October 1999, 24.6 million Pok?mon video games have been sold across Europe, making it the fastest selling video games ever. Pok?mon merchandise has generated over $15 billion in worldwide retail sales to date. The Animated series is broadcast in more than 68 countries. The trading card game, fuelled by organized play programs in 47 countries, has spurred global sales of 13 billion cards to date.
Nintendo Co., Ltd. of Kyoto, Japan, is the acknowledged worldwide leader in the creation of interactive entertainment. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 1.7 billion video games worldwide, created such industry icons as Mario? and Donkey Kong and launched franchises like The Legend of Zelda? and Pok?monTM. Nintendo manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems, including the Nintendo 64, NINTENDO GAMECUBE, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy – the world’s best-selling video game system which has sold over 150 million units. As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in Europe.