THE GAME GUY
Nintendo tops list of big players
October 10, 2009
Marc Saltzman
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
All those gold coins Mario collects have added up nicely for Nintendo.
BusinessWeek magazine has just published its annual World's Best Companies list, and the Japanese gaming giant – responsible for the Nintendo DS, DSi and Wii – has earned the top spot in the "enterprise" category.
Based on sales growth and value creation over the past five years, BusinessWeek examined 2,500 publicly traded companies with a minimum of $10 billion (U.S.) in sales during 2008.
Nintendo's 2008 combined hardware and software sales were valued at $16.8 billion, even though supply of the Wii console had trouble keeping up with demand. These sales figures are 35.7 per cent greater compared to those in 2004, the year Nintendo struggled in the home market with lukewarm sales of its GameCube console. But it was also the year it launched the hand-held DS, which would go on to sell more than 100 million units worldwide.
Nintendo, however, isn't starting off its fiscal 2010 year on a good note, as the company recently announced revenues were down 40 per cent during its April-to-June quarter – likely due in part to the global economic recession.
Weight a minute: Tone those arms on any Wii game
Speaking of Nintendo, many gamers are well aware of the latest casual-gaming trend – "exer-gaming" – with a handful of fitness-themed titles, such as Nintendo's Wii Fit, Electronic Arts's EA Sports Active and Ubisoft's My Fitness Coach hitting the market.
But those who want to burn calories while playing any Wii game might want to consider a peripheral such as the Everlast Dumbbells from Company X Accessories (companyXacc.com).
Designed specifically for the Wii Remote, these $25 slip-on dumbbells add two pounds of weight to each wireless controller. You'll feel it after playing games for a half-hour or more. The Everlast Dumbbells allow for full use of all the buttons and leave room for the wrist strap, though it won't work with the Wii MotionPlus accessory.
Toronto Star