3DS sells more in first 9 months than Wii did

The 3DS sold more in its first nine months than Wii did in the US, Nintendo has announced.

Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 are the fastest-selling games in the history of their franchises. They are the first 3DS games to sell one million units each in the US.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the 45th Wii game to sell more than one million in the US.

In the US, Nintendo ended 2011 with more than 12 million total hardware unit sales. More than 4.5 million units of Wii, more than 4 million units of 3DS, which went on sale in March 2011, and more than 3.4 million units of the DS family of systems were sold.

The Wii now enjoys an installed base of 39 million in the US. The DS, 51 million.

Nintendo said today Mario Party, Pokemon, Kid Icarus, Resident Evil: Revelations and Metal Gear Solid 3D Snake Eater should ensure the 3DS continues to sell well in 2012.

“One of the strongest software line-ups in our history helped Nintendo have a great holiday season and to close 2011 with a full head of steam,” Nintendo of America sales and marketing executive Scott Moffitt said.

“Not only have the new Mario and Zelda titles already broken records, but with strong reviews and satisfied customers sharing their positive experiences, all three are also shaping up to be the latest long-tail titles from Nintendo.

“Couple that with a massive first- and third party line-up in the first part of the year and the prospects for 2012 are extremely promising.”