Super Smash Bros. helps boost Nintendo's bottom line

Nintendo has reported a swing to profits during the last quarter, thanks in part to the success of Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS. During the second quarter of the current fiscal year, the release of Smash Bros. in Japan, and the continued steady sales of Tomodachi Life, helped Nintendo make up for its lousy first quarter. The company noted that 2.09 million Nintendo 3DS units have been sold during this fiscal year, while the Nintendo Wii U has sold 1.12 million units during this fiscal year -- that's 610,000 sold during the last three months, up from 510,000 sold in the previous quarter. Mario Kart 8 is still showing steady sales, says Nintendo, while Hyrule Warriors "has gained popularity." Nintendo has now sold 7.29 million Wii U units worldwide to date, and 45.42 million Nintendo 3DS units. As a result, for the six months ended September 30, Nintendo reported revenues of 171.4 billion yen ($1.6 billion), down 12.8 percent year-over-year, and profits of 14.3 billion yen ($132.3 million), up 23.4 percent year-over-year. Analysts described the results as "a much need boost during a very difficult period for Nintendo," although Jon Copestake at The Economist Intelligence Unit noted that Nintendo's current strategy "reflects a degree of reliance on flagship games to support console shipments, which may be difficult to sustain in the longer term."