Nintendo Co, the Japanese company behind Mario, posted 14 percent higher profits for the first fiscal half compared to a year ago on strong sales of video games for the portable Game Boy and the revamped Game Boy Advance.
For the six months ended in September, Nintendo posted a net group profit of Japan yen 34 billion (US$276 million), up from Japan yen 30 billion in the same period a year ago. Its first fiscal half revenue climbed more than 18 percent to Japan yen 225.7 billion (US$1.8 billion) from Japan yen 190.6 billion last year.
Of Nintendo's first-half revenue, 72 percent came from overseas earnings on strong sales of the Game Boy Advance as well as game software for its earlier portable machine, Game Boy Color.
Game Boy Advance sold well in all major regions, including Japan, Europe and the US, Nintendo said. The GameCube, which went on sale in September in Japan and in November in the US, also helped boost revenue, it said.
The weaker yen, which lifts the value of overseas earnings of exporters when converted into yen, and the recent plunging purchasing costs for electronic parts also helped Nintendo's earnings.
While acknowledging uncertainties about consumer spending after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Nintendo, based in the western city of Kyoto, remained upbeat that games in the works that will link the GameCube with Game Boy Advance will continue to raise revenue.
For the full fiscal year ending in March next year, Nintendo is forecasting a profit of Japan yen 80 billion (US$649 million) on revenue totaling Japan yen 580 billion (US$4.7 million). In the previous fiscal year, it recorded a Japan yen 97 billion profit on Japan yen 462 billion of revenue. In Tokyo trading, which ended before Nintendo announced its earnings, Nintendo shares fell 0.7 percent to finish at Japan Yen 21,280 (US$173) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
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