According to the independent NPD Group, the Wii’s 435,503 sales were 70 per cent higher than any other new video game system in its first January of availability during the last 10 years.

In addition, the Nintendo DS handheld console once again triumphed as the top-selling portable system, with nearly 239,000 hardware and more than 2.4 million software units sold.

In combination, Nintendo game systems accounted for 46 per cent of the total market.

That figure shouldn't be too surprising to those keeping a close eye on the market, as the console sold one system every second when it launched in the UK.

“The continuing success of Wii and DS demonstrates that the public has embraced Nintendo's philosophy of entertaining current gamers in new ways, and expanding gaming for the masses,” said a Nintendo statement.

“Four of the top 10 best-selling games in January were for Nintendo systems, both home and portable.”

Nintendo said the only limit on its success is the availability of Wii and DS systems, which continue to sell out as fast as the company can ship them.