Nintendo is having trouble planning for the coming months because of shortages of its Wii video game console, a top US executive admitted last night.
"The level of demand we are facing complicates all of our future business planning," Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, said. "All of that becomes a much tougher exercise until we have supply and demand curves that intersect."
The DS has been the best-selling piece of gaming hardware this year, moving 1.5 million units in November, according to market research firm NPD.
Nintendo, which is striving to meet Wii demand more than a year after the machine first went on sale, is also trying to discourage the practice of bundling the consoles with extra games or accessories and selling it for a higher price.
A Wii by itself sells for $250 - cheaper than Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3 - but some retailers have offered bundles priced for double that price.