In a triumph for innovation, the dual-screen Nintendo DS portable became America's top-selling video game system of any type in June, according to independent sales numbers just released by the NPD Group. The introduction of the new DS Lite version, featuring a smaller profile and more brilliant display, boosted total sales to nearly 600,000 units, almost double that for any other game device, and alone represented more than a third of total industry system purchases for the month.

"Nintendo DS is the only game system available a year ago that showed growth over the same period, and it did so in overwhelming fashion, with a leap of 426 percent," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "What we're seeing is realization of our promise that Nintendo will bring gaming to the masses-whatever your taste or level of experience, we've got a system and a game for you."