Nintendo profits fall on slowing Wii sales

Nintendo has reported a fall in annual profits for the first time in four years after demand for its Wii console slowed.

Operating profit fell by 36% to 356.57bn yen ($3.8bn; £2.5bn) in the year to 31 March.

The firm said it expected to sell 18 million Wiis in the year to March 2011, down from 20.53 million this year.

However, it said it was optimistic that sales of its DS hand-held games console would be stronger in 2011.

Analysts say that increased competition from Sony's Playstation and Microsoft's Xbox consoles have put pressure onto Nintendo.

Earlier this year, Nintendo said it was planning a 3D version of the DS console. It is expected to be available later this year or in early 2011.

The move was a response to the whirlwind of attention being given to 3D content and devices.

Rival Sony plans to launch 3D games and TVs later this year.