The Japanese manufacturer of video game consoles - Nintendo declared on Wednesday that the global sales of its popular handheld video game console Nintendo DS have crossed 100 million.

The company also claimed that its Nintendo DS achieved the milestone in 4 years and 3 months, the quickest pace for any video game console. So, Nintendo DS defeated Sony's PlayStation 2, which achieved the 100 million mark in five years and nine months.

In a statement, Kyoto-based Nintendo said that the worldwide sales of its Nintendo DS crossed 100 million on 6 March; the number aggregates the sales of the original DS, improved DS lite, and the third-generation Nintendo DSi.

According to Nintendo, the Nintendo DS, launched in 2004, was able to achieve the success maily due to the popularity of "brain-training" and other games titles, which really helped to expand customer base from core gamers to women and older people.

"We are hoping to be accepted and loved by everyone by delivering novel entertainment and surprises so that there will be not only a Nintendo for every household but a Nintendo for every person…We aim to shift from one machine for one family to one machine for one person," said Nintendo, which also produces the Wii console.

Nintendo's latest Nintendo DSi, with built-in cameras, went on sale in Japan in November. It is scheduled to be released in the United States in April. Meanwhile, Nintendo is also enjoying strong sales of it Wii console.