Healthy first day sales for Game Boy Micro

Nintendo's diminutive new handheld, the Game Boy Micro, has sold better than expected - but not quite as well as the Game Boy Advance SP did at launch, according to retailers.

The GB Micro launched in Japan on Tuesday and one shop clerk told Reuters that 70 per cent of units were reserved before the new handheld went on sale. In contrast, all allocated GBA SP units were pre-ordered before the console launched back in 2003.

The GB Micro is priced at 12,000 yen (just under EURO 90) and comes in silver, purple, black and blue versions, along with a limited edition design based on the classic Famicom console.

"The orders have been going well," a spokesperson for leading electronics retailer Yamada Denki told Reuters.

"Especially, the Famicom colour version is really popular."

Nintendo has previously stated that it aims to sell 10.2 million Game Boy Advance units, including 4 million Game Boy Micros, by the end of the financial year.

The GB Micro will launch in the US on September 19, priced USD 99. A European release will follow on November 4, when consumers will be able to choose from silver, pink, green and blue units priced at EURO 99 each.