With sales of a quarter of a million units in its first week of availability, Nintendogs is not only America's hottest-selling video game, but the best-selling new game franchise ever for a portable system.

Staci Says: Can I please have this game? I want it really bad.

REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 1 - Retailers already are reporting that Nintendogs, made exclusively for the hand-held Nintendo DS, has sold out in numerous locations across the country, and Nintendo will deliver more shipments as soon as possible. The three versions of Nintendogs and the DS unit itself consistently rank at the top of Amazon.com's best-selling list of all video game products.

"Nearly 15 percent of all DS owners bought Nintendogs in just a week, a virtually unprecedented adoption rate for any title on an established system," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales & marketing. "And it's also helping sell new DS hardware. Coupled with a price drop to $129.99, retailers are reporting DS sales up between one and a half and three times previous levels, and last week DS comfortably outsold our portable competitors."

Nintendogs lets owners train and care for lifelike puppies using the DS system's touch screen and microphone. It became a cultural phenomenon in Japan and launched in the United States on Aug. 22.

People who like traditional hard-core video games have plenty to enjoy as well. Retailers also report that the new Advance Wars: Dual Strike military strategy game for Nintendo DS has become one of Nintendo's top sellers.