Who knew!? Software drives Hardware sales, 3DS sells more in its first nine months than Wii did. (Mostly in the last 3 though)

Super Mario 3D Land^™ and Mario Kart^™ 7 moved 3DS’s off of shelves and into hands this holiday season, when Nintendo finally got serious about releasing quality, original titles for its previously lack-luster 3DS.

Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing, no longer sweating in as many proverbial buckets over the less than stellar launch last spring, says “One of the strongest software lineups in our history helped Nintendo [to] have a great holiday season and to close 2011 with a full head of steam”. In a statement akin to telling all those haters out there that doubted to collectively eat one, Moffit says “Not only have the new Mario and Zelda titles already broken records, but with strong reviews and satisfied customers sharing their positive experiences, all three are also shaping up to be the latest long-tail titles from Nintendo.”

Nintendo sold more than 12 million total hardware units in the United States in 2011, marking the fifth year in a row that the company has accomplished that feat.

Everything is going according to plan.

Expect a strong 2012 with Mario Party^™, Pokémon^™ and Kid Icarus^™, as well as some other gems like a new Fire Emblem. Here’s hoping they pop out a new FF tactics and Advance Wars installment as well, and multiple Professor Layton installments.