The Nintendo DS has been around since the beginning of time… well, since 2004, which in the gaming world seems like the beginning of time. The one thing about this console is: IT KEEPS SELLING! Today marks the systems 50 Millionth console sold. All I can is, DAAAMMMMN. The Nintendo DS is the one console I know of that everyone who enjoys portable gaming seems to own. I certainly own one. In a portable gaming landscape that seems to be changing daily (iPhone 4 Steve) the Nintendo DS is still holding its own.

“The Nintendo DS forever changed the gaming landscape, and the fact that consumers continue to embrace the platform is a testament to its value and mass appeal,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive VP of sales and marketing. “Our handheld story continues with the Nintendo 3DS system, which just had its second consecutive month of growth and enters its first holiday season with a monster lineup of games, including Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.”

The fact the DS is still selling well could also be an indicator that gamers are hesitant to embrace the 3DS, which still has a somewhat poor lineup of games. Still, the price drop has worked in Nintendo’s favor, with 450,000 3DS units sold since the reduction on August 12, with 260,000 of those sold in September.

Software-wise, the 3DS version of Ocarina of Time became the first 3DS title to surpass 500,000 units sold in the U.S. Meanwhile, the DS has recorded over 273 million software units sold in total, equating to approximately 107,000 games per day for seven years. The DS also holds 24 of the top 25 and 43 of the top 50 best selling portable games in this handheld generation.

What does the future hold, though? Will the 3DS hit its stride and dominate the next generation, or will Vita take the crown? Or will both fall to the might of iOS?