Nintendo is ramping up production of its next-generation Wii game-console, indicating that the firm should meet its expected shipment dates for this year.

The Japanese firm built 2 million of its Wii consoles in the third quarter according to UBS's semiconductor analyst Alex Guana. In a note to clients on Thursday, Guana also stated that 7 to 9 million are expected to be built in the fourth quarter of 2006, putting the firm ahead of its 6 million unit production goal.

The Wii will feature motion sensing controllers and online game play capabilities.

The new console goes on sale in November in the U.S. It hits Japanese stores in early December.

Nintendo