wait does the OP even have a 3DS?

I'm quite happy that Dark Moon is getting the recognition it deserves.

Just goes to show what software does for selling hardware. The Wii U is going to see a similar revival with regards to sales later this year when the likes of Wii Fit, Pikmin 3, The Wonderful 101, Wind Waker HD, 3D Mario and Mario Kart 8 are released.

People tend to forget that Nintendo have only released two titles so far.

I think we're also going to hear a Megaton or two being announced from third parties around E3 for the Wii U.

Personally I think this is more telling -- weekly 3DS hardware sales in America, 2012 vs 2013:

I think you can guess when Luigi's Mansion 2 was released relative to this chart.

I was wondering that too. Lol.

On topic, the scary part is, Pokemon isn't even out yet for the 3DS. This handheld could very well make the DS feel like the PS1 and itself the PS2.

I'm actually really surprised by the success of LM Dark Moon and Lego City for 3DS...
It does seem to be Luigi's Mandion that's really made the difference for the 3DS...
Having seen a fair amount of commercials for The Chase Begins and DKCR3D, I assume we will see similar numbers for the time being...
I wonder how games like Kid Icarus and Kingdom Hearts 3D will sell now with a bigger audience...
This topic reminds me that I have to pick up Dark Moon and SMT Soul Hackers...

It would be a great idea, it could show Luigi's Adventures during TTYD, in TTYD itself luigi appears telling us about lots of stories, so the game could focus in that!

Is 3DS still tracking ahead of DS in the same timeframe?

I don't think you can give all the credit to Luigi. Nintendo has done several things to increase momentum in the West, also other developers have taken ahold of the 3DS and started to treat it as it should. (Releasing more and better games.)

I also don't get why people dislike your threads, still. You've recently had quite fleshed out OP's.

I think not anymore. Timeframe-wise, the DS just finished its third Holiday season. 3DS may catch up again with its own Holiday this year, but considering this is the DS... it may not.