The UK games market saw record sales figures in 2006, reports Industry magazine MCV. UK games sales totalled an impressive £1.36 billion in 2006. That figure trumps 2005, previously the industry's best year, by over 1%.
In 2006, 65.1 million units were sold - an increase of 6.7% on 2005 according to Chart Track (monitor of the industry's week-by-week sales).
Paul Jackson, Director General of ELSPA, was suitably pleased. He said:
In a year when the industry was focused on the looming next generation of gaming, it was the PS2 that racked up the most software sales. 2006 also proved a massive year for hand-held gaming, with the DS then PSP next in line. Next up was the Xbox 360, followed by the Xbox, Wii and GameCube.
It was also encouraging to see PC sales continue to grow. PC gaming saw its best year ever, with its 7% growth maintaining the upward trend set in 2005.
EA dominated the 2006's Top 10 sales. It had four entries, with FIFA 07 holding the Number 1 spot.
The full all-format Top 10 was as follows:
[b]1.FIFA 07 (EA Sport)
2.Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (Konami)
3.Need For Speed: Carbon (EA Games)
4.GTA: Liberty City Stories (Rockstar)
5.LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy (Lucas Arts)
6.The Sims 2: Pets (EA Games)
7.Cars (THQ)
8.Tomb Raider Legend (Eidos)
9.The Sims 2 (EA Games)
10.WWE: Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 (THQ)[/b]
In 2006, 65.1 million units were sold - an increase of 6.7% on 2005 according to Chart Track (monitor of the industry's week-by-week sales).
Paul Jackson, Director General of ELSPA, was suitably pleased. He said:
"We are thrilled to see the industry growing and software sales continuing to rise. With the new generation consoles and new handhelds there are some amazing titles out there and consumers are continuing to enjoy them. There are new and exciting games available and more and more family orientated and mentally stimulating titles to grasp and hold the interest of all ages. This is also a testament to the industry and it will continue to gain momentum."
In a year when the industry was focused on the looming next generation of gaming, it was the PS2 that racked up the most software sales. 2006 also proved a massive year for hand-held gaming, with the DS then PSP next in line. Next up was the Xbox 360, followed by the Xbox, Wii and GameCube.
It was also encouraging to see PC sales continue to grow. PC gaming saw its best year ever, with its 7% growth maintaining the upward trend set in 2005.
EA dominated the 2006's Top 10 sales. It had four entries, with FIFA 07 holding the Number 1 spot.
The full all-format Top 10 was as follows:
[b]1.FIFA 07 (EA Sport)
2.Pro Evolution Soccer 6 (Konami)
3.Need For Speed: Carbon (EA Games)
4.GTA: Liberty City Stories (Rockstar)
5.LEGO Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy (Lucas Arts)
6.The Sims 2: Pets (EA Games)
7.Cars (THQ)
8.Tomb Raider Legend (Eidos)
9.The Sims 2 (EA Games)
10.WWE: Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 (THQ)[/b]
Companies:
ELSPA
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