The American games industry has defied the economic downturn to climb 10% year on year for November, according to data from industry sales tracker NPD.
Total industry sales were $2.91 billion (£1.95 billion), putting the year's total to date up to $16.04 billion (£10.76 billion), up 22% on last year.
NPD analyst Anita Frazier said the US industry is still on track to make the predicted total of $22 billion (£14.76 billion) for the year. "...Based on typical industry seasonality $22B is still within reach", she said. "I think something very unusual would have to happen not to make that benchmark, and I just don't see it happening.
"Our economic studies show that video games is the category consumers say they're least likely to cut back on during the holidays and certainly the November results show that spending on video games continues to be quite strong. Keep in mind that the industry realized $4.8B last December so these numbers are very achievable at the top-line level."
In a thoroughly un-shocking turn of events, it was the Wii that lead the charge. It racked up a whopping 2.04 million. The DS was nearly half a million behind it, with 1.57 million sales.
The 360 also did well, chalking up 836,000 sales, leaving the PS3 in its dust with less than half that figure at 378,000 units shifted. 421,000 PSPs were sold, while the ageing PS2 still managed to snag 206,000 sales. Even though this gave the PlayStation brand 1,005,000 total sales, it was still spanked by Wii.
On the software front Gears of War 2 was boss. 1.56 million copies were bought, while Activision wasn't too far behind with the 360 version of Call of Duty: World at War. You can see the Top 10 games for November in the US right below the hardware figure.
Hardware
1. Wii (2.04 million)
2. DS (1.57 million)
3. Xbox 360 (836,000)
4. PSP (421,000)
5. PS3 (378,000)
6. PS2 (206,000)
Software
1. Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 – Microsoft (1.56 million)
2. Call of Duty: World at War - Xbox 360 – Activision (1.41 million)
3. Wii Play - Wii – Nintendo (796,000)
4. Wii Fit - Wii – Nintendo (697,000)
5. Mario Kart - Wii – Nintendo (637,000)
6. Call of Duty: World at War - PS3 – Activision (597,000)
7. Guitar Hero: World Tour - Wii – Activision (475,000)
8. Left 4 Dead - Xbox 360 – EA (410,000)
9. Resistance 2 - PS3 – Sony (385,000)
10. Wii Music - Wii – Nintendo (297,000)
Source: GameDaily.biz
Total industry sales were $2.91 billion (£1.95 billion), putting the year's total to date up to $16.04 billion (£10.76 billion), up 22% on last year.
NPD analyst Anita Frazier said the US industry is still on track to make the predicted total of $22 billion (£14.76 billion) for the year. "...Based on typical industry seasonality $22B is still within reach", she said. "I think something very unusual would have to happen not to make that benchmark, and I just don't see it happening.
"Our economic studies show that video games is the category consumers say they're least likely to cut back on during the holidays and certainly the November results show that spending on video games continues to be quite strong. Keep in mind that the industry realized $4.8B last December so these numbers are very achievable at the top-line level."
In a thoroughly un-shocking turn of events, it was the Wii that lead the charge. It racked up a whopping 2.04 million. The DS was nearly half a million behind it, with 1.57 million sales.
The 360 also did well, chalking up 836,000 sales, leaving the PS3 in its dust with less than half that figure at 378,000 units shifted. 421,000 PSPs were sold, while the ageing PS2 still managed to snag 206,000 sales. Even though this gave the PlayStation brand 1,005,000 total sales, it was still spanked by Wii.
On the software front Gears of War 2 was boss. 1.56 million copies were bought, while Activision wasn't too far behind with the 360 version of Call of Duty: World at War. You can see the Top 10 games for November in the US right below the hardware figure.
Hardware
1. Wii (2.04 million)
2. DS (1.57 million)
3. Xbox 360 (836,000)
4. PSP (421,000)
5. PS3 (378,000)
6. PS2 (206,000)
Software
1. Gears of War 2 - Xbox 360 – Microsoft (1.56 million)
2. Call of Duty: World at War - Xbox 360 – Activision (1.41 million)
3. Wii Play - Wii – Nintendo (796,000)
4. Wii Fit - Wii – Nintendo (697,000)
5. Mario Kart - Wii – Nintendo (637,000)
6. Call of Duty: World at War - PS3 – Activision (597,000)
7. Guitar Hero: World Tour - Wii – Activision (475,000)
8. Left 4 Dead - Xbox 360 – EA (410,000)
9. Resistance 2 - PS3 – Sony (385,000)
10. Wii Music - Wii – Nintendo (297,000)
Source: GameDaily.biz
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