If the video-game industry were itself a game, December would be the point where the alien fighters rally to its side. According to a new report from the NPD Group, sales in December “broke all industry records” as a counterpoint to a disappointing year.
Retail sales of software, accessories and both portable and console hardware were about $19.66 billion for 2009, an eight percent drop from $21.4 billion in revenue in 2008. But December was up about four percent, making it the best single month for video-game sales ever. Industry observers had been bracing for flat or even declining sales.
Compared to 2008, however, software dropped seven percent in 2009, while hardware rose 16 percent and accessories rose 15 percent.
‘Strong Transition into 2010’
Michael D. Gallager, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, said the December results point to “a very strong transition into 2010,” and he expects “these solid sales numbers to continue upward through 2010 with a pipeline full of highly anticipated titles.”
Nintendo’s Wii remained the game hardware leader for December, with about 3.8 million sold. The company also took second place with its DS portable system at 3.3 million. Sony’s PlayStation 3 just barely nudged ahead of Microsoft’s Xbox 360, with 1.36 million units versus 1.3 million. The last two places were taken by the PlayStation Portable at 654,000 and the still-selling PlayStation 2, at 333,0000.
A year ago December, Nintendo hardware also was tops, but with the DS in first and the Wii in second place. The Xbox 360 was also about 700,000 units higher than the PS3, meaning the PS3 had a year-over-year increase of more than 85 percent.
‘Long-Term Entertainment Value’
In software titles, Wii also ruled. New Super Mario Brothers for Wii was king of the December hill with 2.8 million sold, followed closely by Wii Fit…