If the recent wave of retailer results is leaving you uninspired, take heart in knowing that GameStop
Industry watcher NPD Group is reporting that the video game industry posted a sharp 28% spike in sales last month, compared with last year's showing. The strong showing is the result of a 17% gain in hardware sales and a robust 41% increase in software. The breakdown is noteworthy because retailer margins are higher on the video game software than the devices that play them.
Electronic Arts
Nintendo's Wii Fit, with 369,600 copies, is next. The popular Nintendo fitness program is pricier than more conventional titles, coming with its own balance board controller. In other words, on a dollar basis, Wii Fit would have sacked the college football game. Nintendo scored three of the best-selling titles for the month.
Another notable player is Take-Two Interactive
On the hardware front, Nintendo is still the runaway champ. It moved 555,000 Wii consoles last month, and another 608,400 of its portable DS systems. Sony
Add it up and it's just one more reason to believe in the "staycation" theory. Folks are staying closer to home this summer, and they apparently have no problem spending money to make that time at home more enjoyable.
Other headlines that ought to be in pictures: