SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Retail sales of video game equipment and software in the United States fell 10 percent in August, research group NPD said on Thursday, as the industry continues a months-long slump.
Sales of video game hardware slid 5 percent to $282.9 million, while software sales fell 14 percent to $403.5 million.
'While all categories are down in both dollars and units, the portable portion of the industry is down to a greater extent than is the console portion,' NPD analyst Anita Frazier said in a statement.
So far in 2010, industry sales in the United States are down 8 percent.
Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 was the top-selling console in August for the third consecutive month. Nintendo Co Ltd's Wii was No. 2, while Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 was third.
Electronic Arts Inc's new 'Madden NFL 11' was the best-selling game for the month. Sales of the title were 6 percent higher than last year in its debut month, NPD said.
NPD's monthly data covers games sold at retail, but does not include used game sales, digital downloads, subscription or social gaming.
(Reporting by Gabriel Madway; editing by Andre Grenon) Keywords: NPD/VIDEOGAMES (gabriel.madway@thomsonreuters.com +1 415 677 2536) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Sales of video game hardware slid 5 percent to $282.9 million, while software sales fell 14 percent to $403.5 million.
'While all categories are down in both dollars and units, the portable portion of the industry is down to a greater extent than is the console portion,' NPD analyst Anita Frazier said in a statement.
So far in 2010, industry sales in the United States are down 8 percent.
Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 was the top-selling console in August for the third consecutive month. Nintendo Co Ltd's Wii was No. 2, while Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 was third.
Electronic Arts Inc's new 'Madden NFL 11' was the best-selling game for the month. Sales of the title were 6 percent higher than last year in its debut month, NPD said.
NPD's monthly data covers games sold at retail, but does not include used game sales, digital downloads, subscription or social gaming.
(Reporting by Gabriel Madway; editing by Andre Grenon) Keywords: NPD/VIDEOGAMES (gabriel.madway@thomsonreuters.com +1 415 677 2536) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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