Recording a 43% increase, the video games industry in the United States has reached an astounding $17.9 billion in sales for 2007.

The Nintendo DS was the best-selling system for 2007 with 8.5 million units sold. The Wii led the next-gen console race with 6.29 million units followed by the Xbox 360 with 4.62 million while the PS3 came in last place with 2.56 million. The PS2 sold 3.97 million units and the PSP 3.82 million.

The hardware sales for December 2007 mirrored the year’s sales with the Nintendo DS topping the sales with 2.47 million, followed by the Wii with 1.35 million, the Xbox 360 with 1.26 million, the PS2 with 1.1 million, PSP with 1.06 million and the PS3 with 797 600.

How did the games perform?

Turning to software sales, Activision’s Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare topped the December software list with 1.47 million copies. Not too far behind was Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy with 1.4 million. Not to be outdone was Activision’s ever-popular Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock for the PS2 which sold 1.25 million.

The mini-game collection Wii Play packaged with a Wii Remote came in fourth with 1.08 million while Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed for the Xbox 360 sold 893 700. Microsoft’s Halo 3 retained its popularity to sell 742 700 while Nintendo continues to train brains with Brain Age 2 selling 659 500.

Madden NFL 08 from EA for the PS2 scored eighth place with 655 200 copies while the Xbox 360 version of Guitar Hero III sold 624 600. Sega’s Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for the Wii rounded off the top ten with 613 000.

Master Chief ensured that Microsoft topped 2007’s best-selling game with Halo 3 with a astounding 4.82 million copies sold. Nintendo’s Wii Play came in a close second with 4.12 million followed by Activision’s Call of Duty 4 for the Xbox 360 with 3.04 million and Guitar Hero III for the PS2 in fourth with 2.72 million copies.

Nintendo’s Super Mario Galaxy sold 2.52 million copies to secure fifth place with Pokémon Diamond in sixth with 2.48 million. EA’s Madden NFL 08 for the PS2 sold 1.9 million units while the PS2 version of Guitar Hero II landed at number 8 with 1.89 million. Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed for the 360 and Nintendo’s Mario Party 8 for the Wii rounded off 2007’s top ten software list with 1.87 million and 1.82 million respectively.

With the results for 2007 now wrapped up and in the bag, is it possible that we can anticipate even better games and sales for the coming year? Only time will tell but with the caliber of games headed our way this year, one thing is for sure, 2008 is sure to be a cracker!

US Game Industry Sales for December 2007 as per NPD

Top Ten Software Sales for December 2007

1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision, 360) - 1.47 million

2. Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo, Wii) - 1.4 million

3. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Activision, PS2) - 1.25 million

4. Wii Play with remote (Nintendo, Wii) - 1.08 million

5. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft, 360) - 893 700

6. Halo 3 (Microsoft, 360) - 742 700

7. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day (Nintendo, Nintendo DS) - 659 500

8. Madden NFL 08 (EA, PS2) - 655 200

9. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Activision, 360) - 624 600

10. Mario and Sonic: Olympic Games (Sega, Wii) - 613 000

Hardware Sales for December 2007

1. Nintendo DS - 2.47 million

2. Wii - 1.35 million

3. Xbox 360 - 1.26 million

4. PS2 - 1.1 million

5. PSP - 1.06 million

6. PS3 - 797 600

Industry Totals for December 2007

Below is a list of the category, followed by the total and the change in brackets.

Video games - $4.82 billion (+28%)

Video games hardware - $1.83 billion (+17%)

Console hardware - $1.3 billion (+21%)

Portable game hardware - $525 700 (+7%)

Video games software - $2.37 billion (+36%)

Console software - $1.8 billion (+47%)

Portable game software - $574 900 (+11%)

Video game accessories - $621 600 (+37%)

US Game Industry Sales for 2007 as per NPD

Top Ten Software Sales for 2007

1. Halo 3 (Microsoft, 360) - 4.82 million

2. Wii Play with remote (Nintendo, Wii) - 4.12 million

3. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision, 360) - 3.04 million

4. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Activision, PS2) - 2.72 million

5. Super Mario Galaxy (Nintendo, Wii) - 2.52 million

6. Pokémon Diamond (Nintendo, Nintendo DS) - 2.48 million

7. Madden NFL 08 (EA, PS2) - 1.9 million

8. Guitar Hero II (Activision, PS2) - 1.89 million

9. Assassin’s Creed (Ubisoft, 360) - 1.87 million

10. Mario Party 8 (Nintendo, Wii) - 1.82 million

Hardware Sales for 2007

1. Nintendo DS - 8.5 million

2. Wii - 6.29 million

3. Xbox 360 - 4.62 million

4. PS2 - 3.97 million

5. PSP - 3.82 million

6. PS3 - 2.56 million

Industry Totals for 2007

Below is a list of the category, followed by the total and the change in brackets.

Video games - $17.94 billion (+43%)

Video games hardware - $7.04 billion (+54%)

Console hardware - $5.12 billion (+73%)

Portable game hardware - $1.92 billion (+19%)

Video games software - $8.64 billion (+34%)

Console software - $6.64 billion (+39%)

Portable game software - $2.00 billion (+18%)

Video game accessories - $2.26 billion (+52%)

Source: NPD