The latest NPD figures show that almost $1 billion in video game software was sold across North America in March, up 63% year-on-year to 945.6 million. The US video game industry recorded a 57% increase from March 2007, racking up $1.7 billion in sales for hardware, software and accessories combined.

Hardware also enjoyed a 46% increase to record $551.3 million in sales. The Wii was the best-selling console for the month, selling 721 000 units. The Mario factory also took second place with the Nintendo DS selling 698 000 units. The PSP sold 297 000 units to secure third place while the Xbox 360 sold 262 000 units to just beat the PS3 which sold 257 000 units. The PS2 sold 216 000 units.

Turning to the software side of things, Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Brawl topped software sales with 2.7 million copies. Mario’s galactic adventure was well ahead of the pack, with the nearest competitor roughly 1.9 million copies behind it. Ubisoft’s Xbox 360 version of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 sold 752 300 copies to take second place while EA’s Army of Two for the Xbox 360 followed with 606 100 copies.

Nintendo’s Wii Play was fourth with 409 800 copies, ahead of Sony’s God of War: Chains of Olympus for the PSP with 340 500 copies. Square Enix’s Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for the PSP recorded 301 600 copies at number 6 and the Wii version of Activision’s Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock sold 264 100 copies to earn seventh place.

Take 2’s Major League Baseball 2K8 for the Xbox 360 sold 237 100 copies to secure eighth place while the Xbox 360 version of Activision’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare sold 237 000 copies to earn number 9. The PS3’s version of Army of Two rounded off the top ten with 224 900 copies.

If you missed it, make sure you check out the NPD results for February.

Hardware Sales for March 2008

1. Wii – 721 000
2. Nintendo DS – 698 000
3. PSP – 297 000
4. Xbox 360 – 262 000
5. PS3 – 257 000
6. PS2 – 216 000

Top Ten Software Sales for March 2008

1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo, Wii) – 2.7 million
2. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (Ubisoft, Xbox 360) – 752 300
3. Army of Two (EA, Xbox 360) – 606 100
4. Wii Play with Wii Remote (Nintendo, Wii) – 409 800
5. God of War: Chains of Olympus (Sony, PSP) – 340 500
6. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (Square Enix, PSP) – 301 600
7. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Activision, Wii) – 264 100
8. Major League Baseball 2K8 (Take 2, Xbox 360) – 237 100
9. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Activision, Xbox 360) – 237 000
10. Army of Two (EA, PS3) – 224 900

US Game Industry Totals for March 2008

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

• Video games - $1.7 billion (+57%)
• Video games hardware - $551.3 million (+46%)
• Video games software - $945.6 million (+63%)
• Video game accessories - $220 million (+58%)

Source: NPD