The US video game industry showed signs of slowing down slightly for the month of August, with $1.08 billion in sales up just 9% from August 2007. Hardware sales weighed in at $394.5 million (+3%) while software figures grew 13% to $550.7 million.

“August industry sales remain strong and realized a 9% gain over last August, although the month posted the first single-digit percentage growth in 27 months” commented NPD analyst Anita Frazier. “Despite smaller growth this month, the industry is up 32% year-to-date and remains on target to achieve annual revenues in the range of $22 to $24 billion.”

The Nintendo DS was the best-selling console with 518 300 units, followed by the Wii with 453 000 and the PSP with 253 000 units. The Xbox 360 beat the PS3, although the difference between the two was marginal with the 360 selling 195 200 units and the PS3 185 400. The PS2 sold 144 100 units.

Madden NFL 09 dominates

EA’s Madden NFL 09 dominated the software chart, boasting four places in the Top 10 and over 2 million copies sold in total. The Xbox 360 version topped the chart with 1 million copies sold, followed by the PS3 and PS2 versions with 643 000 and 424 500 copies sold respectively.

According to Anita Frazier, “Madden NFL ‘09 was the top-selling game of the month, and launched with 2.3 million units out of retail doors in it’s first month, besting last year’s ‘08 title by 2%. Year after year, the industry can count on the Madden release to bring folks into stores during the relatively lazy days of late summer.”

Nintendo took the next three spots with Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii and Wii Play keeping up their regular appearance in the Top 10. Wii Fit sold 394 900 to secure fourth place, followed by Mario Kart Wii with 328 700 and Wii Play in sixth with 200 200 copies. Wii Play achieved a 44% attach rate to new Wii hardware sales for August. The game, bundled with a Wii Remote, has notched up a position in the Top 10 each month since it was launched in February 2007.

The Xbox 360 version of Namco Bandai’s Soul Calibur IV was next with 174 000 followed by Microsoft’s Too Human with 168 200. Madden NFL 09 for the Wii finished ninth with 115 800 and Activision Blizzard’s Guitar Hero: On Tour rounded off the Top 10 with 111 200 copies.

Hardware Sales for August 2008

1. Nintendo DS – 518 300
2. Wii – 453 000
3. PSP – 253 000
4. Xbox 360 – 195 200
5. PS3 – 185 400
6. PS2 – 144 100

Top Ten Software Sales for August 2008

1. Madden NFL 09 (EA, Xbox 360) – 1 million
2. Madden NFL 09 (EA, PS3) – 643 000
3. Madden NFL 09 (EA, PS2) – 424 500
4. Wii Fit with Balance Board (Nintendo, Wii) – 394 900
5. Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel (Nintendo, Wii) – 328 700
6. Wii Play with Wii Remote (Nintendo, Wii) – 200 200
7. Soul Calibur IV (Namco Bandai, Xbox 360) – 174 000
8. Too Human (Microsoft, Xbox 360) – 168 200
9. Madden NFL 09 (EA, Wii) – 115 800
10. Guitar Hero: On Tour (Activision Blizzard, NDS) – 111 200

Figures include Collector’s Editions and instrument bundles but do not include hardware bundles.

US Game Industry Totals for August 2008

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

• Video games - $1.08 billion (+9%)
• Video games hardware - $394.5 million (+3%)
• Video games software - $550.7 million (+13%)
• Video game accessories - $137.3 million (+13%)

Source: NPD