In addition to releasing numbers for sales in December 2008, the NPD Group has released its full sales figures for videogame sales in the US for 2008. The videogame industry recorded a total of $21.33 billion in sales of gaming hardware, software and accessories for the year, up 19% from 2007.

Hardware was up 11% to $7.81 billion while accessories recorded sales of $2.57 billion, an increase of 14%. The real winner was software sales which totaled $10.96 billion, up a whopping 26% year-on-year.

Anita Frazier, NPD Analyst said “We get asked a lot why there are so many layoffs and studio closings occuring in the industry when it has just realized another record-breaking year. This is not a case of the rising tide lifting all boats. The increases are not being enjoyed equally by all manufacturers and publishers.”

Not only was Wii Play the top selling game of December 2008, it was also the top selling game of 2008 with 5.28 million copies sold. Nintendo also dominated the next three places on the chart with Mario Kart Wii selling 5 million copies, Wii Fit 4.53 million copies and Super Smash Bros. Brawl 4.17 million copies.

Grand Theft Auto for the Xbox 360 came in fifth with 3.29 million while the PS3 version featured at number 8 with 1.89 million copies. Call of Duty: World at War was next with 2.75 million copies while Gears of War 2 came seventh with 2.31 million copies.

Madden NFL 09 for the Xbox 360 sold 1.87 million copies to land at number 9 while Mario Kart DS secured tenth place with 1.65 million.

US Game Industry Totals for 2008

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

• Video games - $21.33 billion (+19%)
• Video games hardware - $7.81 billion (+11%)
• Video games software - $10.96 billion (+26%)
• Video game accessories - $2.57 billion (+14%)

Top selling games of 2008

1. Wii Play with Wii Remote (Nintendo, Wii) – 5.28 million
2. Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel (Nintendo, Wii) – 5 million
3. Wii Fit with Balance Board (Nintendo, Wii) – 4.53 million
4. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo, Wii) – 4.17 million
5. Grand Theft Auto IV (Take 2, Xbox 360) – 3.29 million
6. Call of Duty: World at War (Activision, Xbox 360) – 2.75 million
7. Gears of War 2 (Microsoft, Xbox 360) – 2.31 million
8. Grand Theft Auto IV (Take 2, PS3) – 1.89 million
9. Madden NFL 09 (EA, Xbox 360) – 1.87 million
10. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo, DS) – 1.65 million

(Figures include Collector’s, Limited, Legendary and bundled editions)

Source: NPD