Last week a list was released revealing the top-selling videogames for the first half of 2010 in Japan. To not many industry observers’ surprise, New Super Mario Bros. Wii appeared at the top of that list, followed by a host of other games that released in 2009.

Sales tracking and research firm NPD has now released a similar list, only for the US, revealing which titles have been raking the charts during the first six months of 2010… and wouldn’t you know it, New Super Mario Bros. Wii also appears at the top of NPD’s list.

But wait! This list only covers individual platforms, spreading out respective sales of each title over single consoles instead of lumping them all together (i.e. combined sales of the PS3 and Xbox 360 version of a game).

NPD has a list for this ‘lumping’ of platforms too, or as the firm eloquently calls it, ‘Combined Platform Sales.’ Which game topped this list?

Why, Red Dead Redemption of course! What a silly question…

Here are both lists, detailing the best-selling games in the US for the first six months of 2010 across individual platforms, and combined platforms:

Top Ten Individual Platform Sales (Jan-Jun)

• 1.) New Super Mario Bros. Wii - Wii
• 2.) Pokemon SoulSilver Version - Nintendo DS
• 3.) Red Dead Redemption - Xbox 360
• 4.) God of War III - PlayStation 3
• 5.) Wii Fit Plus w/Balance Board - Wii
• 6.) Wii Sports Resort w/ Wii Motion Plus - Wii
• 7.) Pokemon HeartGold Version - Nintendo DS
• 8.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Xbox 360
• 9.) Just Dance - Wii
• 10.) Super Mario Galaxy 2 - Wii

Top Five Combined Platform Sales (Jan-Jun)

• 1.) Red Dead Redemption (360,PS3)
• 2.) New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
• 3.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2* (360,PS3)
• 4.) Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (360,PS3)
• 5.) Wii Fit Plus* (Wii)

(* Sales across all platforms and bundles, CE, GOTY editions etc.)

NPD notes a few interesting observations, including the fact that despite launching in November 2009, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is outselling Battlefield: Bad Company 2, which launched in March 2010.

Also, games appearing on the Wii make up five of the positions on the individual platform sales list, while Mass Effect 2 (a very highly rated game and fan-favourite) does not appear in the Top Ten.

Source: IGN