Following the release of NPD’s October sales report for the US videogame industry, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony have submitted their responses to the facts and figures, each with something positive to chat about.

What did the big three have to say about their respective US market performances during October 2011? Let’s find out:

Nintendo

After eight months on sale in the US, Nintendo highlighted the fact that the company’s 3DS handheld was able to reach the 1.65 million units sold mark during the month of October 2011, which according to the publisher “puts the platform on track to surpass the first-year total of Nintendo DS, the best-selling game platform in US history” thanks to the impending releases of Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.

Roughly 675 000 units of Nintendo hardware were sold in October 2011, too, with more than 250 000 3DS units, nearly 250 000 Wii consoles and nearly 180 000 DS units heading into consumers’ hands, which helped Nintendo’s combined systems reach seven million units sold for the year, and 55 million units of software year-to-date - with the release of Zelda: Skyward Sword this month “[both] of these numbers should increase,” says Nintendo.

In addition, Nintendo writes that the Wii (sales up 8% year-over-year) and the DS (sales up 23% year-over-year), now heading into their sixth and eight holiday seasons respectively, have demonstrated “strong momentum,” and between them the consoles have sold over 87 million units and 540 million units of software in the US, life-to-date.

Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing, Scott Moffitt wrote:

“With a massive lineup of software on the way and the first-year sales record of Nintendo DS in its sights, Nintendo 3DS enters its first holiday season with a full head of steam.”

Microsoft

Microsoft touted “most successful October on record” as Xbox 360 “[maintained] its lead in the current-generation console market.”

Here are the highlights:

• Holding 44 percent share of the overall current-generation console market, Xbox 360 sold 393,000 units in October, maintaining the number-one console spot in the U.S. for 2011. This marks the eighth consecutive month Xbox 360 has had more than 40 percent of the current-generation console market share.

• Xbox 360 unit sales grew 21% YOY in October, and it was the only current-generation console showing double digit growth.

• Total retail spend on the Xbox 360 platform in October (hardware, software and accessories) reached $490 million, the most for any console in the U.S.

• During the month of October, Xbox 360 held six of the top ten console game titles including: ‘Battlefield 3,’ ‘Batman: Arkham City,’ ‘NBA 2K12,’ ‘Rage,’ and Xbox 360 exclusives ‘Forza Motorsport 4’ and ‘Gears of War 3.’

According to Microsoft, Kinect continued to gain momentum heading into the holiday season with more than 75 Kinect-enabled titles to become available by the end of the year - “four times more than last holiday,” we’re reminded, with games such as Kinect Sports: Season Two and Dance Central 2 now available.

More hardcore titles such as Forza 4, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Gears of War 3 were also mentioned in Microsoft’s NPD response, which points to a “robust holiday portfolio that has something for everyone,” writes Microsoft.

“[We are] expecting another blockbuster holiday and finishing the year as the number one console worldwide.”

Sony

As always, Sony focussed on the positive, and according to Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) senior director of corporate communications, Patrick Seybold, the recently released inFamous: Festival of Blood became the fastest-selling downloadable PS3 game ever launched on the PlayStation Network.

In addition, Seybold claimed that the PS3 “is primed for a great holiday season” and the company is seeing “increased momentum in our 1st and 3rd-party software sales at retail, which are up 5% over last year.”

Seybold also touted “the industry’s strongest software line up” with titles including Uncharted 3 and Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, as well as Battlefield 3 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

More PlayStation Move titles were also put front and centre, with Everybody Dance and Carnival Island named as spearhead games for the motion controller.