Vidgame software sales see double-digit spike in 2008

While taking a slide in Japan, US and UK video game sales are up according to the latest data released in the Top Global Markets integrated monthly report derived from The NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track Limited and Enterbrain POS data. The three market research firms have combined their vidgame software unit sales data for the world's three largest gaming markets. The resulting report shows unit sales across the three regions were up by 11% in 2008, totaling 409.9 million units. The overall number, however, doesn't reflect the fact that unit sales were up by 15% and 26% in the US and the UK, respectively, while Japanese sales were down by 13%, largely as a result of the decline in portable and console software sales in the country. The PS2 software market in Japan saw a 46% decrease in unit sales in 2008 - even sales for the popular Nintendo DS were down, though new-gen consoles (PS3, Wii and Xbox 360) saw positive year-over-year growth. Meanwhile, the UK experienced the largest aggregate and category growth, with console software sales enjoying a 38% increase and portable software sales increasing by 6%. State-side, console software sales spiked 22% with portable software sales moving up by 2%. Kid games are also topping the charts, as the report found that three of Nintendo's family-friendly titles in 2008, Mario Kart Wii, Wii Fit and Super Smash Bros: Brawl were in the top five games of 2008. KIDSCREEN FEB 09