Game sales fell 4% in October

NEW YORK » U.S. retail sales of video game hardware, software and accessories slipped 4 percent in October as demand for most gaming consoles declined from a year earlier, according to data from market researcher NPD Group.

Overall game sales were $1.07 billion last month, down from $1.11 billion in October 2009, NPD said. Year-to-date sales were down 8 percent at the end of October, at $11.07 billion.

"Keep in mind that these sales only reflect new physical retail sales," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. "While down, there are revenues being generated from digital distribution, used game sales, rentals, social network games and mobile applications, to name a few."

Hardware sales tumbled 26 percent to $280 million from $381 million a year ago. With the exception of Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360, every gaming system saw a decline in unit sales, NPD said. The Xbox sold 325,000 units, up 30 percent year-over-year, Microsoft said.

Sales of game software, meanwhile, climbed 6 percent to $605 million from $573 million. The basketball blockbuster "NBA 2K11" from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. was the month’s best-selling title. It was followed by the shooter "Fallout: New Vegas" from Bethesda Softworks and "Medal of Honor" from Electronic Arts Inc. The number doesn’t include "Call of Duty: Black Ops," which went on sale Nov. 9 and shattered the entertainment industry sales record held by its predecessor, "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2."

Sales of game accessories jumped 18 percent to $142 million.

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