NPD Software: Dominated by Wii Fit, Play and Mario Kart

Hardware sales were the main driver for the 13% increase the videogame industry saw in the United States for the month of January 2009 over January 2008. The data coming from the NPD Group shows that software sales increase at a slower pace than hardware, indicating a somewhat surprising trend: when there’s little money, the customer seems to be more interested in getting a console than in buying games for it.

Anita Frazier, the analyst for the NPD who comments on the monthly reports, says that “Only two of the top 10 games this month were new releases. The continued strength of games that have been in the market for some time clues us into just how many new consumers are coming into the industry. This broadening of the audience for gaming will help buoy the industry through these tough economic times, provided they have enough compelling content to keep them interested.”

Nintendo is again the most important publisher. Its games occupy the first three spots in the videogames chart. Wii Fit, bundled together with the Balance Board, sold 777,000 units in one month, with the second placed Wii Play only managing to move 415,000 copies in the same period. Mario Kart Wii, a favorite for competitive play on the Wii (could it be because of the Blue Shell?), also sold 292,000 units.

The game which follows on the trail of the Nintendo bandwagon is the Xbox 360 version of Left 4 Dead, the post apocalyptic zombie oriented shooter from Valve, which is continuing to sell strong on the news that it is getting a free update in the Survival Pack. The game sold slightly less units than Mario Kart Wii, with 243,000 units moved in one month. Call of Duty: World at War, which also has a Nazi zombie mode, was at number five. Are zombies the only real way to compete with Nintendo?

Skate 2 from Electronic Arts charmed skate lovers and landed at number six, while Guitar Hero: World Tour is at seven. New Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo DS (yes, the more than two-year-old one) jumps back in the top ten at number eight, while Mario Kart DS is at number nine. The unimpressive Lords of the Rings: Conquest, from Pandemic and Electronic Arts, rounds up the top ten, with sales of just 113,000 copies.