Video game sales jump in Canada
- July 24, 2007 11:38 AM |
- By Paul Jay
by Paul Jay, CBCNews.ca
Nintendo consoles continue to lead the pack as video game sales in Canada grew by 61 per cent from last year, according to results posted this week.
According to the retail analyst The NPD Group, the Nintendo Wii's flagship game Wii Play (with remote) was the top selling game in Canada through the first six months of the year. The Wii had three more games in the top 10 while Nintendo's portable DS had another three in the top 10. Value packs for the Microsoft's XBox and Sony's PS2 and the PS2's God of War were also in the top 10.
The total retail sales in Canada for video games reached $498 million during the first half of the year, a 61 per cent increase over the same period last year, NPD said.
These numbers are likely to grow in the second half of 2007, when traditionally successful franchises like Electronic Arts' Madden and Medal of Honor games come out, as well as an expected wave of games for the third generation consoles like the PS3 and XBox 360.
The most popular game in the United States so far this year is Activision's Guitar Hero II, available on a number of platforms.
About the Authors
- Tara Kimura
is a multimedia producer for CBCNews.ca.
Categories
All News blogs
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Tech Bytes
Most Commented
Most Recommended
Recent Entries
- Universe hates Higgs boson, Chicago Cubs
- By John Bowman, CBCNews. A physicist working on the Large Hadron Collider doesn't think much of the theory that the universe is sabotaging the project to prevent the discovery of the Higgs boson. Might as well say that Nature hates... Continue reading this post
- Large Hadron Collider goes Back to the Future
- By Peter Evans, CBCNews.ca. Two respected physicists have put forward the theory that the Large Hadron Collider's stated aim of finding the Higgs boson might be so abhorrent to nature that mysterious forces are traveling back through time and sabotaging... Continue reading this post
- Multi-touch concept for desktops: 10/GUI
- By John Bowman, CBCNews.ca. I'm a fan of alternative ideas for human-computer interaction, so this video caught my attention. It shows an idea for a ten-finger touchpad interface and associated changes in the way a computer would handle multiple windows.... Continue reading this post
Comments (19)
Huzzah! A new Nintendo Games topic to play in!
Firstly! I'm REALLY glad that Nintendo has been doing so well, obviously; but I also want to give everyone a heads up to be careful when Halo 3 finally hits the floor. Chances of being hurt in gamestore rushes are pretty high when top sellers hit the market!
Anywho, awesome job Nintendo! Can't wait to play Metroid and Super Smash Brothers for Wii...
*eagerly awaits Charles, Claudio, Monkey, and Garet's comments*
No surprise, perhaps people are finally realising that their weight has an effect on their mood, so they go out and buy a game that has them moving around.
Or it could be the fact that Crab People are controlling our minds and are hired by Nintendo, who knows?
Guitar Hero.. anyone knows if it's coming out on PC? Please? ANYONE?!?!
I've been thinking of picking up Wii Play too! But just for the extra remote. All reviews of it I've read say it's garbage.
I've already spent my 90 or so on Guitar Hero 2, another guitar and the dlc songs.
Am I the only male on the planet who really doesn't like Guitar Hero? . . . at all? I found it really hard to play, but once I'd gotten used to it, it just felt... well... fake. I mean, sure; it's along the lines of Keraoke Revolution and whatnot...
Maybe I'm just old.
Ah well. Pass me the chips; I have a Game Cube to play and a Niece to mooch a Wii from.
As always, I have to agree with Carolyn with Super Smash Bros, nothing better than beating the crap out of our favorite childhood caracters!... Childhood for me anyways, hehe./
I suggest checking out the Youtube trailer of SSB, hilarious... Damn old Snake and his box!
I meant 190 on Guitar Hero.
Though Wii has some games I'm definately getting coming out soon. So does 360. Not so much with the PS3 yet.
I really haven't had the chance to play Guitar Hero too much but it looks fun, hand-eye co-ordination practise, and I always like to pretend that I know how to play an instrument other than a trumpet, hehehe.
Aside from that.. Aren't you supposed to be posting as Charlie-Bear now Charles? lol
'sup Carolyn ^^ Somehow I knew you'd post first.
Anyway, wow 61% increase in sales! That's amazing! Judging from the top 10 list Nintendo is a big factor in that statistic. Heh, its kind of like the good ol' days ^^
Carolyn, Monkey: You two are absolutely right, Smash bros has always been a ton of fun and I can hardly wait for this next one. Oh, and Monkey, sorry buddy but I haven't got a clue about Guitar Hero for PC...the game's a helluva lot of fun though, unless you can play a real guitar...then you'd probably just be confused.
...if all of the reviews of Wii Play say it's garbage, ten why is it doing so well? O.o
Also, thanks for agreeing with me yet again, Monkey! I saw the trailer for SSBB on YouTube like... last year. XD It was friggin' hilarious.
Although VGCats' depiction of what "Snake in the Box" could be... I mean... Solid Snake in a game like this iiiiis a tad iffy.
Sorry, Monkey! I forgot!
Wow; it would seem the gang's all here. It's like we're some kind of unofficial family now. MSNing would be fun.
Anywho, away with the wiffly-snifflies; Claudio, I think that's probably the reason I don't enjoy Guitar hero... because it's just so much different from playing the real thing. I'll admit though... I love making the lines wobble all over on a long note.
I like Super Smash Bros. but I suck at it. Metriod 3 should be great. But let's not forget Super Mario Galaxy. I can't wait for that! I hope it's true what they say, " a worthy successor to Mario 64"
VGCats is always dead on with their comics, I have a few of them in my cubicle at work, lol.
As for Guitar Hero I guess I'll have to do some mad research... break a few legs, you know, the usual.
To Claudio, I'd like to see a guitarist play Guitar Hero, hehehe, let the madness begin!
The free Wiimote is probably why it's doing so well.
You know, at first I thought a 61% increase was a big deal, but then I remembered that last year's sales were down considerably compared to the year before. I can't remember the exact figure but it was due to consumers who were on the fence while waiting for Nintendo and Sony to launch their systems. Still, it's good news for Nintendo since many of the consumers who were on the fence have decided to jump into Nintendo's yard.
Re: Claudio
Riiight, riiight... I remember. We called it "The Dry Year, save for XBox 3... which broke."
I still think they should have held off releasing it so early... but then again, last year would have been dry indeed had they not. A problem!
I'm also looking forward to Mario Galaxy. I really hope it's good. I've becmoe quite the pro at playing Mario 64... so I want to get my thumbs in shape again with the new one.
*laughs* I remember how much my N64 controllers started desentigrating when I first started playing the 64. I was much too hard on them and ended up with around eight lying around my game room!
It's so weird too, because I haven't seen a Wild Wii at all. Lucky I preordered.
Sweet I answered my own question, if anyone is looking for a Guitar Hero game for PC check out Frets On Fire, free and awesome, makes your wrist hurt though.
You can also use the 360 guitar hero controllers on the PC.
Yes it is available for the PC. Search it on Google, and i think it's only GHII