The latest NPD figures are in. Let's start us a pissing contest! In short, February was nuts. Loco. Seriously. Look at these numbers:
- Game sales and accessories were up 53%, hardware sales up a whopping 98%, giving the total industry a 66% boost. Raining on the parade ever-so-slightly is the fact this year's February figures are a week longer than last year's.
- Between the Wii, DS, GBA and GC Nintendo shifted 980,000 units. In February.
- Crackdown was by far the biggest-selling game, moving 427,000 copies. Next up was the Wii Play/Wii Remote bundle, which sold 371,000 copies.
- With only 127,000 sold, the PS3 was outsold by the Wii. And the 360. And the PS2. And the GBA. Ouch.
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The numbers are impressive if, you know, you like numbers. But what I like best is the post-numbers spin.
Here's Nintendo's, and it reads, from the pen of Reggie:
We're gratified that the explosive appeal of Wii, in terms of both new players and new ways to play, has created unprecedented demand, substantially beyond supply.
No kidding. 335,000 units shifted means 335,000 units shipped. Gotta kick it up a notch, Reggie. People, by their very nature, are impatient.
I like Sony's better, though:
According to NPD data, February 2007 showed a 67% increase in retail dollars generated year-over-year for SCEA in the US with total sales of $377 million. With this increase, the PlayStation brand remained the number-one revenue driver for the month in the industry owning 38.5% of total sales.
Haha. Brilliant.
TOTAL HARDWARE SALES
DS - 485,000
Wii - 335,000
PS2 - 295,000
360 - 228,000
PSP - 176,000
GBA - 136,000
PS3 - 127,000
NGC - 24,000
TOP 10 GAMES
1. Crackdown (Xbox 360) - Microsoft - 427K
2. Wii Play w/ remote (Wii) - Nintendo - 371K
3. Diddy Kong Racing (DS) - Nintendo - 262K
4. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii) - Nintendo - 130K
5. Guitar Hero 2 w/ guitar (PS2) - Activision - 130K
6. Gears of War (Xbox 360) - Microsoft - 119K
7. Major League Baseball 2K7 (Xbox 360) - Take-Two - 113K
8. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition (Xbox 360) - Capcom - 111K
9. WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Wii) - Nintendo - 109K
10. NBA Street Homecourt (Xbox 360) - Electronic Arts - 102K
And yes, before you start, the NPD figures are fundamentally flawed in the way they're gathered, blah blah blah. Still. They're the only numbers we've got, and as my mother always said, make do with what you have. So I'm makin' do.
Today's homework: go create your own NPD numbers spin! Bonus points if you choose the Cube, GBA or PS3.
Breaking: Nintendo Dominates February; Total Industry Sales Up 53% [GameDaily]
NPD: Nintendo Rules February Sales [1UP]
Send an email to the author of this post at plunkett@kotaku.com.









