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Widespread stress reduction swept across the world's game consumers today after the release of the November 2010 NPD numbers, which have reassured enthusiasts that the state of the games industry can still be represented by a variety of figures, including percentages and dollar amounts.
Numbers about everything
The report reveals an 8% increase in software and hardware revenues compared to November 2009, which ends a seven month year-on-year drop, and indicates that the industry will probably continue to exist long enough to be compared to December's numbers, and perhaps even numbers from 2011.
Numbers about hardware
The Xbox 360 was the top-selling console of November, which is of huge relief to consumers who have desired validation of theirXbox 360purchases, as well as to those who have been waiting fora chance to dismiss the statistic as irrelevant to their preference of console.
Above: "I don't really care about Kinect, so whatever," said a 17-year-old PS3 owner
The Nintendo DS, however, was the overall top-selling system of the month, which suggests that several months after Christmas, the phrase "No, I'm not getting you the new '3D one.' You said you wanted this one!" will shoot to the top of the stern parental remarks chart, which is released quarterly.
Numbers about software
In software, the NPD Grouphas revealed that some games sold better than others with the following list:
1. Call of Duty: Black Ops - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, DS; 8.4 million
2. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - Xbox 360, PS3
3. Just Dance 2 - Wii
4. Madden NFL 11 - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP
5. Fable III - Xbox 360
6. Donkey Kong Country Returns - Wii
7. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit - PS3, 360, Wii, PC
8. Gran Turismo 5 - PS3
9. NBA 2K11 - Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP,PC
10. Wii Fit Plus - Wii
Many consumers who have studied the numbers have pointed out what they say is a "surprising" correlation between the popularity of a game and its sales, and have expressed their concerns with comments such as, "WTF CoD sux," and, "lol just dance 2 rlly?!"
Above: Call of Duty: Black Ops is "not even that good," according to a 19-year-old computer science student. He added,"Minecraft is all I play now. Did you know it has over 600,000 purchases?"
Tensions among members of the game-playing community are expected to rise again during the lead-up to the next set of figures, which will be released around the same time next month, and should again assuage fears of a fact and figure drought.
[Source:Gamasutra]
Dec 9, 2010
