Video Game Sales Dropped 5% in 2010

Nintendo’s new 3D-enabled hand-held game system is the latest attempt to boost sales of video games, which have been sagging recently. Final data for 2010 shows that industry sales were off by 5%, down to $19.3 billion. That includes hardware, software and accessories, according to NPD Group’s analysis of the 2010 figures. Here are some of the highlights of the year in gaming:

• Software sales were virtually flat in 2010
• Microsoft’s Xbox system was the only hardware system to see in increase in sales from 2009 top 2010.
• “Call of Duty: Black Ops” was the top-selling game across all platforms.
• “World of Warcraft: Cataclysm” was the top-selling PC game.