According to leading marketing information provider, Sony’s GRAN TURISMO 4 for the PlayStation 2 ranked top in sales for the first half of 2005. The NPD Group also reported retail sales of U.S. console and portable videogames hardware, software and accessories saw an increase of 21% during the first half of 2005 (January – June), compared to the same time period last year. The videogames industry saw sales figures rise to more than $4.1 billion in the first half of the year compared to $3.4 billion in the first half of 2004.

Thanks in large part to the new portable platforms introduced into the U.S. market in late 2004 and early 2005, the industry was also able to achieve an 11% increase in overall unit sales for the first half of the year.

While console hardware did see a 6% decline in retail sales, generating almost $594 million (vs. over $631.6M during the same time period last year), all other categories showed positive dollar growth during the period. Console software, console accessories, portable game hardware, portable game software and portable game accessories saw dollar sales increases of 3%, 6%, 181%, 74% and 81%, respectively.

The PC game software category continued to decline, with revenues from retail sales down 10.5% percent, grossing $405.4 million in the first half of 2005 versus $453.3 million during the same period in 2004. However, the total game software market, which includes software for consoles and portables as well as PC game software, sold through $2.8 billion, a 9.2% percent increase over last year’s $2.5 billion.

"The robust performance of the portable market certainly contributed to the considerable sales growth of the industry but another significant contributor to industry performance is software,” said Anita Frazier, entertainment industry analyst, The NPD Group. “There are already several titles that have achieved sales that will ensure they are in the top 10 for the entire year. With this growth already realized for the year, the industry is poised to reach its highest sales levels ever.”

Top ten selling games for the first half of 2005 were:
1) GRAN TURISMO 4 — PS2 — Sony Computer Ent.
2) POKEMON EMERALD — GBA — Nintendo Of America
3) MVP BASEBALL 2005 — PS2 — Electronic Arts
4) STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH — PS2 — LucasArts
5) GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS — PS2 — Take 2 Interactive
6) GOD OF WAR — PS2 — Sony Computer Ent.
7) ZELDA: THE MINISH CAP — GBA — Nintendo Of America
8) RESIDENT EVIL 4 — GCN — Capcom USA
9) MIDNIGHT CLUB 3: DUB EDITION — PS2 — Take 2 Interactive
10) STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH — XBX — LucasArts

Since 1967, The NPD Group has provided reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today more than 1,400 manufacturers and retailers rely on NPD to help them better understand their customers, product categories, distribution channels and competition in order to help guide their business. Information from The NPD Group is available for the following major vertical sectors: apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, consumer electronics, food and beverage, foodservice, footwear, home improvement, housewares, imaging, information technology, music, software, travel, toys, video games, and wireless. For more information, visit www.npd.com.