Video Game Sales Improve Slightly In September

BARBARA ORTUTAY

NEW YORK (AP) — After six straight months of double-digit declines, U.S. video game sales finally saw an improvement in September.

But the rebound was much more muted than analysts had hoped, a sign that the recession has cut deep into consumer spending on interactive entertainment. Even recent console price cuts weren't enough to push hardware dollar sales higher year-over-year.

Market researcher NPD Group on Monday reported a 1 percent increase in September sales of video game hardware, software and accessories compared with the same month last year. The total came to $1.28 billion. Year-to-date sales were down 13 percent.

Hardware sales dropped 6 percent to $472.3 million. For the first time since its launch three years ago, Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 sold more units than both the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360.

"This portrays a very strong consumer reaction to the price decrease, as August and September both realized a lift of more than 70 percent over the prior month," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier of the PlayStation 3's performance.