NEW YORK (

TheStreet

) - Total video game sales rose 8% last month, representing the strongest November in record, according to industry tracker NPD Group.

But despite gains in November, year-end sales should total $18.8 billion to $19.6 billion -- essentially flat over last year.

And year to date, the video game market is still down 5% over last year.

Microsoft's

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Xbox console was the best-selling console of the month, with sales increasing 68% over last November to 1.37 million, thanks to strong demand for its Kinect hands-free sensor accessory. Sales of Kinect have surpassed 2.5 million, and are on track to reach 5 million by year end, Microsoft has said.

Activison's

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Call of Duty: Black Ops

was the top game for November, selling 8.4 million units. The game accounted for 25% of all video game software sold during the month.

--Written by Olivia Oran in New York.

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