Canadian game sales up in May

Industry-tracking NPD Group reports a 42 percent jump in game sales, hardware revenue nearly 150 percent of what it was last year.

May was another strong month for gaming north of the border, as the industry tracking NPD Group today released its Canadian retail sales figures, showing growth across the board.

The research firm's figures show Canadian gaming retail sales for May topped C$72 million ($67.5 million), an 83 percent jump over May 2006's tally of just over C$39.3 million ($36.8 million). Hardware sales experienced the most growth, up 149 percent to C$32.5 million ($30.5 million), easily besting the previous May's C$13 million ($12.2 million). Game sales were up a slimmer 42 percent to C$30.9 million ($29 million), while accessories soared 87 percent to C$8.7 million ($8.2 million).

Nintendo again earned bragging rights for the month, with the Wii and DS first and second in hardware sales, respectively. The Wii moved more than 37,300 systems for the month, with the DS close behind at 35,900. The PlayStation 2 was the next best-selling piece of hardware with a little more than half the sales of the DS, nearly reaching 18,200 units moved. The rest of the pack was rounded out by the PlayStation Portable (15,000), Xbox 360 (12,300), PlayStation 3 (6,500), and Game Boy Advance (6,100).

Canadian consumers also shelled out for Wii accessories, with 24,600 Wii Nunchuks sold at retail, and 22,900 Wii Remotes, according to the NPD Group. The third best-selling accessory of the month, a Wii points card, lagged and couldn't keep up with the controllers, notching 6,800 purchased in May.

Nintendo also claimed the top four spots in the software charts for the month, with Pokemon Diamond and Pearl for the DS backed up by Wii games Mario Party 8 and Wii Play, in that order. Activision's Spider-Man 3 for the PS2 snapped Nintendo's streak by snagging fifth place on the charts. The rest of the NPD Group's Canadian top 10 follows below.

NPD Group Canadian console software sales for May 2007 (game--system--publisher--copies sold, rounded to hundreds):

Pokemon Diamond--DS--Nintendo--24,900
Pokemon Pearl--DS--Nintendo--19,500
Mario Party 8--Wii--Nintendo--17,700
Wii Play w/ Wii Remote--Wii--Nintendo--16,000
Spider-Man 3--PS2--Activision--14,500
Forza Motorsport 2--Xbox 360--Microsoft--12,600
Super Paper Mario--Wii--Nintendo--10,000
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars--Xbox 360--Electronic Arts--9,500
Spider-Man 3--Xbox 360--Activision--9,200
Guitar Hero II--Xbox 360--Activision--9,000

85 Comments

  • JAREDJR

    Posted Jun 19, 2007 7:39 am PT

    Oh Canada!
    Oh Nintendo!

  • reactionsok

    Posted Jun 18, 2007 10:30 pm PT

    blame canada!

    hah ps3 is going down

    thumb up me!

  • ringbling

    Posted Jun 17, 2007 10:28 pm PT

    Why?! They shouldn't be allowed to game - all the ones i've met only care about getting drunk and laid, male or female.

  • Lumberingoaf

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 9:40 pm PT

    Actually, I was being ironic. I wouldn't agree with everything Jeebus or Larlarbd said, but Canada does give us competi on many cultural aspects, humor coming quickly to mind. I mean they do have the Montreal Comedy Festival. But not when it comes to gaming. X360 was created by Microsoft, MS is based in Washing (although when you think about it, Washington is kind of like Canada Lite. LarLar (Binks?), who really cares about NFS anyway? Oh, and Jeebus... sorry to set you off in a politcal semi-rage.

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 9:36 pm PT

    sebtko, there are a lot better and more games to play on the Ps2 then the PS3, and I don't have to pay $600 and $60 a game to play them. I will be purchasing a Ps2 this year with a new 360, since i already have my Wii.

  • sebtko

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 7:06 pm PT

    why would u even buy a ps2 lol that made me laugh by the end of 2008 sony will no longer be making ps2 games and blu ray discs dont work on a ps2 so even tho ps2 is cheap it wont last u long!!! wat a waste of cash.

    hahah

  • powerframe8

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 6:18 pm PT

    im one of those 18200 ps2 units.

    but ya, ps2 is cheap as hell, games are cheaper and theres a huge variety to choose from. so no wonder its killing the ps3.

  • EhRon

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 4:53 pm PT

    You can't make the argument that Wii is doing the best because it's the cheapest console. Gamecube was cheapest last generation and it failed.

  • Albanian_Killa

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 3:31 pm PT

    The only reason the Wii is selling better is because it's the cheapest console. I was surprised people are still buying a PlayStation 2...Anyway, I hope the PlayStation 3 sales go up.

  • black_ice23

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 3:13 pm PT

    so nintendo has got both Japan and Canada in their back pocket lol
    in canada we are big on land but low on people but we make it up in the gaming and knowing what good products buy and thats why the ps3 fails lol
    but its true they cant sell a ps3 here
    b4 i got a wii conversations went like this
    got any wii's?
    nope, but how bout a nice ps3?
    no , u know when they come in
    no but how bout i hook u up with a ps3?
    nooo, nintendo Wiiii
    playstation threeee??
    wii
    ps3?
    W-i-i!
    P-S-3?
    *storms out*
    im not a fanboy or anything and im not tryna bash sony but thats really did happen i was at EB games in my home of toronto at eaton centre and the guy was very persistent, must of been new or desperate to unload the system, escially since he had ps3 keychain around his neck
    it felt like the episode of the simpsons where they were in australia and marge tried to order coffee and he kept offering her beer lmao

  • black_ice23

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 2:57 pm PT

    @ decot its not that the DS isnt doing well its just that almost everyone has now even at my high school b4 psp, now when some1 see me play DS everyone comes to play muliplayer but the people who are buying now are the small percentage who dont already have one inthe household or they are buying a 2nd, alot of people have one and the need is gone now its the games that clean up now

  • DiscoBurn

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 2:47 pm PT

    I'm not one to bash other consoles since I really do hope they all do well since they all have stuff to offer(though I'm still hoping Wii for the win...heh heh) but GBA isn't far behind PS3! I hope this changes when PS3 gets some of its big titles out.

  • jacnewforce07

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 1:14 pm PT

    Nintendo!

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 12:46 pm PT

    GBA isn't too far behind the PS3. Which is...pretty sad. Sony really needs to step up. I hope their break comes this fall.

  • DS_fan_atic

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 11:48 am PT

    LOL @ kop3! I agree

  • jacky531

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 9:27 am PT

    This is good for Canada there are more gamers now

  • dragonfish09

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 8:43 am PT

    JEEBUS_BOGONDO if you can't make a coherent logical political arguement then don't say anything. Ad hominem attacks do not count as "withering repartees"

  • decrot

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 8:42 am PT

    well thats surprising that the ds isnt doing so well in canada. yea, its in 2nd, but everywhere else the ds beats the wii by a 2:1 margin

  • JEEBUS_BOGONDO

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 8:19 am PT

    lumberingoaf is a good example of whats wrong with america today. poor kid probably cant even read. so sad. BTW, alot of your favorite games are made in canada AND the canadian dollar is actually 93 cents to the u.s dollar. pretty friggin close. closer then most countries. and the longer bush is president, the more likely your dollar will plummet. plus big dumb george W should begin kissing our asses because alberta, canada has the second largest oil reserve in the world next to saudi arabia. then again he might just invade us to save his dignity.

  • CanuckMark

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 7:53 am PT

    I think a lot of the hardware and accessory sales are up because the wii goods are becoming a bit more available in Canada (Ontario at least). You can finally walk into a gaming store and actually find a wiimote or nunchuck. So now everyone is buying that third and fourth wiimote to complete their system. Just a thought.

  • kevy619

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 6:05 am PT

    not much sony love in software sales

  • Niebz

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 1:46 am PT

    Wow, Nintendo is still selling like crazy up here. I do love being Canadian.

  • superman1988

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 1:44 am PT

    Pretty good considering our population is only 32 million

  • larlarbd

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 1:43 am PT

    Lumberingoaf I didn't know they had video games in Canada, good for them!

    ahh , guess who made NFS MW - the best looking & best playing NFS ? , yup - EA Canada , who made the next one one year later , - the crappier oen NFS carbon - Yup - the EA US one , guess They do have Video Games in Canada & Canadians are better at everything you ever do .

  • wiistation360

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 12:11 am PT

    Lumberingoaf I didn't know they had video games in Canada, good for them!


    even in Africa,they have video games

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted Jun 14, 2007 12:05 am PT

    Wow, go Canada. Slowly but surely catching up on sales, especially for Nintendo. This is becoming Nintendo driven continent, anyone knows Mexico's gaming sales?

  • Lumberingoaf posted Jun 13, 2007 11:54 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Lumberingoaf

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 11:54 pm PT (hide)

    I didn't know they had video games in Canada, good for them!

  • Tenjikuronin

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 10:51 pm PT

    PS3 beat GBA by 400 this month......I see an improvement on the horizon...lol

  • runbmp

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 10:08 pm PT

    To all my fellow Canadians!!! you all rock! and I'm proud to know most of you are real hardcore gamers!!! From Ottawa

  • Greedy470

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 8:51 pm PT

    Hahaha! thanks to me! (i live in canada........eh)

  • sniper_99

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 8:05 pm PT

    Canada FTW!

  • kevy619

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 7:29 pm PT

    to get fair pricing in canada, buy from the states lol. Buying from ebay sucks because we have to pay fees when it gets here. in my town, alot of people dont know if they want a ps3 or an xbox 360 yet, so they get nothing... or maybe a wii

  • Chainblast

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 7:25 pm PT

    "Chainblast, the price isn't adjusted for .62, it's done under .80. Of course that is off too but don't use a number (.062) to try to strengthen your argument. If .90 becomes an established base, then I'm sure the price will be adjusted accordingly."

    My comment about the .62 cent dollar was nothing more than a poke at how bad the Canadian dollar bottomed-out about 5 years ago. Much like my comment about NAFTA. It has little to do with my argument and I'm not sure why you'd think it did; other than I wrote it in the same comment box. I never used it as a reference in support of my point, which still stands.

    Canadian gamers deserve fair pricing. Especially when we boast such a strong market.

  • kevy619

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 7:23 pm PT

    psp sales surprise me lately, meanwhile im getting my ps3 for $350, no strings. I also got my 360 for $250 (all canadian dollars) so all together $600 isnt bad to have the two best systems imo.

  • Jamie_1987

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 7:21 pm PT

    hey enough with the canada bashing, canada is a beautiful country with really nice peaople and hot girls.

  • RollingZeppelin

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 7:13 pm PT

    "enoslives7
    canada is the 51st state" you obviously know nothing about Canada, so stfu.

  • RollingZeppelin

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 7:10 pm PT

    You'd think they'd give us more respect since were a large gaming community. Canadians dont get any of the downloadable tv shows like south park. I think its bullcrap that Americans get these features and M$ does nothing for other countries.

  • ranman1990

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 7:03 pm PT

    the Wii is doin great ... im glad i have one ... the only time ill be really excited is after E3 when they announce crap loads of games . i want my hands on Mario Galaxy , MP3 and Smash bros is the one i want the most ,,,, after all that i might invest in a ps3

  • xboxrulze

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 6:44 pm PT

    Go Canucks! lol we're a small but mean gaming country!

  • DaCloudz

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 6:03 pm PT

    Haha Canada is definitely a Nintendo country... not a PS3 country. I talked to a friend who works at Best Buy in Inventory and He says there are "A whole truck load" of PS3s in the back, with still plenty on the floor while they can't hold onto too many 360s in the back. Anyways... man.. i never realized how small Canada is in the game industry =P

  • Mar044

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 5:53 pm PT

    our exchange rate is sky high so we can buy more games from the u.s. at 94 cents right now that means more games in our pocket.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 5:40 pm PT

    vary nice

  • enoslives7 posted Jun 13, 2007 5:40 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    enoslives7

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 5:40 pm PT (hide)

    canada is the 51st state

  • mhder

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 5:09 pm PT

    Chainblast, the price isn't adjusted for .62, it's done under .80. Of course that is off too but don't use a number (.062) to try to strengthen your argument. If .90 becomes an established base, then I'm sure the price will be adjusted accordingly.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 5:07 pm PT

    Canda is PS3 terrority?

    LOL..dude have you walked into a EB in Toronto. They cannot move the PS3 at $400 with trade-in.

    Canada is gamer country...PS3 has no games.

  • bored88

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 4:59 pm PT

    I didn't buy any games in May.

  • AnFangs_Endes

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 4:55 pm PT

    lol @SonyRulzU:"I'm just jokin' around. I didn't mean any thing by it. I swear."

    *sniffle* Say that to the wall of text!

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 4:53 pm PT

    That was a good move by Nintendo to dominate the Pokemon domain. That's like having control of all meth, cocaine, and heroin distribution. Years from now, kids will be killing their parents for copies of Pokemon Platinum (or whatever it'll be called). Kids will have to be dragged from toy stores or carried when they attempt to go limp, and they'll be hysterically screaming stuff like "wwhhaaahhh'ha'ha'ha... I wish you weren't my daddy".

  • SonyRulzU

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 4:48 pm PT

    Come on guys, don't gang up on me now. I'm just jokin' around. I didn't mean any thing by it. I swear.

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