Aussie game sales down 19%

Sales of physical video game sales across Australia experience a decline of 19.5 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2012, according to figures from NPD released today.

According to the data, total sales for the local video game industry for January-June 2012 were $465.6 million, compared to $578.6 million for the same period in 2011. NPD local analyst Andrew Milgate described the software market shrink came as a result of a lack of new content.

"One of the reasons for the decline was a lack of new software released in the first half compared to last year," Milgate told GameSpot AU. "The number of new software SKUs in the market was down 30 percent, which was similar to the drop in new releases in the US (down 34 percent)."

However, the number of units sold only dropped by 2.8 percent, a fact Milgate attributes to a lowering of average game prices. Hardware prices also experienced a drop: according to NPD, the average price of hardware dropped by $51 in the first half of 2012. This lowered price led to a growth in units for HD consoles, in particular the PlayStation 3, which Milgate said saw a double-digit increase.

Despite the overall market loss, both PC Games and gaming peripherals increased in value and units during the period.

NPD also released a list of the top ten best-selling video games in Australia between January-June 2012, across all platforms including PC. Diablo III topped the list, followed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and Mass Effect 3.

The full list can be found below.

Top ten video games sold in Australia, January-June 2012
1. Diablo III
2. Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3
3. Mass Effect 3
4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
5. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure
6. Battlefield 3
7. Max Payne 3
8. Assassins Creed Revelations
9. Mario & Sonic At The London 2012 Olympic Games
10. Saints Row The Third