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Canadian game sales up 78 percent in August

Xbox 360 unseats PS3 usurper, as NPD reports north of the border sales approach C$100 million in combined hardware, software, accessory sales.

Last month, the PlayStation 3 successfully rode its E3 Media & Business Summit price cut past its Microsoft-created rival in the Canadian console sales charts, narrowly besting the Xbox 360 by a margin of 2,000 systems. However, a repeat performance was not in the cards for Sony's console, as reflected by the industry-tracking NPD Group's August charts for the Great White North.

Reflective of the US's nearly $1 billion haul in hardware, software, and accessories in August, Canada pulled in nearly C$100 million (about $98.5 million) in sales this month, up 78 percent compared to $51.8 million as of this time last year. Canada's year-to-date tally is also up to nearly C$675 million (about $665 million), a year-over-year increase of nearly 63 percent.

The platform wars raging between Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have continued to spur sales north of the border. While slightly down from the 15,000 units moved last month, the PlayStation 3 maintained its hardware push with 12,700 units for the month. However, riding its own early-August price cut, the Xbox 360 saw sales shoot up more than 100 percent to 26,700, from 13,000 in July.

While good enough to top the PlayStation 2's 20,800 sold, these numbers were not enough to wrest away the sales-leader title from Nintendo. The Nintendo DS again outsold all other hardware with 51,800 units, and the Wii led consoles with 34,400 systems. Rounding out the hardware charts, Sony's PlayStation Portable accrued 9,000 sales, while Nintendo's Game Boy Advance--which NPD has ceased to report in the US--sold 6,400 units.

Again proving the effect of Nintendo's and Sony's entrance into the next-generation contest, hardware sales have been a primary contributor to this year's dramatic rise in sales. In all, hardware sales for the month were up nearly 115 percent compared to this time last year, with console hardware alone having spiked by more than 221 percent year-over-year.

Hardware sales totaled more than C$40 million (about $39.4 million) for the month, up from last year's August numbers of just under C$20 million (about $19.7 million), with console sales rising from C$9.5 million (about $9.3 million) to C$30.7 million (about $30.2 million). Console hardware also saw a significant year-over-year bump, rising 30 percent, from C$7.3 million (about $7.2 million) to C$9.6 million (about $9.4 million). Likewise, accessories spiked 77 percent, from C$6 million (about $5.9 million) a year ago to C$10.6 million (about $10.4 million).

Exhibiting significant, though less dramatic, growth, software sales were also up nearly 43 percent in Canada. Neck and neck with hardware revenues, software sales for August tallied more than C$41 million (about $40.4 million). Console software saw the most significant rise, with the industry pulling in $30.5 million (about $30 million), a 52 percent uptick from last August's C$20 million (about $19.7 million). Portable software was also up nearly 22 percent, from C$8.8 million (about $8.6 million) to C$10.7 million (about $10.5 million). The best-selling software titles for the month are listed below.

Canada's top-10 selling non-PC games for August 2007:
1. BioShock--X360
2. Madden NFL 08--X360
3. Wii Play with Wii Remote--Wii
4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption--Wii
5. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day--DS
6. Guitar Hero 2 with Guitar--PS2
7. Madden NFL 08--PS2
8. Mario Strikers Charged--Wii
9. Guitar Hero 2 with Guitar--X360
10. New Super Mario Bros.--DS

112 Comments

  • Neo9898_98

    Posted Nov 21, 2007 2:39 pm PT

    "Salarian those are in the states he said Toronto. We dont have Gamestop or really any 711s in Canada."
    What are you talking about...
    All EB Games are the same thing as gamestop and give out gametop bags. Also, I can name at least 3 711s in the Toronto area.

  • mergirox

    Posted Sep 29, 2007 8:11 am PT

    funny how the canadian dollar is bigger than the us dollar

  • Taylor_Riel

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 8:23 am PT

    RickLemieux: "...I remember having to place my PS1 upside down, so that it could play my games..."

    LOL...that's hillarious, good point.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 6:28 pm PT

    Guitar Hero 2 is neverr stopping!

  • devtek

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 5:50 pm PT

    Salarian those are in the states he said Toronto. We dont have Gamestop or really any 711s in Canada.

    "ERNieRN

    does anyone know of any midnight halo events in the toronto area?"

    All the Futureshops are open at midnight (except Sudbury), Bay and Dundas Best Buy has a one (Gaming Invasion on the weekend before as well). Other Best Buys and some EBGames are open at midnight too i think.

  • RickLemieux

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 12:06 pm PT

    Taylor_Riel "I gotta ask xbox 360 fans out there, how can you put up with that noisy CD drive? That was the main reason (other than the 3 red lights of death) that I didn't consider the 360. Microsoft could learn a thing or two from Sony about how to make quality hardware."

    That's funny, I remember having to place my PS1 upside down, so that it could play my games. I also remember having to send my PS2 in for repairs! What I think you mean to say is finally Sony put together a system that works...

  • DonSosa

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 10:26 am PT

    wooo nintendo pwns again

  • bulldog7

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 10:03 am PT

    I like these Canadian NPD numbers, keep them coming!

  • SalarianChemist

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 4:38 am PT

    Halo 3 events:

    Gamestop announced that there are going to be all sorts of cool events, like beverages, trivia games, and stuff like that at their stores.

    I also know that it is cool that on September 24 Burger King will start selling cool Halo meal stuff!!!

    Awesome cups, and even fries with Halo 3 on them!!!

    7 Eleven also has three cool different Halo 3 collectable cups! I really like one in particular where Master Chief is holding a Captured Flag, and when you tilt the cup back and forth, the flag waves in his hands and a ship flies by...It is AWESOME!!!

  • ERNieRN

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 3:37 am PT

    does anyone know of any midnight halo events in the toronto area?

  • dbeddow

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 2:39 am PT

    What? No 360 bashings from PS3 fanboys? odd...

  • greater_bird

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 12:32 am PT

    Interesting to see GBA sales in this, since they're rarely given. I can understand why they're still selling, but I was shocked that they're selling over two-thirds of the sales of the PSP.

    Nintendo really does have the portable market sewn up when their *old-generation* system is pulling comparable numbers to their only competition...

  • Super-Mario-Fan

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 7:12 pm PT

    Great White North? Lol. Most Canadians don't live as far north as Alaska.

  • Moncada5

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 6:17 pm PT

    @Taylor_Riel " gotta ask xbox 360 fans out there, how can you put up with that noisy CD drive?"

    I don't really know how noisy you think it is but its not that loud to me, I mean unless you have sensitive ears or you want it complete silence it doesnen't really bother me at all. My xbox isn't really that loud.

  • enoslives7

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 6:13 pm PT

    What !!! No hockey games in the top 10 ??

  • lamprey263

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 5:38 pm PT

    @Taylor_Riel " gotta ask xbox 360 fans out there, how can you put up with that noisy CD drive?"

    simple, my 5.1 surround sound, or my Bose headphones, and if you can still hear the drive you're not really playing the games like you should be

  • Taylor_Riel

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 5:32 pm PT

    I'll be adding to these numbers this (long) winter. I gotta PSP, and have just made my mind up 2 go with the Wii over the PS3 (my wife only wants to play Wii games, not PS3 "anti-social" games). Yes - my wife does make my mind up often

    I gotta ask xbox 360 fans out there, how can you put up with that noisy CD drive? That was the main reason (other than the 3 red lights of death) that I didn't consider the 360. Microsoft could learn a thing or two from Sony about how to make quality hardware.

  • bcolter

    Posted Sep 19, 2007 4:54 pm PT

    Lord knows I'm spending WAY too much money on games... It's a long cold winter in the prairies...

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