ChartSpot: February 2010

As the 2010 Game Developers Conference hit its apex last Thursday, the NPD Group released its US game sales report for the month of February. Besides showing an overall decline of 15 percent in sales of non-PC game software, hardware, and accessories, the report revealed the top 10 game products for the month.

The Xbox 360 edition of BioShock 2 topped the list, which also featured (in order of unit-volume sales): New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (360), Just Dance (Wii), Wii Sports Resort, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS3), Mass Effect 2 (360), Dante's Inferno: Divine Edition (PS3), Dante's Inferno (360), and Heavy Rain (PS3).

Now, NPD has release its full top 20 lists for both non-PC and PC games. Though the rankings don't divulge unit sales, they do show which titles missed the previously revealed non-PC top 10 but were still popular during the month. In 11th place was the 360 edition of the critically drubbed Aliens vs. Predator, followed by the PS3 edition of top-finisher BioShock 2.

No other new games made the top 20, which did include (by rank from 13th place on) New Super Mario Bros. (DS), Mario Kart Wii with Wheel (Wii), MAG (PS3), Wii Fit Plus, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, and the God of War Collection.

Over on the PC side, the picture was even more complicated. Since the rankings are by individual product, the a la carte and collector's editions of Star Trek Online were listed separately, coming in second and fourth place despite less-than-stellar reviews. (See bottom.) In first was The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff, the latest virtual goods add-on to the still-popular Sims 3, which came in third during the month.

BioShock 2 debuted in fifth place, just ahead of the Sentinel's Fate expansion to EverQuest II--a rare sighting of Sony Online Entertainment's massively multiplayer online game on the charts. (The collector's edition of the expansion landed in 13th place.) The only other newcomer was Sega's Aliens vs. Predator, which finished second-to-last in 19th place.

TOP 20 US NON-PC GAMES - FEBRUARY 2010

RANK / LAST MONTH / TITLE / PLATFORM / PUBLISHER / RELEASE DATE / SALES*
1 / ** / BioShock 2 / 360 / 2K Games / Feb-10 / 562,900
2 / 1 / New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Wii / Nintendo / Nov-09 / 555,600
3 / 4 / Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 / 360 / Activision / Nov-09 / 314,300
4 / 9 / Just Dance / Wii / Ubisoft / Nov-09 / 275,400
5 / 6 / Wii Sports Resort with WiiMotion Plus / Wii / Nintendo / Jul-09 / 272,500
6 / 7 / Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 / PS3 / Activision / Nov-09 / 252,800
7 / 2 / Mass Effect 2 / 360 / Electronic Arts / Jan-10 / 246,500
8 / ** / Dante's Inferno: Divine Edition / PS3 / Electronic Arts / Feb-10 / 242,500
9 / ** / Dante's Inferno / 360 / Electronic Arts / Feb-10 / 224,700
10 / ** / Heavy Rain / PS3 / Sony / Feb-10 / 219,300
11 / ** / Aliens vs. Predator / 360 / Sega / Feb-10
12 / ** / BioShock 2 / PS3 / 2K Games / Feb-10
13 / 18 / New Super Mario Bros. / DS / Nintendo / May-06
14 / 5 / Mario Kart Wii with Wheel / Wii / Nintendo / Apr-08
15 / 13 / MAG / PS3 / Sony / Jan-10
16 / 3 / Wii Fit Plus / Nintendo / Oct-09
17 / ** / Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games / Wii / Sega / Oct-09
18 / 20 / God of War Collection / PS3 / Sony / Nov-09
19 / 16 / Mario Kart DS / DS / Nintendo / Nov-05
20 / ** / NBA 2K10 / 360 / 2K Games / Oct-09

* = Sales only available for top 10 SKUs

TOP 20 US PC GAMES - FEBRUARY 2010

RANK / TITLE / PUBLISHER / DATE
1 / The Sims 3: High-End Loft Stuff / Electronic Arts / Feb-10
2 / Star Trek Online / Atari / Feb-10
3 / The Sims 3 / Electronic Arts / Jun-09
4 / Star Trek Online Collector's Ed. / Atari / Feb-10
5 / BioShock 2 / 2K Games / Feb-10
6 / EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate / Sony Online Ent. / Feb-10
7 / Mass Effect 2 / Electronic Arts / Jan-10
8 / World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King / Blizzard / Nov-08
9 / The Sims 2 Double Deluxe / Electronic Arts / Apr-08
10 / The Sims 3: World Adventures / Electronic Arts / Nov-09
11 / Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 / Activision / Nov-09
12 / World of Warcraft: Battle Chest / Blizzard / Sep-07
13 / EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate Collector's Ed / Sony Online Ent. / Feb-10
14 / IGT Slots: Texas Tea / Masque / Sep-09
15 / The Sims 3 Collector's Ed. / Electronic Arts / Jun-09
16 / Dragon Age: Origins / Electronic Arts / Oct-09
17 / Mumbo Jumbo Assortment / Mumbo Jumbo / Jul-09
18 / World of Warcraft / Blizzard / Nov-04
19 / Aliens vs. Predator / Sega of America / Feb-10
20 / The Sims 2 Fun with Pets Collection / Electronic Arts / Jan-10

Source: The NPD Group