DS and Wii outstrip US competition

Nintendo has continued its winning streak in the US, finishing comfortably ahead of opposition for hardware sales in 2007.

But Microsoft claims it was the real winner because it made the most money, raking in USD 4.8 billion compared to USD 3.5 billion on Wii, and USD 2.2 billion on PS3.

According to NPD data the DS sold 8.5 million and was followed by sibling Wii with 6.29 million.

Well ahead then, but Xbox 360 also put in a strong performance by shifting 4.62 million units.

Further down, pensioner PS2 pulled a youthful performance with 3.97 million, PSP managed 3.82 million, and PS3 sold 2.56 million in its first full year in shops.

Aha, but glance at the software favourites and the figures begin to make sense. Unsurprisingly Halo 3 sat atop the pile with 4.82 million, followed by chart-sticker Wii Play boasting 4.12 million.

Impressively, late arrival Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (360) crept to third with 3.04 million, partnered with Activision brethren Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (PS2) with 2.72 million. No Rock Band on the list, incidentally.

Then came the mighty Mario Galaxy in fifth with 2.52 million (oh come on you can do better than that), followed by Pokémon Diamond on DS with 2.48 million.

Yearly best seller Madden NFL 08 (PS2) managed 1.90 million to make seventh, while second Guitar Hero outing (PS2) shifted 1.89 million.

Rounding out the top ten for the year were Assassin's Creed (360) close behind with 1.87 million, and Mario Party 8 at 1.82 million.

All-in-all the US hardware and software market made USD 18 billion, which could have bought you Shell's Qatar oil plant last February. That figure was up 20 per cent on last year's total of USD 12.5 billion.