Video Game Sales Up 18 Percent in U.S.

LOS ANGELES – Overall U.S. video game sales rose 18 percent to $13.5 billion in 2006, boosted by new consoles from Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co. Ltd. and titles like "Madden NFL 07" and "World of Warcraft," market research firm NPD said on Thursday.

Sales of video games and accessories for consoles and portable devices grew to $12.5 billion from $10.5 billion in 2005. Revenue from PC games rose 1 percent to top $970 million in 2006.

Sony (SNE) and Nintendo released their PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles in November and were sold out at launch.

"Madden NFL 2007" from Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) was the top-selling video game for consoles and hand-held devices, based on unit sales, while "World of Warcraft" was the top PC game.

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Lists of the best-selling console/hand-held and PC games follow:

Top 10 console/handheld video games 2006

1. "Madden NFL 07," EA (all platforms)

2. "Cars," THQ Inc. (THQI) (all platforms except PS3)

3. "Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy," LucasArts (all platforms except Wii, PS3)

4. "NCAA Football 07," EA (Xbox 360, Xbox, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable)

5. "New Super Mario Bros.," Nintendo (Nintendo DS)

6. "Need for Speed: Most Wanted," EA (all platforms except Wii, PS3)

7. "Gears of War," Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) (Xbox 360)

8. "Call of Duty 3," Activision Inc. (ATVI) (all platforms except Nintendo GameCube, DS)

9. "Lego Star Wars," LucasArts (older consoles)

10. "Fight Night Round 3," EA (Xbox 360, Xbox, PS2, PSP, PS3)

Top 10 PC games 2006:

1. "World Of Warcraft," Vivendi

2. "The Sims 2," EA

3. "The Sims 2: Open For Business Expansion Pack," EA

4. "Star Wars: Empire At War," LucasArts

5. "The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack," EA

6. "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion," Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO)

7. "Age Of Empires III," Microsoft

8. "The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff Expansion Pack," EA

9. "Civilization IV," Take-Two

10. "The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack," EA