NPD Number Crunch: Metal Gear Solid 4 tops software sales, but doesn't break 1M

It's that time of the month again where the NPD Group makes its monthly console gaming industry sales figures public, and we're treated to their teardown for June. Compared to May, June's industry sales increased greatly thanks to stronger software and hardware sales across the board.

June 2008 US Games Industry Summary

Total sales - $1.69 billion USD
Console software - $872.6 million USD
Console hardware - $615.1 million USD
Console accessories - $202 million USD

June 2008 US Hardware Sales

Nearly all consoles enjoyed a healthy boost in sales, particularly the PS3 numbers which practically doubled thanks in no small part to Metal Gear Solid 4's release. The PS2 makes its return to the NPD charts after its mysterious disappearing act in May, and surprisingly it had a pretty good run last month, just over 30,000 units short of the Xbox 360.

Somebody is clearly happy with their console sales thus far, as Nintendo is quick to boast that their lifetime-to-date sales for the Wii have since surpassed those the Xbox 360. Microsoft's console launched ahead of its rivals, and company reps at first company to reach in sales ought to be crowned this generation's console race victor. Perhaps realizing just how quickly Nintendo managed to gain ground with the Wii in a short period of time, they now maintain that the first to 100 million will be the victor.

June 2008 US Game Software Sales

The big winner on the software sales wars last month was easily Konami's Metal Gear Solid 4. Old Snake's old spice was just too irresistable for those who really wanted to finish the tactical espionage fight. Unfortunately, MGS4 didn't manage to break over one million units in sales during its first month, unlike GTAIV and Mario Kart Wii.

As with May, only one Guitar Hero game made the charts in June, but this time it's the new DS release which launched with a bang. Indeed, Activision already noted Guitar Hero On Tour was its finest DS launch yet, and the publisher (naturally) is already gunning for a DS sequel. That Guitar Hero DS peripheral sure proved to be less of a turn-off than the naysayers expected.

Another new entry into the charts was Tecmo's Ninja Gaiden II for the Xbox 360. The latest game in Team Ninja's punishing action game series has nothing to be ashamed of by jumping straight to third place in its first month of release. Sadly, the game's release was shadowed by the resignation of Team Ninja's outspoken head producer Tomonobu Itagaki, and his subsequent lawsuit against his former parent company for unpaid bonuses.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl has all but fallen off the face of the charts in June, as did both the new Pokemon games. On the flip side, Wii Play is still hogging a spot in the top ten months after its initial release. Wii Fit also remains on the chart after launching in May, but its sales figures have dropped quite a bit by over 300,000 units.

Meanwhile, three different versions of Lego Indiana Jones occupy the bottom part of the NPD software sales chart. No doubt the game was basking in the warm glow of the recent motion picture release.