Bloombergreports that the NPD Group's data shows January video game sales plunged 13% compared to the year before. Sales slumped despite strong sales for Call of Duty and Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros Wii.
Industry insiders blamed the disappointing January sales on consumer fatigue following the holiday shopping season and shortages of Nintendo Co.'s motion-controlled Wii videogame console.
NPD said sales of videogame software dropped 12% from the same month a year earlier to $597 million, which is much worse than analysts expected.
The fall came despite continued growth in sales of Activision Blizzard's latest "Call of Duty" game, which was released in November and was the fourth-biggest seller in January. Nintendo's "New Super Mario Bros Wii" topped the sales list with 656,700 units.
Wii shortages likely reduced January sales. The Wii still outsold other consoles in January despite the shortage. Here are the top five bestselling games in January.
New Super Mario Bros., Wii (Wii, Nintendo of America) 656.7k
Mass Effect 2, (360, Electronic Arts) 572.1k
Wii Fit Plus w/ Balance Board, (Wii, Nintendo of America) 555.7k
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, 360 Activision Blizzard 326.7k
Mario Kart w/ Wheel, (Wii, Nintendo of America) 310.9k
Bloomberg 
