Aussie gaming retail sales down 19% on 2011 so far this year

Figures for Australian sales of gaming hardware and software have been released for the first half of 2011 and it’s not down on last year. At this point $578.6 million of gaming goods had been sold, down 19% to $465 million this year.

Speaking to MCV Pacific, a representative of the NPD Group explained that while hardware sales dropped in dollar value the sales of some consoles, such as the Playstation 3 did increase because of the drops.

Games were quiet as well as with only 3 out of the top ten selling games being released this year. Most of the games in the top ten are holder overs from 2011. Mass Effect 3, Diablo III and Max Payne 3 were the games. Not a single Nintendo game featured in the top ten however there hasn’t been much out this year. Not on the level of those games anyway.

The second half of the year though looks to be stronger though with tons of great games on the way and of course the Wii U at some point as well.