The NPD Group has released their hardware and software numbers for the month of August, representing sales for the United States for the four week period of August 3rd to August 31st.

This month, there were two notables:

• Madden NFL 09 released this month, being the top seller that it usually is
• 360 barely outselling PS3

Hardware numbers:
NDS: 518.3k (129.6k per week)
WII: 453.0k (113.3k per week)
PSP: 253.0k (63.25k per week)
360: 195.2k (48.80k per week)
PS3: 185.4k (46.35k per week)
PS2: 144.1k (36.03k per week)

2008 Year-to-Date in US:
WII: 4,490,000
NDS: 4,313,300
PS3: 2,018,400
PSP: 1,957,000
360: 1,754,200

2008 Lifetime-to-Date in US:
NDS: 21,903,000
PSP: 12,469,000
WII: 11,860,000
360: 10,865,200
PS3: 5,266,400

The top ten software went as follows:
01. [360] Madden NFL 09 (Electronic Arts) - 08/2008 - 1.0m
02. [PS3] Madden NFL 09 (Electronic Arts) - 08/2008 - 643k
03. [PS2] Madden NFL 09 (Electronic Arts) - 08/2008 - 424.5k
04. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) - 05/2008 - 394.9k
05. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) - 04/2008 - 328.7k
06. [WII] Wii Play (Nintendo) - 02/2007 - 200.2k
07. [360] Soul Calibur IV (Namco Bandai) - 07/2008 - 174k
08. [360] Too Human (Microsoft) - 08/2008 - 168.2k
09. [WII] Madden NFL 09 (Electronic Arts) - 08/2008 115.8k
10. [NDS] Guitar Hero: On Tour (Activision Blizzard) - 06/2008 - 111.2k

Some software LTDs:
[WII] Wii Play: 6,608,657
[WII] Mario Kart Wii: 2,737,700
[WII] Wii Fit: 1,827,900
[NDS] Guitar Hero: On Tour: 843,200

Things to point out:

• As expected, Madden NFL 09 was the top seller, selling 2,183,300 copies among the four console versions of the game.
• Too Human opens to a below-average first month based on the expectations of the controversial Silicon Knights head Denis Dyack.
• The Nintendo trio of Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Play continue to sell

Things to look for next month:

• Another 360 price cut went into effect, seemingly having a positive impact on sales
• The Wii should eclipse the 12 million mark in September, and the 360 the 11 million mark.

[July 2008 NPD]