{nl}It's not very often that we get statistics for Canadian video game sales, so it makes these figures all the more exciting. These figures show that Pokemon is still very popular in Canada not just North American in general. WiiPlay, which is bundled with a Wiimote, was the best selling title in Canada for the first half of 2007.{nl}

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{nl}{nl} Canadian Video Game Sales Up 61% {nl} {nl}The best selling game isn't hockey! {nl} {nl}The game industry is doing quite well up North as well. NPD data shows that total industry sales in Canada have reached $498 million, a 61 percent increase over the $310 million generated during the same time period last year. {nl} {nl}NPD noted that "all categories experienced exponential growth" for the first half of 2007. Video game hardware sales (both console and portable) climbed to more than $205 million, representing a 111 percent increase year-over-year. Furthermore, combined video game software sales (portable and console) totalled $205.5 million, accounting for 46 percent of total industry sales in Canada. {nl} {nl}The best selling game in Canada for the first six months of the year was Wii Play, followed by Pokemon Diamond, Xbox Value Pack, Pokemon Pearl and God of War II. {nl} {nl}"The video game industry in Canada is strong and continues to perform extraordinarily well," said Darrel Ryce, Director of Technology and Entertainment, The NPD Group. "This marks the fifth consecutive mid-year time period in Canada when sales were higher than the same time period from the previous year. What is so exceptional about year-to-date 2007 is that the growth is so significant."{nl}

{nl}{nl}Source: http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/news/?id=16894