New York - U.S. video game sales were up 37% in July, boosted by increased sales of the recently-discounted PlayStation 3 and strong sales of competing consoles from Microsoft and Nintendo, Reuters reported, citing sales data from market research firm NPD Group.

Combined hardware and software sales in July totaled $925.5 million, up from $676.6 million in the same month a year ago.

Game console sales were up 140%, to $286 million; Nintendo led overall with 425,000 Wii unit sales, followed by Microsoft with sales of 170,000 Xbox 360 consoles.

Sony saw a jump in sales of its PlayStation 3 -- which is now $100 cheaper -- to 159,000 units for the month.

"That was exciting and very much in line with expectations, especially since we're talking about the doldrums of summer," Sony Computer Entertainment America CEO Jack Tretton told Reuters.

U.S. game software sales in July also rose 11%, to $419 million, led by Electronic Arts' "NCAA Football 08," which sold 789,000 units across all platforms.

Activision's "Guitar Hero" and "Transformers" titles also placed in the top ten, along with Nintendo's "Wii Play" and "Mario Party 8" for the Wii, and "Pokemon Diamond" for the DS.

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http://www.npd.com