New York - Video game sales across the U.S., U.K. and Japan were up 11% in 2008 to 409.9 million units, according to a report that combines sales data from NPD Group (U.S.), GfK Chart-Track Limited (U.K.) and Enterbrain (Japan). The U.S. and U.K. saw sales rise 15% and 26%, respectively, while sales in Japan fell 13% in 2008.

"UK console videogame software units are more than double what was achieved in 2003, which just shows how fast the UK market has been growing," said Dorian Bloch, business group director at GfK.

"Because of this amazing growth and coupled with the downtown currently being experienced in Japan, the UK market has for the first time overtaken Japan as the No. 2 world market."

The report cited a decline in portable software, followed by console software, for the falloff in Japan; DS game sales were down slightly, while PlayStation 2 game sales were off 46% year-over-year.

Nintendo's "Wii Mario Kart" was the top-selling title across these three markets last year, followed by the company's "Wii Fit"; Take-Two's "Grand Theft Auto IV"; Nintendo's "Super Smash Bros. Brawl"; and Activision's "Call of Duty: World at War."

Related Links:
http://www.npd.com

http://www.chart-track.co.uk

http://www.enterbrain.co.jp