According to market research firm NPD, U.S. video games sales totaled $17.9 billion last year (a record), up from $13.5 billion in 2006, thanks to shiny new consoles and a slew of great games.

"The U.S. Video Games industry rose an astounding 43% in 2007 bolstered by strong performance in every product category," said NPD analyst, Anita Frazier. "While I wouldn't count on similar growth in 2008, I would expect to see 2008 increase over 2007, with more growth (proportionately) coming from software sales."

In terms of how things went down, the DS was the best-selling system last year with 8.5 million dual-screeners sold, followed by 6.3 million Wiis, 4.6 million Xbox 360s, 4 million PS2s, 3.8 million PSPs, and 2.6 million PS3s.

Halo 3 was the top-selling game last year, followed by a persistent Wii Play, a realistic Call of Duty 4 (360), a rocking Guitar Hero 3 (PS2), and an imaginative Super Mario Galaxy. Pokemon Diamond (DS), Madden 08 (PS2), Guitar Hero II (PS2), Assassin's Creed (360), and Mario Party 8 (Wii) filled out the bottom five.

"In a year of records, Mario was the second-best selling video games property for the year and remains the historically best-selling property in the video games industry," added Frazier.

Personally, I dislike that the industry is measured in revenues because the increase in price of games and systems does not necessarily mean that the industry has grown; it just means that the industry is milking the same consumers for more money.

it would be interesting to compare it with cinema and music industry.

 I don't think the console are more expensive as the past. Don't think Microsoft or Sony would have drop prizes if there were only two console on the market.

think how high it would of been if gta4 and SSBB werent delayed

 Well we will see how this year turns out with MGS4, GTA4, and SSBB.

^yes but im just saying if they launched last year it would have benn even higher and made the record even higher