UPDATE 1-U.S. Video game sales up 1 pct in September-NPD

* Hardware sales down 6 pct, software sales up 5 pct

* First month of growth in a half-year

* Sony PS3 is top-selling console

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Sales of video game equipment and software in the United States rose a modest 1 percent in September to 1.28 billion, research group NPD said on Monday, as the industry posted the first month of growth in half a year following price cuts from all the home console makers.

Hardware sales fell 6 percent from a year ago, while software sales rose 5 percent, NPD said. Sales of video game accessories rose 2 percent.

Sony Corp's (6758.T) PlayStation 3 was the top-selling home console for the first time, NPD said, dethroning long-running champ Nintendo (7974.OS) and its Wii console. Microsoft's (MSFT.O) Xbox 360 was No. 3.

The industry has been mired in a slump as U.S. consumers continue to spend cautiously. But long-awaited console price cuts and new games are expected to boost sales in coming months. (Reporting by Ian Sherr)