Wii and "Call of Duty" top monthly sales

By Scott Hillis

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - U.S. sales of video-game hardware and software jumped more than 50 percent in November, driven by record purchases of Nintendo Co Ltd's (7974.OS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Wii console and several new blockbuster games, industry data showed on Thursday.

A rising consumer tide ahead of the holidays lifted all three major console makers, with Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) laying claim to the biggest chunk of total spending and Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) boasting the biggest single-month gain.

In terms of hardware units, Nintendo remained on top of the U.S. market as it sold 981,000 Wiis. That was the best showing since its November 2006 launch, according to market research firm NPD.

The Wii has been in hot demand due largely to its unique motion-sensing controller and simpler games that have drawn customers outside the traditional base of young males.

"I think there's enough heat around the Wii that there's a sense of urgency to go find it and find it early. People went out in November and whenever they could see it, they bought it," George Harrison, vice president of marketing for Nintendo of America, told Reuters.

Total U.S. sales of video-game hardware and software hit $2.63 billion in November, up 52 percent from $1.74 billion a year earlier, NPD said.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 console sold 770,000 units, NPD said. Microsoft said spending on Xbox hardware, games and accessories totaled $763 million, or about 30 percent of the industry's total monthly sales.

"We're sweeping on all the games ... we've got the games people want to play," said Microsoft spokesman David Dennis, noting that four of the top 10 games were for the Xbox 360.