July NPD: Post-E3 mellow

Here's our theory for the overall drop in US sales in July versus June: just readingE3 coverage in the middle of the month was enough gaming excitement for a significant portion of the audience. Too crazy? Here's another one: people decided to reduce their spending now in anticipation of stuff coming later. And, for fun, one more: it was just too hot outside for video games. Who needs logic when you've got imagination?

It's easy enough to explain the DS's drop (which, we must point out, takes it from number one to number one): June saw the release of a huge new game and hardware bundle, sales of which were largest at launch. The rest: who knows? The top ten games are after the break.

• DS: 608K

  175K (-22.35%)

• Wii: 555K

  111K (-16.7%)

• PS3: 224.9K

  180.1K (-44.5%)

• PSP: 221.7K

  115.3K (-34.21%)

• Xbox 360: 204.8K

  15.2K (-6.91%)

• PS2: 155.5K

  33K (-17.6%)

Software:

1. NCAA Football 09 (Xbox 360): 397.6K

2. Wii Fit (Wii): 369.6K

3. Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS): 309.7K

4. Wii Play w/ remote (Wii): 284K

5. NCAA Football 09 (PS3): 242.5K

6. Soulcalibur IV - (Xbox 360): 218.9K

7. Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel (Wii): 174.5K

8. 8. Rock Band Special Edition. Bundle (Wii): 165.8K

9. Soulcalibur IV (PS3): 155.8K

10. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (Xbox 360): 147.6K