February NPD: Total sales up, new games come out swinging

Here's something we didn't expect to say in a non-holiday month or one without the launch of a new DS or something: Total US game revenue is up year-over-year, from $1.3 billion to $1.6 billion. Hardware and accessories both saw gains, while software dipped a bit between February 2010 and 2011.

There's also good news in software top ten chart -- at least, good news for people who like the charts to look different every month, with top-ten debuts for Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Killzone 3, Bulletstorm, and Mario Sports Mix, all of which launched in the month of February. The dance genre continued to dominate, with Just Dance 2, Michael Jackson, and Zumba Fitness holding on.

Top 10 best-selling games for February 2011:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops -- 360, PS3, WII, NDS, PC -- 1 -- Activision Blizzard

• Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds -- 360, PS3 -- 2 -- Capcom

• Just Dance 2 -- WII -- 3 -- Ubisoft

• NBA 2K11 -- 360, PS3, PSP, WII, PS2, PC -- 4 -- Take 2 Interactive

• Dead Space 2 -- 360, PS3, PC -- 5 -- Electronic Arts

• Zumba Fitness: Join the Party -- WII, 360, PS3 -- 6 -- Majesco

• Bulletstorm -- 360, PS3, PC -- 7 -- Electronic Arts

• Killzone 3 -- PS3 -- 8 -- Sony

• Michael Jackson The Experience -- WII, DS, PSP -- 9 -- Ubisoft

• Mario Sports Mix -- WII -- 10 -- Nintendo