The popularity of the new BioShock 2 game may have been behind Microsoft’s sales of 422,000 Xbox 360s in February, an eight percent increase from a year earlier, according to NPD Group. Nintendo sold 397,900 Wiis and Sony sold 360,100 PlayStation 3 consoles in February.

The BioShock 2 game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 was released on Feb. 10 and sold 750,000 units. Of those, 75 percent, or 562,900, were for the Xbox 360.

“We’re excited about the biggest February in Xbox 360 history,” said Dennis Durkin, COO of Microsoft’s interactive entertainment business, in an e-mail. “We know consumers are hungry for our 2010 portfolio of exclusive blockbuster games, industry-leading online experiences over Xbox LIVE, and for the holiday release of Project Natal for Xbox 360.”

A Sense of Excitement

While BioShock 2 has created a buzz among gamers, so have sensing controllers. Microsoft’s Project Natal system will let Xbox players use body motions to control the game instead of pressing buttons or waving a controller.

Microsoft wasted no time in getting celebrities to praise Project Natal’s potential. Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard called the technology “amazing”; former NFL quarterback Willie Gault said it was one of the “most realistic game experiences” he has had; and pro beach volleyball player Misty-May Treanor said it’s great for someone who, like her, is in physical therapy.

This week, Sony revealed additional information about its own new motion-control sensor. Dubbed the PlayStation Move, Sony first provided details last June. The controller allows PS3 gamers to use an Eye web camera and a wand to detect motion.

The controller will be packaged as a starter kit with a PlayStation Eye, a PlayStation Move controller, and a demonstration disc. The black controller is similar to the Wii wand, developed in 2006, and will be priced below $100, according to Sony.

Nintendo Falls Behind in U.S.

Microsoft executives may be beaming with their new position in the gaming market, but Nintendo still leads worldwide. Nintendo has sold more than 67.5 million Wii consoles worldwide, compared with more than 39 million Xbox 360s and 33 million PS3s, according to NPD.

But that success does not come without challenges. Last month the U.S. gaming industry saw a 15 percent drop in revenue to $1.26 billion, according to NPD. The drop was a result of a 15 percent decrease in sales of gaming software and a bad month for Nintendo.

December was a record-breaker for Nintendo with 3.81 billion units sold. When that was followed by a 31 percent decrease in sales in January, analysts speculated Nintendo didn’t have enough inventory to meet demand. That was confirmed by Nintendo America President Reggie Fils-Aimé.

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New Super Mario Bros
by Nintendo
164 days in the top 100
Platform: Nintendo Wii
(79)

Buy new: $49.99
34 used & new from $42.77

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product’s current rank.)

Developers at Nintendo have dreamed of creating a simultaneous multiplayer Super Mario Bros. game for decades. The Wii console finally makes that dream come true for everyone with New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Supporting 2-4 players in side-scrolling co-op and competitive platforming action, and featuring a mix of fan favorites and new characters, new powerups and various input options via the Wii Remote, it is destined to become an instant classic in one of the most beloved game franchises of all-time.

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Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board
by Nintendo
90 days in the top 100
Platform: Nintendo Wii
(47)

Buy new: $99.99 $89.99
36 used & new from $89.99

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product’s current rank.)

Wii Fit attracted millions of new players to the world of video games. Now Wii Fit Plus offers a range of new features and enhancements to help players reinvigorate their workouts, along with exercises and balance games designed to keep them fun. Players will find a new dimension to the Wii Fit experience as they easily set their own customized workout routines, or choose 20-, 30- or 40-minute workouts based on how much time they have available.

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Wii
by Nintendo
1097 days in the top 100
Platform: Nintendo Wii
(1803)

Buy new: $199.99
255 used & new from $174.99

(Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Video Games list for authoritative information on this product’s current rank.)

Nintendo’s Wii video game system (pronounced “we”) brings people of all ages and video game experience together to play. This simple yet ground breaking idea is expressed not only though the system’s evocative name, which is easily pronounced in a variety of languages, and suggests two players side by side, but also through its innovative list of features and extensive list of playable titles.

Wii with Wii Remote. View larger.

A Little Box With Plenty of Power
As with every console, much of the buzz surrounds the specs. The Wii boasts 512 MB of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports, and a slot for SD memory expansion. The system’s technological heart — a processing chip developed with IBM and code-named “Broadway” and a graphics chipset from ATI code-named “Hollywood” — deliver stunning performance. And instead of a tray, Wii uses a single, self-loading media bay that plays both 12-centimeter optical discs used for the new system, as well as Nintendo GameCube discs.

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