Video game hardware, software, accessories generated $10.5 bln in 2005

US retail sales of video game hardware, software and accessories hit a record $10.5 bln in 2005 as strong demand from portable gaming gadgets offset weakness in console players, NPD Group says. The results surpassed the old record of $10.3 bln set in 2002 and were 6% higher than the $9.9 bln reported in 2004. Software for portable players (like GameBoy Advance and Sony PSP) jumped 42% to $1.4 bln in 2005, which is the second straight year with sales above $1 bln.