The gaming industry has followed up a strong March 2010 with a really weak April. Compared to last April, hardware sales were down 37% and software dropped 22% in North America.

The main culprit for the hardware decline, according to the NPD's report, is the DS. It sold over a million in April 2009, thanks to the DSi's launch. It couldn't hit that mark this year despite the release of the DSi XL in late March.

The NPD attributes the sagging software sales to a drop-off in the sales of March 2010's new releases, such as God of War III and Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver. They sold 75% fewer copies in April. The new release sales decline was only 54% in 2009.

Hardware

• Nintendo DS 440.8K
• Wii 277.2K
• Xbox 360 185.4K
• PlayStation 3 180.8K
• PSP 65.5K

Software

1. TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL: CONVICTION - 360 - 486.1K
2. POKEMON SOULSILVER VERSION - NDS - 242.9K
3. NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII - WII - 200.3K
4. POKEMON HEARTGOLD VERSION - NDS 192.6K
5. GOD OF WAR III - PS3 - 180.3K
6. WII SPORTS RESORT W/ WII MOTION PLUS - WII
7. BATTLEFIELD: BAD COMPANY 2 - 360
8. WII FIT PLUS W/ BALANCE BOARD* - WII
9. JUST DANCE - WII
10. SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV - PS3