Yer late, son...

NPD was MIA for MAY. On June 2nd, the Port Washington, N.Y.-based retail sales tracker announced that it would be delaying the May 2010 NPD results for up to 3 weeks. The reason for the delay was stated by NPD to accommodate “a significant upgrade to the IT architecture.” A NPD representative said about the upgrade, “This is long overdue, and is being done to better serve all of our clients and research partners.” So it’s only about fine-tuning the data processing equipment, that’s all. Nothing to do with the passive-aggressive mind games we’ve become accustomed to from The NPD Group, right? OK. I can go with that.

Incidentally on June 1st, rival renegade tracker VGChartz underwent a massive overhaul showcasing a more professional look touting it being used as a source by Reuters TV, The New York Times, BBC, CNN Money, Forbes, Fortune, The Guardian, and The Guinness Book of World Records. Be careful, NPD. Too many shell games and eventually people will stop paying tribute. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?

‘Free’ isn’t quite the word to describe this month’s NPD figures. ‘Freefall’ would probably be more appropriate to get a gist of what went on in May’s sales charts. Despite blockbuster releases from Rockstar Games and Nintendo, overall industry sales continue to look flat like in the April before. It reminds you of this exact time in 2009 when sales dropped off the planet all of a sudden after March. Is it broke pockets, gaming disinterest, the NBA playoffs, what? Or maybe NPD needs to do a little more fine-tuning on their equipment, that’s what. Ahem. May I interest you in some late NPD estimates? I may? Why thank you! Better late than never, I always say.

Nintendo’s DS knocked ‘em out like Floyd Mayweather Jr. selling 383,700 burgundy and bronze biggies in the month of May Day. In the month of April Fools, the DS Triad smuggled 440,800 Developers’ Systems to its customers showing a perplexing decrease. DS still starts at the top of the charts like usual but something significant is going on with these numbers. Even with 3 different models of the system on the market, the DS couldn’t even break the 400,000 limit this month. I still say the inflated prices of the DSi and DSi XL hamper it but most of all it could be the very announcement of the 3DS tamping things down. The revelation of the next-level of DS sort of sucked the air out of the room for the existing DS models. Still despite it all, DS reigns overall in this modest hierarchy. Whether you’re the big fish in a big pond or a small pond, remember…just be the big fish.

Nintendo’s Wii asked “Mother May I?” as it sought permission to deliver 334,800 galactic gifts to Mama in the month of Mother’s Day. In the month of Arbor Day, Miyamoto from Kyoto planted 277,200 Wiis for yews showing an increase. Well, that Wal-Mart “Special Value Edition” from March became a permanent deal with the introduction of the black Wii on May 9th. Nintendo is testing Michael Jackson’s declaration “It don’t matter if you’re black or white” with shoppers who now get to pick out their Wii Sports/Wii Sports Resort pack-ins from both colors (while picking from their baby blue and pink Wiimotes). Funny thing is the new package didn’t boost Wii’s sales all that dramatically or possibly that it helped it just get to the number it did. I don’t know what’s worse, honestly. And the same goes for the outstanding Super Mario Galaxy 2! Wow! What is up? As Nintendo repackages Wii to offset the upcoming motion control counterattacks from Microsoft and Sony, they’re going to have to figure out how to light the fire under the platform again. These are good numbers but Wii is capable of doing so much more. Well at least it’s better than last May’s total.

Microsoft’s XBox 360 observed a 21-gun salute to remember the soldiers MIA as they sold 194,600 crossed square circles in the month of Memorial Day. In the month of 4/20, 360 smoked 185,400 green stashes to forget displaying a small increase in the process. Until the fallout from the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo settles, we won’t know how Microsoft’s controller-free control will affect its future sales. Will it be able to match or even surpass a weaker Wii which still doubles it in monthly sales? Can it finally finish the job against the PlayStation 3 and leave them twisting in the wind? You wanted to hear the answer to cliffhanger questions? Well BAM! There it is.

Sony’s PlayStation 3 told them to hold the mayo as they sold 154,500 PS triple deckers in National Hamburger Month. In the month of the Boston Marathon, PS3 Slim sold 180,800 long-distance runners showing a mild decrease. For every month in the year 2010, the PS3 has fallen behind its direct rival, the XBox 360. With the September 2009 jumpstart, the PS3 had been mostly beating out the 360. But after their last victory over the 360 in December, the flame of the rising phoenix has been at a simmer. On the worldwide stage, PS3 tops 360 especially in Japan and most recently in Europe. But here in America, PS3 struggles against the X in its strongest market. Sony’s gonna need more than the promise of Move to keep up its momentum in the short term.

Sony’s PlayStation Portable sailed into oblivion on the Mayflower with just 59,400 gone daddio gones in May. In April, the PSP sold 65,500 pitiful sad portables somehow showing a decrease! So much for last month’s record for lowest PSP monthly sales ever. Leave it to the PSP to sink to new depths. Now this May is the lowest monthly PSP sales ever. Oh and if you’re somehow keeping count, it’s 21 months of yearly comparative decline. Almost 2 straight years of declining performance. Sony, put this handheld out of its misery and pull the plug. Its Japanese sales are not enough to keep it afloat. But hold off until after August. Gotta have my 2 year decline count noted for the record.

Made in assembly, the U.S. videogame industry amassed $823.5 million in total sales for May, a 5% droop from last May. Of this less-than-billion dollar figure, total hardware sales mowed down 20% to $241.5 million while total software sales grew up 4% to $466.3 million. All the while, total accessory sales materialized up 3% to $115.7 million. Another modest May. Hmm.

For the year-to-date, the industry mashed down 10% to $5.56 billion (hardware segment: down 20%; software segment: down 6%; accessories segment: not revealed). More modesty in May. Hmm. With that said, all percentages refer to year-to-year comparisons between May 2010 and May 2009.

While the hardware sales were sort of cool, software sales were hotter. Most responsible for this are 2 titles named Red Dead Redemption and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Rockstar got out of the mean streets of Grand Theft Auto and into the dusty trails of the Wild West to massive multiplatform success. Meanwhile, Nintendo unleashed the magnificence of Super Mario Galaxy 2 somehow outdoing the original. Will Galaxy 2 become an evergreen Wii mainstay like the game in the red box and the Balance Board blockbuster? The 2010 edition of your favorite UFC game listed twice on the charts though selling much less than the 2009 edition. Alan Wake showed that Heavy Rain doesn’t have the monopoly on psychological action thrillers. Silver is worth more than gold in Pokémon world. And summer’s on its way time to skate!

It’s been too long. No more staying away MIA in May. See the numbers that Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg saw over a month ago right here! IT architecture updates indeed.

NPD’s Top Hardware Sales in May

Nintendo DS – 383,700
Nintendo Wii – 334,800
Microsoft XBox 360 – 194,600
Sony PlayStation 3 – 154,500
Sony PlayStation Portable – 59,400

NPD’s Top Ten Software Sales in May

01. Red Dead Redemption (X360) – 945,900
02. Red Dead Redemption (PS3) – 567,100
03. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii) – 563,900
04. UFC Undisputed 2010 (X360) – 221,100
05. UFC Undisputed 2010 (PS3) – 192,300
06. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
07. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
08. Alan Wake (X360)
09. Pokémon SoulSilver Version (DS)
10. Skate 3 (X360)

Too many double listings for your liking? Then look for the game you like below and guess at the sales figures like the Bottom 5 of the Top 10. You’re on a mission to see what’s missing!

NPD’s Top Twenty Software Sales in May

11. Lost Planet 2 (X360)
12. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
13. Pokémon HeartGold Version (DS)
14. God of War III (PS3)
15. Just Dance (Wii)
16. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
17. Super Street Fighter IV (PS3)
18. ModNation Racers (PS3)
19. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (X360)
20. Wii Sports Resort (Wii)