PC Game sales and statistics (really is more interesting than it sounds)

So the powers that be, the NPD Group to be precise, issued its 2009 report for US retail sales. The report was delayed by a week with many wondering if the stay of information meant bad news for the gaming industry.

While the figures were substantially off from last year's mark, US non-PC hardware, software, and accessory sales came in at $19.66 billion for the year, down 8 percent from the $21.4 billion the industry brought in during 2008, industry experts claim the overall trend is looking good.

"When we started the last decade, video game industry sales, including PC games, totaled $7.98 billion in 2000," NPD analyst Anita Frazier said of the industry's performance. "In 10 years, the industry has changed dramatically in many ways, but most importantly it was grown over those years by more than 250 percent at retail alone. Considering there are many new sources of revenue including subscriptions and digital distribution, industry growth is even more impressive."

As for what sold the best?

2009 PC Game Software

1) The Sims 3 - Electronic Arts
2) World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King - Blizzard
3) The Sims 2 Double Deluxe - Electronic Arts
4) World of Warcraft: Battle Chest - Blizzard
5) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Activision
6) World of Warcraft - Blizzard
7) The Sims 3: World Adventures - Electronic Arts
8) Spore - Electronic Arts
9) Dragon Age: Origins - Electronic Arts
10) Empire: Total War - Sega

Yep, you read that right. Gamers would rather live a life on the computer with The Sims, rather than play the latest sensation and shooter on rails, Modern Warfare 2.

Now if you want to know what they're playing online right now, the latest stats from Steam;

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Multiplayer (116,084)
Counter-Strike: Source (90,252)
Counter-Strike (76,284)
Team Fortress 2 (20,361)
Left 4 Dead 2 (18,212)
Football Manager 2010 (24,977)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (14,188)
Empire: Total War (10,743)
Garry's Mod (4,945)
Left 4 Dead (5,266)
Star Trek Online - Beta (2,942)

The number following the game is the peak number of players at any one time today. What is surprising is seeing a real time strategy such as Empire: Total War attracting so many players and a beta (Star Trek) being so popular.

Will Star Trek Online enjoy the instant success of Star Wars; Galaxies and if so will their fate fair better for keeping players and avoiding gamer disappointment?