Ars Technica reports: Nintendo has been dramatically outselling its rivals in the video game business since the Wii was released, but this month's NPD numbers can be considered the company's victory lap in America. While the recession has yet to hit the gaming market--sales are up 22 percent year over year--the real story is just how completely and utterly Nintendo is destroying the competition. Microsoft also has much to be proud of this month in terms of software sales, while the best thing Sony can boast is that it's doing better than its disastrous first year. Let's take a look at the numbers.

Nintendo

In November, Nintendo sold 2.04 million Wii systems. In one month. The Nintendo DS came in second place with 1.57 million systems. Nintendo didn't win the month of November, it completely destroyed it. From the monthly numbers it looks as if Nintendo can sell as many systems as it can put into the retail channel.

Software wasn't too shabby either. Wii Play took the number three slot with 796,000 units sold. Yes, it's a $10 game that comes with a Wiimote once you do the math, but the package has moved into the top ten list and it's doubtful that it will leave in the near future. Wii Fit came in at number four with 697,000 units sold, and is still considered supply constrained. Mario Kart stays camped in the number five slot with 637,000 units sold, and rhythm games prove that they work on the Wii: Guitar Hero World Tour took the number six slot with 475,000 copies sold. Wii Music makes up for a slight showing last month by taking the number 10 slot with 297,000 copies sold. 

Nintendo owns the number one and number two pieces of hardware with no competitor coming close. Every piece of software on the top ten list is a first-party game, except for Guitar Hero. We've seen the future of gaming, and it is casual.

Microsoft 

In any rational universe, Microsoft did very well in November with 836,000 Xbox 360s sold, but Nintendo's numbers can only be described as preternatural. Let's leave hardware for a moment though, and be in awe of how well Microsoft can move software. 

Gears of War 2 sold 1.56 million copies in November, making it far and away the best selling game of the month. Activision Blizzard sold 1.41 million copies of Call of Duty: World at War, proving that franchise has monstrous legs. Left 4 Dead took the number eight slot, selling 410,000 copies. Microsoft has a very valid bragging point: third-party games sell in huge numbers on its system. 

It's going to be extremely hard for Sony to catch the 360, as the system simply has everything going for it: more games, better third-party support and sales, and a much lower price point. With a larger installed base than the PS3 you'll see more hits like Call of Duty and Gears 2, and with the lowest-priced system coming in at half the cost of the PS3 and $50 less than even the Nintendo Wii, Microsoft is offering a strong value this holiday season. Sure the Arcade unit doesn't come with a hard drive, but does the casual market need one? Expect Microsoft to continue to fall well behind Nintendo, but improve its lead over the PlayStation 3 

Sony

This is how Sony spins the November numbers. "PlayStation 3 has continued its strong momentum during the holiday season with 378,071 hardware units sold in November, representing an increase of almost 100 percent from October. From January to November 2008, more than 2.8 million PS3s have been sold in the US, representing a year-to-date hardware sales growth of more than 60 percent." 

While that may sound like very good news, the fact is Sony is getting murdered by its rivals. The PS3 sold 378,000 pieces of hardware in November, falling well behind everything except its own last-generation system. The PS2 sold 206,000 pieces of hardware. The PSP did good business, selling 421,000 pieces of hardware. Call of Duty: World at War sold 597,000 units on the PS3, coming in at number six on the software charts, and Resistance 2 sold 385,000 units to beat Wii Music and take the number nine slot. These are strong numbers, but nothing close to what Microsoft achieved with Gears of War 2. 

November's NPD numbers are very good for the industry: sales are up, there is a good mix of software on the top ten list, and everything appears healthy. Nintendo is selling hardware at a rate that's almost hard to believe. Microsoft is selling software at a rate that must make third-party publishers lick their lips. While Sony isn't doing poorly, it also doesn't have a solid win this month, and it's unlikely it will get one in December. 

Nintendo offers one of the greatest untapped markets for third-party games, while Microsoft offers one of the surest best for publishers. Sony offers... an uncertain future. This month, the stakes have all gone up. 

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