As part of The 24/7 Wall St–The Channel Checkers survey series, 0ver the past week, The Channel Checkers surveyed 24 GameStop (GME) and EB Games (same parent company) stores across the United States  to track sales trends of gaming consoles and video games.

Here is what we asked:

1. What is the best selling game platform?
2. What is the best selling video game right nowt?
3. What will be the next big game released over the next three months?

• Nintendo Wii was seen as the top selling console by 58% of respondents. A large shift from last month when only 27% saw it as the top console. Meanwhile, 17% saw the Microsoft Xbox as the top console compared, down from the 40% who said it was the top-selling game console last month.  Another 17% cited the PS3 as the top console and 8% said the Nintendo DS was the top seller.

Other highlights from the results include:
• 50% of respondents saw Resident Evil 5, produced by Capcom, as the top- selling game. No other game was mentioned by more than one respondent.
• Guitar Hero: Metallica from Activision, was seen as the most anticipated new game (this game was released on March 29th, the day after our survey ended) coming out in the next month according to 29% of respondents.  Another 20% of respondents cited Pokemon Platinum (launched on March 21, in New York) as the most exciting new game coming out.

Conclusion of Channel Check:  Nintendo Wii staged a major comeback in March from February and moved solidly into the lead in our survey. Sony PlayStation 3 continues to be stronger versus recent history and was tied with Xbox for second in responses in our survey.  StreetFighter IV has faded since last month with Resident Evil 5 taking over as the clear best seller in our survey.  Capcom makes both games.   Halo Wars was the most highly anticipated new game last month, but that has not translated into strong current sales for the game according to our survey.

Douglas A. McIntyre

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