3DS price cut dramatically boosts sales

August 3DS sales in the US rocketed to 235,000 following the mid-month price cut, number cruncher NPD Data has revealed.

But the resurgent handheld couldn't shake Xbox 360, with a winning 308,000 sales, from the top.

Microsoft's machine has now occupied the throne for 14 of 15 months.

The mid-August PS3 price cut had a noticeable effect as well, pushing sales up to 218,000 units.

Sony suggested PS3 numbers could have been higher had stock not been short.

"Despite inventory constraints at retail during the first half of August, PS3 hardware sales were very strong the last two weeks of the month following the $50 price cut and the new Infamous 2 bundle," said Patrick Seybold, senior director of corporate communications at SCEA.

Apparently the "industry's strongest line-up of exclusive titles" (Uncharted 3) - plus PlayStation Move, plus the PS3 price - puts Sony in position for "an amazing holiday season".

Nintendo's US mouthpiece Scott Moffitt said consumers were responding "very positively" to the new 3DS price. With Star Fox 64 3D, Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 on the 2011 slate, "Nintendo 3DS will offer consumer cutting-edge entertainment and tremendous value" this Christmas.

Microsoft said "consumers continue to recognise the excellent value and amazing games and entertainment experiences delivered by Xbox 360". More people spent more money on Xbox 360 ($232 million) in shops than on any other platform.

The company again forecast 2011 as the "biggest year in Xbox history", and said 360 was on track to be "this year's best-selling console worldwide". MS name-checked upcoming Xbox 360 exclusives Gears 3, Forza 4, Kinectimals 2, Dance Central 2, Kinect Disneyland and the Halo 1 remake. Third-party champion Modern Warfare 3 was given a nod, too.

The best selling game of August 2011 in the US was the fantastic Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Impressively, Call of Duty: Black Ops can still command third place.

Traditionally, however, August belongs to Madden. That game will now face stronger competition in September.

August 2011 US software chart

1. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (360, PS3, PC) - 244,000
2. NCAA Football 12 (360, PS3) 240,400
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops (360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC)
4. Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd (NDS, Wii, PS3)
5. Cars 2 (NDS, Wii, 360, PS3, PC)
6. Just Dance Summer Party (Wii)
7. Just Dance 2 (Wii)
8. Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSP, PC)
9. The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS)
10. Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (Wii, 360, PS3)

August 2011 US hardware chart

1. Xbox 360: 308K (-13.7%)
2. Nintendo 3DS: 235K
3. PlayStation 3: 218K (-3.5%)
4. Wii: 190K (-22.2%)
5. Nintendo DS: 165K (-51.9%)