Video game sales slide 4%

A market researcher says U.S. retail sales of video game hardware,software and accessories slipped 4 percent in October.

Some bad news for the digitally minded – they’re desire for gadgets seems to be waning.

A market researcher says U.S. retail sales of video game hardware,software and accessories slipped 4 percent in October.

NPD Group said Tuesday overall game sales were $1.07 billion last month,down from $1.11 billion in October of last year.

Hardware sales tumbled 26 percent to $280 million. NPD says that,with the exception of Microsoft’s Xbox 360,every gaming system saw a decline in unit sales.

Sales of game software,meanwhile,climbed 6 percent to $605 million. The basketball blockbuster “NBA 2K11” from Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. was the month’s best-selling title. It was followed by the shooter “Fallout: New Vegas.”

NPD says sales of game accessories jumped 18 percent to $142 million.