News, Eh? Canadian games market hits a record $1.66 billion

According to data released by NPD Canada [via Gamasutra], the Great White North saw a record $2.06 billion ($1.66 USD billion) in revenues 2008, 23% over last year in combined hardware, software and accessory sales.

Leading the record shattering year was the Nintendo Wii capturing 44.1 percent of hardware sales, selling 838,000 units in the country. Microsoft's Xbox 360 was a distant second netting 25.5 percent selling 485,000 units with Sony's PlayStation 3 a close third with 21.7 percent of the market at 412,000 units sold, the report revealed.

According to the sales data, the top selling title in Canada was MTV's Rock Band across multiple platforms which bested strong competition from Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV, which netted the second spot on the year followed by a pair of Wii titles. As pointed out by Canadian outlet CBC, "Despite rising unemployment, plummeting consumer confidence and scarcer credit, the video game industry in Canada is booming."