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."
News, Eh? Canadian games market hits a record $1.66 billion
by Xav de Matos 
on Jan 19th 2009 2:00PM
17
Reader Comments (17)
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 2:09PM arnavdesai said
Is this what passes for humor in Canada?
Don't want to sound rude but that was not funny. Maybe you have to be from Canada to get it.
Don't want to sound rude but that was not funny. Maybe you have to be from Canada to get it.
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 2:10PM Xav de Matos said
It is probably more of a product of the time. It was the 80's... and SCTV wasn't just available in Canada when it was in its prime.
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Posted: Jan 19th 2009 2:24PM Kazimieras315 said
It helps...
The big reason for this quick bit was due to regulations in Canada requiring shows made here have "x" percentage of Canadian content. SCTV didn't have anything, so they came up with Bob and Doug. What else is more Canadian than winter and beer? :)
Now if only Canada got releases the same day as the States; it almost always takes an extra day here.
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The big reason for this quick bit was due to regulations in Canada requiring shows made here have "x" percentage of Canadian content. SCTV didn't have anything, so they came up with Bob and Doug. What else is more Canadian than winter and beer? :)
Now if only Canada got releases the same day as the States; it almost always takes an extra day here.
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 2:25PM Xav de Matos said
Coming from retail experience that is more to do with shipping than distributors deciding to delay a release.
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Posted: Jan 19th 2009 2:11PM iFester said
Does that mean 1 in 29 Canadians own a Wii now?
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 2:16PM (Unverified) said
Strange Brew is a great movie.
"This movie was shot in 3-B, three beers and it looks good, eh?"
"This movie was shot in 3-B, three beers and it looks good, eh?"
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 2:38PM McWilly said
I think the 80's was a very good time for me. Mainly because I wasn't there phew.
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 3:37PM (Unverified) said
2.06 billion Canadian dollars. So that's like, what, 50 USD?
Bob and Doug are awesome and anyone who disagrees needs to go back to watching Epic/Date/Superhero/Disaster Movie and accept that their sense of humor is broken.
Bob and Doug are awesome and anyone who disagrees needs to go back to watching Epic/Date/Superhero/Disaster Movie and accept that their sense of humor is broken.
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 4:07PM joxerthemighty said
For most of that year the Canadian dollar was at or near par with the USD. Seems odd to report the current exchange rate vs. the rate at the time it was earned.
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Posted: Jan 19th 2009 4:39PM awperk said
i just watched strange brew last week and it took me back to the olden days
Posted: Jan 19th 2009 7:24PM mynk said
Im Canadian, Eh
Posted: Jan 20th 2009 3:25AM (Unverified) said
That's good for the rest of us because the 80's were great.
