US computer and video game software sales reached $9.5 billion in 2007, up 28% over 2006, according to final data compiled by the NPD Group and announced by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).

As NPD had declared previously, 2007 was a record year for US video game revenues.

The ESA noted that "Halo 3," the best-selling title of 2007, took in more revenue in its first day of sales than the biggest opening weekend ever for a movie ("Spider-Man 3") and the final Harry Potter book’s first day sales.

"On average, an astonishing nine games were sold every second of every day of the year," said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA.

Approximately 267.8 million computer and video games were sold in 2007.

"NPD's consumer demographic data verifies that two non-traditional consumer groups grew over-proportionately to the whole: Females and individuals over the ages of 35," said Anita Frazier, analyst at NPD.

Even higher sales data came from the Consumer Electronics Association, as cited by Reuters. The organization did not count PC game sales, but its $9.1 billion figure was $500,000 higher than the combined $8.6 billion NPD reported for console and handheld video game software.