Here are the NPD hardware and software sales for May 2009.

"The video games industry continues to struggle with difficult comparisons to last year, and this is the first month that industry sales have dipped below $1 billion since August 2007. Unit sales declined less than dollar sales did. The dollar sales decline was exacerbated by a decline in average retail prices for almost all of the categories. Every category declined versus a year ago with the exception of portable hardware sales which was bolstered by the continued strong sales of the Nintendo DS including both the DSi and the Lite. While there were some very strong new releases this month along with continued strong sales of evergreen games, this month's top 10 games sold 2.6 million units combined, whereas last year the top 10 sold 3.7 million units. Again, this illustrates how tough the comparisons are to last year." - NPD's Anita Frazier

Here are the Japanese software, and hardware sales for the week of May 18th to May 25th. For the third straight week in a row, the Wii and DS have outsold its counterparts in the PS3 and PSP. So it looks like the trend of the PS3 and PSP overtaking the Wii and DS is done for the time being. In software it looks like Nintendo's two platforms are dominating there as well, by having 7 of the top 10 spots. Its odd to see a 360 game in the top 10 and especially it being Mass Effect, which has been out for well over a year here in North America and Europe.

On Sega's blog they have revealed a 3D rendering of High Voltage Software's E3 booth space, and I have to admit that its really nice looking. I thought it would just be some small booth, but no they actually have quite a elaborate set-up. It looks like they even have a bar on the top of the roof of the monument building, which of course the booth is fully pimping out the Conduit. Seeing as how the game will come out in just a matter of weeks, that's to be expected.

With the big E3 party just a few days away, not everyone is in such a happy mood, because today it became official that Midway Games is essentially no more. The name of the company might live on, but its being broken down and sold off in pieces to the highest bidders on June 29th. Then it will probably shut down existing operations for good. This is quite a sad time for the industry, when you think about it. We have lost Factor 5, Free Radical and Midway in a matter of months.