Rentrak Reports Xbox 360 Boost For Rental Game Market

Video/DVD and video game tracking analysis firm Rentrak has announced that North American consumer spending on video game rentals surged during the week of Thanksgiving, due in some part to the release of Microsoft's Xbox 360. According to Rentrak, projected U.S. consumer spending on video game rentals rose 44% during the week ending 11/27/05 from the previous week (week ending 11/20/05) from $17.0 million to $24.4 million, and impressive boost. Although restricted availability of the Xbox 360 is North American doubtless meant less of a boost than might otherwise have been possible, Rentrak also released its list of top Xbox 360 specific rentals, according to its Home Video Essentials service, which tracks rentals over brick-and-mortar and online channels across North America: 1. Call Of Duty 2 (Activision) 2. Need For Speed Most Wanted (EA) 3. Madden NFL 06 [EA] 4. Perfect Dark Zero [Microsoft] 5. Kameo: Elements Of Power [Microsoft] 6. NBA Live 06 [EA] 7. Tiger Woords PGA Tour 06 [EA] 8. Gun [Activision] 9. Project Gotham Racing 3 [Microsoft] 10. Peter Jackson's King Kong [Ubisoft] "The U.S. video game rental market experienced its best week yet this year," said Brad Hackley, Vice President of Home Video Essentials at Rentrak. "While consumers are still waiting to get their hands on Xbox 360 consoles, current Xbox 360 owners contributed 3% [of total figures] to the weekly game revenue. This is a significant contribution, considering [only] 18 games were available at time of launch."