The NPD sales numbers for January are in and although there's no surprises on the top, there ARE surprises.

First, let's have a look at the sales data:
So what does this tell us:

1. Nintendo is the big man to beat when it comes to console hardware with both Wii and DS taking top spots. However, the DS doesn't manage to have even one game in the top10 of the software charts which suggests that the DS userbase isn't buying all the top titles for the handheld but rather is geting splintered.

2. Just Dance is the best-selling third party title for Wii which reaffirms the console's "casual gaming" appeal

3. Eventhough released at the beginning of the month, Bayonetta is nowhere to be seen. It seems that despite the good reviews, Sega's "sexy witch" just doesn't have what it takes to sell her goods.

4. Other notable absentees are Dark Void, MAG and No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. The last two were released at the end of the month so that can explain them not being present, but Dark Void was released in the US on January 19th which should have given it enough time to enter. I guess Capcom's rocketeer doesn't do better than Sega's witch. And that while EA's Army of Two did manage to reach the Top10. Difference between companies: money & marketing.

In other news: