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Despite layoffs in some local development studios it seems Australian consumers are still hungry for more interactive entertainment.
Whilst Nintendo remains somewhat less vocal on the whole hardware sales subject, instead saving its breath for a full-on onslaught of the Wii U when it arrives this year, Microsoft and Sony were quick to beat chests and point out the success's had during 2011, manipulating sales numbers provided by independent company NPD into positive spin.
For example, Microsoft announced that it was 'the only platform to show growth in a contracted Australian market during the 2011 calendar year. Microsoft's Xbox 360 bucked the industry trend with more than 5% platform revenue growth during that period.'
Basically Microsoft made even more money from its Xbox 360 platform, but did that actually translate to sales, or simply that people spent more online via Xbox LIVE and perhaps on games themselves? Well, according to Microsoft, hardware still sold through pretty well: 's, Xbox 360 was the number one selling console during the important Christmas sales period in 2011, and December 2011 was Xbox's highest selling month on record. The period also marks five years of consecutive growth in the Australian market, both in console unit and platform revenue growth - the only console to do so in Australia.'
'Furthermore,' continues the Microsoft blurb'globally Xbox 360 ended the 2011 calendar year as the world's best-selling current generation console.'
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