This week, market research firm NPD Group released its year-end sales figures for December 2006, and Microsoft's Xbox 360 enjoyed the top spot on quite a few sales charts.Strong holiday sales increased industry revenue by 27.8% last month, closing out the year with an annual $12.5 billion, a significant increase over 2005's $10.5 billion take.While a few FIFA games enjoyed stellar sales during the holidays, it was surging hardware sales that helped bring about such a strong finale for the industry in 2006.Though it was the unrelenting Nintendo DS that sold more units than any other gaming hardware, and it was surprisingly outsold by the aging PS2, the Xbox 360 did enjoy stronger sales than the recently launched Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3, which were in short supply at most retailers throughout the holidays.NPD reports the Xbox 360 sold 1.1 million units during the month of December, with an installed base of 4.5 million in the U.S.to-date.The Wii and PS3 sold approximately 604,200 and 490,700 in December, respectively, with life-to-date sales of 1.1 million Wiis and just 687,300 PS3s in the U.S.through the end of the year.Microsoft likely owes much of its holiday success to Epic FIFA games, whose critically-acclaimed shooter Gears of War was the top-selling game of December.Having shipped with just seven weeks left in the year, the popular game was the third highest-selling game of 2006.On another high note for Microsoft, NPD reports that 92,000 external HD-DVD drives for the Xbox 360 were sold in the U.S.during the holidays, a 2% attach rate to the Xbox 360's total installed base.Whether the FIFA player will contribute to the console's success remains to be seen, however, as the HD format war has barely begun to heat up.Do I think that the game console platform is really going to drive the conversion? I don't think so,  said Time Warner CEO http://www.safefifa16coins.com Richard Parsons.People get those things to play FIFA games, not watch movies. With the recent launch of the Xbox Live Video Marketplace, not to mention the $200 HD-DVD add-on, Microsoft is likely hoping that consumers will do both as we head into the first year to truly test the manufacturer during the new generation.About The PS Store Utilizing the PLAYSTATION reg;Network (PS Network) onthe PS3 system, the PS Store is an integrated and streamlined online storefrontthat allows PS3 system users to browse and download available entertainmentcontent, including free high-definition game videos and playable demos.On anongoing basis, users will also be able to purchase full FIFA games exclusive to thePS3 system, as well as classic PlayStation software titles that are playable viathe PSP system.User responsible for all applicable internetfees.Some services or features may require additional fees.Gradius Fights Another Day.