Even 
the DC universe’s mightiest superheroes couldn’t fight off yet another month of poor retail sales for the video game industry.
April was the latest in a long string of sales disappointments, with brick and mortar sales of video game software falling 17 percent as compared to the same period in 2012. Hardware sales, predictably, were drastically lower as consumers start to save their money for the looming next-generation systems.
If 
there was a beacon of hope for the video game industry in the first half of 2013, it was Bioshock Infinite. The hotly-anticipated game, currently the top-rated title of the year, was the best chance for retail sales to rebound and return to positive territory.
As it turns out, Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth couldn’t quite live up to that pressure — even with Lara Croft, Kratos and the Gears of War crew backing them up.
Black 
Friday and the launch of the Wii U weren’t enough to stop the video game industry’s ongoing slide at physical retail stores. For the twelfth month in a row, sales were lower than a year ago.
That said, the numbers were anything but small.
Year 
after year, a Call of Duty game hits store shelves and within about 24 hours, Activision’s PR team is shouting from the rooftops about the series setting a new entertainment industry sales record. The most recent release, Black Ops II, is no exception.
But several other gaming franchises have had blockbuster opening weekends as well, earning more in a one- or five-day period than most games make in their entire lifespan.
Here’s a look at the 10 biggest debuts in gaming history.
For 
the tenth month in a row, video game sales took a shellacking at retail. This time, though, the finger of blame can be pointed squarely at iconic action star, Marcus Fenix.
Last year’s Gears of War 3 was such a hot seller that there was really no chance this year’s crop of September games could top it. When all was said and done, brick and mortar retail sales of video game software were down 18 percent to $497.4 million, according to The NPD Group.
Video 
game makers just can’t catch a break.
For the ninth month in a row, brick and mortar retail sales of video game hardware and software was down — and down sharply. The NPD Group, which tracks the sales, says overall numbers for the month were down 20 percent compared to a year ago.
Another 
month, another batch of bad news for the game industry.
July continued the industry’s ugly retail decline, with sales of video game software falling 23 percent compared to last year, according to The NPD Group.
Things 
aren’t rosy for those hoping to make big bucks in video games.
Five years ago, the idea of a 29 percent year-over-year decline would have sent shock waves throughout the industry. But when NPD reported that shortfall a few weeks ago, publishers, gamers and investors shrugged briefly, then promptly forgot about it.
As 
big as video game are today, they’re about to get a whole lot bigger.
New analyst research from DFC Intelligence predicts the global market for video games will hit $82 billion by 2017 — a 22 percent increase over this year’s expected $67 billion. That’s news that’s likely to be a relief to those who have eyed the past seven months of sales data (all of which have shown significant declines).
The 
next generation of consoles can’t get here fast enough.
According to the NPD Group, overall video game sales were down 29 percent in June compared to last year ($699.8 million to $989.5 million). Hardware sales were hit hardest, tumbling a massive 45 percent, though game accessories — such as gift cards and Skylanders figurines — were up slightly.
Chris Morris: Journalist 