U.S. sales of video game hardware and software jumped 73 percent in October, with Nintendo's Wii console regaining its spot as the top-selling console, industry data showed on Thursday. Total sales were $1.1 billion, compared to $643 million a year earlier, according to market research firm NPD.

Nintendo sold 519,000 Wiis while Microsoft sold 366,000 Xbox 360 consoles and Sony sold 121,000 of its PlayStation 3 machines. 'Halo 3' from Microsoft was the best-selling game, moving 433,800 copies.