The NPD Group has some good news for retailers worried about weak video game sales this holiday season, according to a survey of spending habits in the second quarter of 2011, in addition to the $1.44 billion spent in the U.S. by consumers on new physical video and PC game software in the second quarter of 2011, the total consumer spend on content via other monetization methods, including used games, game rentals, subscriptions, digital full-game downloads, social network games, downloadable content, and mobile games, is estimated at $1.74 billion.

Hasbro announced that it has appointed Margie Chan-Yip to serve as VP global publishing. In her new role, Chan-Yip will be responsible for creating new and innovative ways to bring Hasbro brand stories to consumers worldwide, from traditional print to e-book formats.