What else? All of the bundles that Microsoft and Sony threw together paid off in a big way. NPD says that game-plus-console packages were a "major factor" in the higher sales numbers, with one unnamed bundle ranking as the best-selling ever based on dollar sales.

We're still likely a ways off from Microsoft announcing exactly how many consoles it's sold to consumers, but, if the numbers continue to move in its favor, that could soon change -- being in panic mode has clearly delivered dividends for the company.