Apple's total U.S. gaming market share jumped last year from 1% to 5%, despite the market as a whole shrinking a bit.

Let's break it down.
- The video game industry shrank from $11 billion to $9.9 billion between 2008 and 2009.
- According to recent Flurry Analytics market share figures, Apple's iPhone/iPod touch game revenues have increased over 400% between 2008 and 2009, increasing their total U.S. game market share to 5% over the previous year's 1%. Wowza. Here's a pie chart:

- Now, Apple earns more revenue from games than the PSP, and 19% of ALL portable gaming, even in the face of the unstoppable Nintendo DS. Dang! Here's another pie chart:

- Liked the pie? Here's a quote from Flurry for dessert!

"With these figures, our main finding is that iPhone (and iPod touch) is a gaming platform to be reckoned with. Controlling 5% revenue of a $10 billion industry in just a year and a half is significant. From a market share perspective, console games lost ground to portable platforms and iPhone. While the downturn in the economy may have dampened sales of the more expensive console games category, there is no denying that iPhone has generated substantial revenue and entered strongly into a mature industry."

- With the iPad set for an April release, handheld game publishers will have even more to fear... all while Apple gains even more momentum as a "real" gaming juggernaut. The future is uncertain, and Sony especially will have to step up their game to keep competing. The just-announced 3DS isn't helping Sony's chances either...