Games industry soars to record high in 2008

[rpm]

Games industry soars to record high in 2008

Global economic recession? Tell that to the games industry.

 

[I am Penguin]

IMHO as life becomes more expensive, travel, pay for services, entertainment costs, safety considerations, etc the games industry thrives as it is alternative entertainment value that can be done at home. Thus it’s "Cheap" and safe entertainment around the clock. The PSP/DS make a nice unisex gift to any youngster in our digital world. Just like cell phones do. If one already owns a cell phone the next best thing would be a digital gadget and what is better than a games device to keep someone happy and occupied?

The WII caters for a broad family environment. The Xbox is cheap and the PS3 caters for a unique slot as all round media centre entertainment value (Sony entertainment)

Also IMHO it keeps youngsters occupied and at home thus presenting a pseudo solution for parents wanting to keep the kids of the street.

 

[obs]

With the garbage spewing out of Hollywood now a days, no wonder.

 

[<moLe>]

its a superior form of entertainment, its more interactive and keeps you occupied for longer than a measly movie or dvd could ever wish to. Hope they use this as motivation to bring out better titles.

 

[EtienneK]

Recession? What recession?

 

[Cloud]

I wonder how if they factored in the WoW subscriber base.

11 million paying subscribers shelling out $15 a month..... almost $2 billion a year?

Ofc, there are places like China where they have pay as you play and stuff like that. But even if its just like $1 Billion a year, its still a huge chunk for just one game.

 

[Mouse]

<flamebait>
Even the portable consoles are kicking the PC's a$$
</flamebait>

 

[moosag]

WoW! Very Interesting. Quite amazing actually! That just shows the power of the gamers around the world.

 

[medicnick83]

PC gaming FTW!

Stuff you console guys - you have to be rich to own a console!

 

[FarligOpptreden]

With the garbage spewing out of Hollywood now a days, no wonder.

QFT! I remember about 3 years ago me and my wife couldn't go a weekend without going to the cinema, just because the quality of movies coming out was so good. Since about April 2008 I've only been in the cinema about 5times, iirc...

 

[nictron]

Recession means more people are sitting at home, and they buy and play games using their Credit Cards!

It will come down crumbling eventually, GPU sales have already dropped 30% in December.

 

[Kalvaer]

I think everyone is right, since you have to stay at home more often, people are buying more games to keep themselves busy

 

[stefan9]

Would like to know if those sales figures include steam and digital download service. In the last year in the US steam and the other services have taken over.

I also hate the fact they put all console sales together. It distorts it completely. Its suppose to be xbox 360,ps2,ps3,wii,,pc,ect. Consoles aren't one thing theres different systems within them.

 

[HANDsolo]

I also hate the fact they put all console sales together. It distorts it completely. Its suppose to be xbox 360,ps2,ps3,wii,,pc,ect. Consoles aren't one thing theres different systems within them.

I wouldn't be surprised if PS2 game sales is beating everything.

 

[Lydon]

^ Neither would I, considering they've sold like 120 million PS2s...

But anyway, I think this is attributed to the fact that not only is it cheaper to sit at home and game, but gaming isn't seen as something for the hardcore fanboy anymore. Casual gamers are jumping on board en-mass as they realise that gaming really isn't so hard to get into. Consoles such as the Wii and the various portable consoles help introduce these gamers to the world of gaming.

Often you'll then see these casual gamers turn into hardcore gamers and so the process continues and the gaming consumer base grows.