Comments
7 CommentsAccording to an article posted on Yahoo!, gaming sales are up 57% for the month of March. This includes hardware and software. The Wii seemed to be the one coming out on top. So with the economy as it is right now, why are people spending money on games?
I think it's because compared to other forms of modern entertainment, it's cheaper. IMO, people are choosing not to go to the movies or out to eat as much these days. And with all the multi player games available one the Wii, why not stay home with the family and kick someone's butt in bowling or Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
I did a little experiment over the past 2 weeks. One weekend, I took my 2 kids to the movies. That cost me $53. 3 tickets, 3 hot dogs with regular sized sodas. Afterwards we played miniature golf, another $45.
The next weekend we stayed home and played the Wii and cooked.
These days it's easy to spend a couple of hundreds to take the family out for dinner and a movie and other activities. Or you can stay home, cook, and play a $50 dollar game as many times as you like.
Imagine spending $100 - $150 dollars on entertainment alone every weekend. By the end of the month you would have spent $400 - $600. that's a nice grip and that's not including the gas you may need to get.
Just a thought.
Ozone42
Written Apr. 18, 2008 / Report /
You know, I'd say you're spot on the money with your theory... but I really don't think most people are that smart to make that connection.
It is absolutely cheaper entertainment, and it's a lot more engaging and group oriented in most cases. It's strange that video gaming has had a stigma for so long. I think that especially with the Wii, it's getting more mainstream.
It will be interested to see where it goes over the next few years.
ldragon
Written Apr. 18, 2008 / Report /
The Wii is the ultimate small party tool, people will come over just to play.
And yeah, going out is getting more expensive too, it's just hardly worth the money if there's a lot of you, stay and chill with Wii Sports and other games :) And i agree with Ozone, it will be interesting to see where this all leads.
xirclebox
Written Apr. 18, 2008 / Report /
I got a call from a game developer the other day asking if I'd consider joining their creative team. News like this makes it easy to say yes. But we'll see.
xirclebox
Written May. 16, 2008 / Report /
U.S. game sales jump 47 percent in April on GTA4
Mike
Written May. 16, 2008 / Report /
GTA4 is such a major event that I find I don't find it hard to believe at all that April sales jumped that much. Nearly everyone I know who played an older version bought the new version and loves it.
I never really got into video games and I'm not sure why. I do know that games that I've played for years that Scrivs plays for 5 minutes we're equally good at, so perhaps it's just cause I suck at playing them.
Yyy
Written May. 17, 2008 / Report /
The games industry is just in its beginning. Electronic Arts has just released the news that they are about to create a new brand, that will be used to release games aimed at casual gamers that don't play video games as of today. They will attempt to create new players out of the vast populace that don't play today, but have glanced at the Wii and social games in general.
So yes. Gaming will be a upcoming option to choose from, instead of going to the movies or having the family on a day out et al. I like it. It will probably remove the 'geekhood' of gamers a bit, especially over time.
Scrivs
Written May. 27, 2008 / Report /
This really is no surprise considering that video games are becoming the mecca of our household entertainment. Not sure if that is a good thing or not, but at least the games continue to get better.