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Taking The Videogame Market To The Next Level

Posted by simoniker on from the more-money-more-problems dept.

Thanks to EvilAvatar for pointing out this article about the rise in popularity of games over at Creative Planet's Videography site. Amidst interesting figures about the ascent of games compared to movies, the author points out that, in 2001, the IDSA was expecting almost 17 billion dollars in videogame sales for 2003, when the total is unlikely to be anywhere near that. Is the games industry over-reaching, or are heady movie-surpassing revenue goals in sight?

2 of 16 comments (clear)

  1. Laziness versus EXTREME laziness by Babbster · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The advantage that movies, television, etc. have is that they are NON-interactive forms of entertainment. Don't look at me like that, I did indeed say it was an advantage.

    When the "average" US citizen (I won't pretend to speak for anybody else - I'm reaching as it is) gets home after work, the first thing s/he wants to do is sit down and relax. The best form of entertainment to go along with that is television, since it requires no effort beyond finding the right program.

    When going out with others, movies are a good choice because everyone shares the same experience (barring big hairdos, hats or proximity to that jerk with the cell phone) and, like television, the movie comes to you and you need do nothing but watch. This is particularly true with relatively mindless fare that doesn't even require a lot of thought to appreciate - note the recent success of movies based on comic books.

    Video games, on the other hand, require some effort to enjoy. Sometimes, they might require the development of a particular gaming skill set (platform jumping, fighting combos, etc.). They are not, therefore, the best choice for relaxation for most people. I enjoy video games quite a lot (and have for years) yet I still have periods where games will stress me out, leaving me far more open to watching television, going to a movie, etc. where I will simply sit down and let the entertainment come to me.

    It's my conclusion that movies and television will ALWAYS combine to be more popular forms of entertainment - thus making more money - than video games for the simple fact that they're more conducive to both physical and mental relaxation...Anyone with calluses on their thumbs and broken controllers from being thrown across the room should surely agree. :)

  2. Re:Possible by James+Lewis · · Score: 3, Insightful

    WRONG. There will always be a place for mediums in which the creator has total control over the way you experience it.