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US Videogame Sales Have Biggest Drop In 9 Years

Posted by kdawson on from the if-RPGs-be-the-food-of-love-play-on dept.

alphadogg writes "The recession appears to have finally caught up with the video game market. Sales of video game hardware and software were down by around one-third in June compared to the same month last year. After initially showing positive growth as the US slid into recession, the latest figures mark the fourth month of declines and the largest year-on-year decline in almost 9 years. 'The first half of the year has been tough largely due to comparisons against a stellar first half performance last year, but still, this level of decline is certainly going to cause some pain and reflection in the industry,' said Anita Frazier, a games analyst with NPD Group. She added, 'The size of the decline could also point to consumers deferring limited discretionary spending until a big event (must-have new title, hardware price cut) compels them to spend.' The entire video game market in the US was worth $1.2 billion in June, down 31 percent from the same period last year, according to NPD Group."

7 of 310 comments (clear)

  1. No good games by masmullin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    June was a dry month for video gaming. Not many good games were released (except for Infamous).

    1. Re:No good games by Haffner · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Same-month sales in videogames is a useless statistic. If there's a new WoW expansion, new Call of Duty, new Valve shooter title, new SSB, new Halo, etc. titles released in one month, its obvious the next year same month will be down, probably 50-80%. They must account for the games released during that time. This past June had no significant releases, so it makes sense sales would be down. This is not (necessarily) evidence of a recession. More info is needed.

      --
      "Going to war without the French is like going deer hunting without your accordion." ~General Norman Schwarzkopf
    2. Re:No good games by SlashJoel · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They must account for the games released during that time.

      Precisely. And what was released on June 12, 2008? Metal Gear Solid 4.

  2. yeah... by Em+Emalb · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Money's tight. And honestly, I'm sick of seeing games priced at $59.99. I can wait until they hit ~$30 and buy them then. I'm long past the time when I HAD to have a game as soon as it releases.

    So yeah. Lower the price of the games at initial launch, you'll make more sales....IMNHAAO (in my not humble at all opinion)

    --
    Sent from your iPad.
    1. Re:yeah... by TaggartAleslayer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No kidding.

      I used to regularly grab the must-have new release the day it hit shelves. Once they started passing my self imposed $50 mental barrier, I stopped.

      I just can not physically bring myself to spend so much. I'd rather grab 4 used games from last year for the same total price.

      I mean really, at the end of the day, they are just pushing gamers to Half.com, eBay, Gamestop, Amazon, and other used game outlets.

      Where the publisher could potentially sell two copies at release for a slightly lower price ($39.99-$49.99 is a lot more attractive than $59.99+), they only sell one copy and then the re-seller retail stores take the profits from there for many years to come.

  3. That's easy.... by HerculesMO · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Most of the games that are coming out, suck.

    Plain and simple. The problem with developers is that they are confusing great technology with great games. They can go hand in hand, but largely speaking -- games need story, innovation, depth. I played Defcon a few years back and was amazed at what innovation was put into such a small game.

    Too bad the only thing developers do is give us some form of a shooter lately, and change the graphics and call it amazing. Bioshock had a good story, but that was like 2 years ago already.

    --
    The price is always right if someone else is paying.
  4. Re:Buying used games? by TaggartAleslayer · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Irrelevent to the article, which is the the game industry revenue is down.

    It's actually extremely relevent. If the game companies are selling less total copies because gamers are turning to used game outlets due to the ridiculous price of new releases, they are going to see hits to their bottom line.

    Is that the only reason for the sales decline? No. Of course not. But it is definitely a contributing factor and one of prime concern for game makers.