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2011 isn't off to a good start for the videogame industry, according to the latest figures for January.
Sales of new videogame hardware, software and accessories dropped by 5 percent in the US from $1.22 billion to $1.16 billion, going on figures from 2010. Things would have been much worse if it wasn't for the incredible sales figures driven by Blizzard Activisions ‘Call Of Duty: Black Ops' as the sales still were impressive over the New Year period.
Market research company NPD Group suggest that 2011 could already be facing problems as recession suffering customers have looked for less expensive ways of being entertained. Sales of online and mobile games are rising as lower costs prove more viable to people struggling with their financial situation.
Videogame consoles have been hit the hardest, with drops already of 8 percent to $576 million from $606.8 million a year previous. Videogame accessories however show an increase of 6 perecent from $222.8 million a year prior to $235.1 million. Microsoft are showing positive sales from the Kinect motion controller as they have shifted over 8 million units already.
KitGuru says: Are games just too expensive? many console games cost more than £40 in the UK and can often last for less than 10 hours in single player mode. It is a substantial investment.
Considering all you get in the CoD Experience is pretty lean compared to RPG’s etc, Of course where paying too much. But its not quality or content that keep the prices of games alfoat. its the hype that surrounds them.
I don’t mind paying for games but if your not in the loop, and you’ve fallen behind the trend… you can easily end up paying almost $500 for games in a single day.
Steam and there Developer Deals are a God Send. Most people might be happy about having a hard copy but i’d ask why? I’d rather digital. Steam always remembers what you bought and you don’t have the hassle with stacks of CD’s
Sucks to be a gamer these days. Games are not worth their money. I only buy the games after they spend time on the shelf and get a discount. Problem is:
1) Consoles are aging in technology and games are still being developed for these aging consoles, including PC games that, while they do have better texture and FPSs, do not utilize DX11 cards’ real capabilities.
2) Sandy bridge motherboards are back to the drawing board and AMD did not respond with a new architecture. Very few are willing to invest in 1156 or 1366.
Neither of the two following options are possible but if game developers develop for the latest DX11 cards and then tone the graphics down for consoles, then yes I would buy the game as soon as it come out but development costs would go up so it isn’t going to happen.
Second option would be Sony and MS introducing new consoles with GTX 560 or HD6950 in them, so everyone will jump on the DX11 bandwagon bu that aint happening either.
I find them on the expensive side…
However, when you compare how much costs a cinema ticket, for around 2h of “observer experience”, a game with “active experience” of let say 8h, looks more like “OK” price…
The only thing that I don’t like lately is what was already mentioned above, is the hold-back of consoles (I was, I’m and will be a PC gamer) and lack of really nice game developments.
I kind a would like to see game with graphic presentation of Crysis with story like half-life 2 (where the hell is HL3?!)…