Game Sales in the first half of 2009 decreased by 4.6 percent in figures and 10.4 percent in value compared to the same period in 2008. Among the bestselling titles of the first six months’ include The Sims 3, World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, Wii Fit and SingStar Abba.
- The first six months show more positive trends with several games maintaining a high level of sales over a longer period. Not unexpectedly, advance bookings for upcoming games have provided indications that the next six months will be very strong. Many of the upcoming titles also have a long sales period to look forward to,” said John Häll, vice president of MDTS, which together with Spelplan-ASGD make up the Swedish games industry.
One major factor is price cuts and the introduction of new models. Price cuts to the PS3 and Xbox 360 have seen consumers who had initially been hesitant because of the economic situation biting the bullet to buy a new console. Even the price of the Wii is due for a drop at the start of October. This has led to increased game sales on the console with the trend expected to continue and make an impact in the autumn.
The statistics also show that PC gaming continues to remain the biggest format, despite the fact that digital distribution is not included in the analysis. Legal download services have presented a wider selection of directories to choose from, which has also led to a rapid increase in digital distribution. Swedish games industry has long term goals to integrate digital distribution into the statistics in the immediate future.
The stationary consoles, such as the PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 are relatively stable and primarily reduce its stake sales in value by around 13-15 percent.
- It is natural when cheaper editions of games are released, and that those who have already invested in the game with enhancements instruments, microphones and the like purchasing a new standalone game that is sold without these enhancements, “says Martin Lindell, an analyst at the Swedish games industry.
As a result of Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony reluctance to provide sales figures for their respective digital distribution outlets that include Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare / Virtual Console and PSN, they have not been included in the statistics.
The portable gaming devices have taken a large step forward. Game sales of the Nindendo DS and PSP have both risen by around 30 percent. Behind the increases are new games like Pokemon Platinum for DS, as well as reduced prices on more established games like Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core and the GTA series on PSP.
