Game Sales Down 19%

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jrstriker12 replied on 11-16-2009 2:51 PM

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Not surprised. The most casual gamers seem to be pretty happy with the basic crap they got with thier wii. Can't name the number of casual games who didn't get beyond the basical darts, bowling, tennis, or wi-fit games they bought.

For example, I was talking to my wife's friend and I started talking about games - I asked if he had a ps3 or 360 and he said no he had a wii, which had a cool tennis game (I'm a tennis nut). I'm like - yeah! EA's grand slam tennis is pretty good, and he says that he just had whatever tennis game he got with the console.......

The rock band games were one exception, the publishers have milked that for all it's worth and the fad has passed.

Seems game publishers didn't realize these people were "casual," as in not regular and repeated buyers and players of games. I think they've milked the casual gamers dry for now.

I'd also take a look at the current crappy economy in the US. IMHO - Casual games are not burning money on games if times are tough, whereas hard core gamers will budget for a few of the best games every year.

-FWIW - I'd like to try DJ hero, but I'm not paying $100+ for a game and a contoler that is ONLY good for one game.

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Solatso replied on 11-16-2009 3:06 PM

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I'd more inclined to think the gaming "slump" is because the economy in general is still in bad shape.  But that CAN'T be it because then they can't shift the blame on the consumers.  The customer is always WRONG after all.

I work in the cell phone industry and nationwide sales have been anywhere from 15-38% lower this year than at that respective point last year. (ie, this June was x% lower than last June, etc. etc.)  Every single month this year was lower than last year across the board.  That's the "unofficial official truth", the "official unofficial truth" is that "everything is great and sales are actually above expectation"......yeah big fat lie to boost consumer morale and make people think it's ok to go spend money.

Truth of the matter is that the jobless rate is still high, the middle-class is slowly fading and the gap between the rich and the poor has never been larger.  We've got an entire generation of people getting ready to leave college and enter the world only to be renters forever or find themselves living with their parents again. 

Sorry bout the rant, it just irritates me that lower sales are blamed on the consumer and not the people making the shoddy, OVERPRICED, products.

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timpysan replied on 11-16-2009 3:07 PM

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jrstriker12:

Seems game publishers didn't realize these people were "casual," as in not regular and repeated buyers and players of games. I think they've milked the casual gamers dry for now.

I'd also take a look at the current crappy economy in the US. IMHO - Casual games are not burning money on games if times are tough, whereas hard core gamers will budget for a few of the best games every year.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I also think that in jumping on the casual game bandwagon, some developers have hurt their credibility with their loyal, hardcore audience.

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Blackcoyote replied on 11-16-2009 4:03 PM

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I dunno, I think the anti-casual gamer sentiment is kind of unnecessarily strong.  There is a demand and publisher rightfully tried to meet that demand.  I really think it comes down to a combination of bad economy + high game price points + MW2 on the horizon and being a "must get" game

Looking ahead, if things hold constant...December and January are going to be bleak months b/c MW2 will still be popular and the quality of post November games just isn't there (just my opinion) + the general seasonality for video games this time of year is not that great.  Will be interesting times to say the least. 

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Wurms replied on 11-16-2009 7:52 PM

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It definately wasnt me that made the sales go down. In October alone I got:

NBA 2k10

Need for Speed Shift

FIFA 10

Uncharted 2

Infamous

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ELRONIN replied on 11-16-2009 9:18 PM

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IF, and i stress the IF in this,  sales are down there are many more deciding factors to this than the "casual gamer"

First, people are looking at their needs now more than thier wants.  I may be classified as a casual gamer by the media but in my mind i am most certainly a hard core gamer.  I just happen to work two jobs every day the first starting at 5 am and the second when the first ends until sometime between 5 pm and 11 pm.  (yes i get a day off from each on different days during the week) but that dosen't mean I'm not serious about gaming.  I just have limited time.

Second developers need to put the time and effort into games that gamers want.  This is why we as gamers must look at sequals to games as the industry (hopefully) capitalizing on a good game but also giving us a quality second installment of what we are willing to buy so that the industry can go out and develop new games.  An example is Assassins Creed, when it was originally released I really liked it, but it is getting a sequal and hopefully the developers will use the profits to try something new.

Third, Gamers are an ever evolving bunch,  we reward innovation with purchase power.  If they want us as the hard core gamer to buy something it had better be quality or we put the word out to NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY on it.  this site alone with the forums im sure has made many of us either, NOT BUY or to put it on a REQUEST LIST or even run out and purchase the gems that are out there. 

I feel these factors affect sales way more than any casual gamer.  We are a fickle bunch and we are not willing to throw down 60 to 180 bones for something that is not top shelf.

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jrstriker12 replied on 11-17-2009 9:20 AM

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Not really blaming the casual gamers - more blame goes to the companies who thought they could continue to make most of their money off of people who only have a limited or passing interest in games.

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timpysan replied on 11-17-2009 9:26 AM

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jrstriker12:

Not really blaming the casual gamers - more blame goes to the companies who thought they could continue to make most of their money off of people who only have a limited or passing interest in games.

That was my thought, too.

I have nothing against casual gamers. I'm all for introducing new people to our hobby and for growing the industry. I'm just not a fan of developers who are satisfied with making mediocre products because they know they'll still sell.