Topic: Gaming and the Economy

[Plugabugz]

Why is it in times of impending economic doom and gloom and retail growth here is like 1-3%, gaming is still growing at 10-15% per year?

I don't think it's entirely down to the Wii but mostly down to the realisation that the cinema costs £8 to see a (at most) 3 hour film, but pay £30 for Brawl or £40 for COD4 which has several times replay value. Are we more willing to pay for an interactive experience than for passively watching a film?

Discuss.

[Nick DiMola]

I agree, movies and other entertainment, including going places are getting more and more expensive. As a result gaming is looking more and more economically viable to people. I also agree that this includes gaming as a whole not just the Wii/DS.

[ShyGuy]

Britain has impending economic doom and gloom?

[Flames_of_chaos]

I agree, movies and other entertainment, including going places are getting more and more expensive. As a result gaming is looking more and more economically viable to people. I also agree that this includes gaming as a whole not just the Wii/DS.

Besides the prices of consoles, PS3 and 360 games, Microsoft's prices of accessories prices of video games have stayed the same really. The prices of movie theaters tickets, shows and gas is making people stay home and buy DVD/Blu-rays, videogames and have their entertainment needs at home rather than at a venue.

[KDR_11k]

the realisation that the cinema costs £8 to see a (at most) 3 hour film, but pay £30 for Brawl or £40 for COD4 which has several times replay value.

Sounds silly to me, gaming is done at home and requires YOUR equipment, you have to buy the console and possibly a second TV if the wife doesn't want you gaming in the living room. You can just buy a cinema ticket and go watch, no need for anything extra. DVDs might be closer though the players are still cheap and there's a higher wife approval factor.

If the growth came from people no longer liking movies there would be a corresponding shrinking of the movie market. Also I don't see why that kind of transfer would happen now, especially with such different media like cinema and video games and over a fact that has been in place since the inception of gaming. Maybe it's growing again after slowing down over the generation shift?

[Ceric]

Yes, but think about this.  Here in the States I do Gamefly and for me its $30 a month for 2 games I can keep however long I want.  As long as I finish/get tired of those games within a month time the price of gaming goes down considerably compared to going to the movies.  Which in my case would easily drop be back $30 a show because of the wife and popcorn.

[UltimatePartyBear]

I seem to recall from a business class long ago that the first victims of a recession are things like large appliances and cars, the really expensive stuff that almost everyone buys on credit.  You can almost always get by with an old refrigerator, even if it doesn't have filtered water or even an ice maker.  Home entertainment is actually fairly unaffected because it's not typically a very large portion of a family's budget in the first place.  If people slash anything from their entertainment spending, it's things like trips to Disney World.

This sounds weird, but if you think about it, most of the things we actually need are pretty durable.  Appliances, clothing, and vehicles can all last far longer than most people use them for, and saving a little money at the expense of fashion is relatively painless.  Entertainment, on the other hand, "wears out" much faster.  You can only play the same games so many times before they get boring, as any of us who didn't get spoiled rotten as kids probably knows all too well.

[DAaaMan64]

I'm glad to see Starbucks hurting as a result

har har. oKay maybe not.

[Kairon]

Maybe these economic doldroms are what's driving sales of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon? After all, that game provides hours and hours of entertainment according to Crimm! &P

[Flames_of_chaos]

I'm glad to see Starbucks hurting as a result

har har. oKay maybe not.

You do know that starbucks is closing 600 stores in America right?

[Morari]

I agree, movies and other entertainment, including going places are getting more and more expensive. As a result gaming is looking more and more economically viable to people. I also agree that this includes gaming as a whole not just the Wii/DS.

Nope, gaming is still too expensive. It is just comparatively deceptive.

This sounds weird, but if you think about it, most of the things we actually need are pretty durable.  Appliances, clothing, and vehicles can all last far longer than most people use them for, and saving a little money at the expense of fashion is relatively painless.

I want to know what cars you purchase, because I know that no one car is going to last "longer than I need it", as it is pretty much a lifetime. Sad as it is, vehicles are somewhat of a necessity nowadays. Of course, new vehicles, more so than videogames, are too expensive.

[Ceric]

Also NPR had an interesting thing on the economy that as the economy gets worse Lipstick sales go up.  Its a proven indicator of downturn of economy.  Sort of interesting.  People like to have the pick me up and its relatively cheap and long lasting.

[DAaaMan64]

I'm glad to see Starbucks hurting as a result

har har. oKay maybe not.

You do know that starbucks is closing 600 stores in America right?

No I mean. Okay maybe I'm NOT glad.

[Maverick]

I'm glad to see Starbucks hurting as a result

har har. oKay maybe not.

You do know that starbucks is closing 600 stores in America right?

I tried to tell him but he told me to shut my pie hole.

[UncleBob]

If people slash anything from their entertainment spending, it's things like trips to Disney World.

And then, all the money they were going to use on vacation can be used to buy video games.

[nickmitch]

People also don't seem tired of buying **** with Hannah Montannah on it.

I WORK FOR TARGET I KNOW THIS!

[KDR_11k]

Nope, gaming is still too expensive. It is just comparatively deceptive.

Yeah, My mother would like her own DS, my sister wants a Wii, neither can afford one.

[ShyGuy]

Target's electronics dept is greater than Wal-Mart's electronic department?

[nickmitch]

Yes. Because Wal-Mart is evil. Target is nice.

[UncleBob]

Yes. Because Wal-Mart is evil. Target is nice.

Neither company is "better" than the other.  *maybe* Costco, by a hair.

[matt oz]

Alls I know is that no one buys newspapers anymore, so my job was outsourced to India 6 weeks ago, and I still haven't found anything else.

Oh wait, this thread's about gaming.  Umm, I've actually bought more games since being laid off because of all the time off I've had.  Actually, most of what I've played were rentals from Gamefly.  All I've bought over the last few weeks were Mass Effect and Rock Band (lttp, got it 2 days ago, can't stop) for the 360.  I guess gaming is my lipstick pick-me-up, because if I took the time to think about all the poor decisions I've made in my life, I probably wouldn't stop crying...

[Kairon]

I'm graduating college in October. I'm scared...

[Flames_of_chaos]

I'm graduating college in October. I'm scared...

Well Kai I just graduated  College with a Bachelor's Degree on June 20th and I'm not getting any luck getting a job =/. But I hope that changes soon!

[nickmitch]

Yes. Because Wal-Mart is evil. Target is nice.

Neither company is "better" than the other.  *maybe* Costco, by a hair.

Costco is weird. I don't like him joining our club.

[ReverendNoahWhateley]

People also don't seem tired of buying **** with Hannah Montannah on it.

I WORK FOR TARGET I KNOW THIS!

I'm not so sure Hanner Montanner exists, no more so than the little alligator on men's shirt pockets or the guy with a beard on the King of Diamonds.  The Montanner is a lie!