Analysts are expecting record game sales for 2008 as the sector's popularity continues to buck the trend at UK retail, but that doesn't mean there aren't some rocky roads ahead for the industry.
Xbox exec Shane Kim said yesterday that he's expecting some "tough times" next year, but one analyst, Nick Gibson of Games Investor Consulting, told The Guardian that he thinks Nintendo's most likely to take a hit from the recession.
"As the market has become more casual-gamer focused, then it will be more susceptible to the economic rhythm," he said. "I would say that Nintendo therefore would be the most susceptible."
According to the UK broadsheet there's evidence to back up Gibson's theory. 'Conversations with independent retailers around the UK suggest the interest for Nintendo titles is not what it was; they are already seeing more secondhand games brought in and fewer sold,' said the report.
Screen Digest analyst Piers Harding-Rolls agreed with the view that "these new, more casual mainstream consumers... are more likely to view gaming as a discretionary luxury", but he told the paper that he thinks the pricier PS3 could be the one to suffer.
"Arguably the PS3 is most vulnerable to a downturn. Generally consumers become more price-sensitive under these conditions and the PS3 is expensive, so they may delay their purchase or even buy a different console," he suggested, shortly before Sony said it has no intention of cutting the console's price any time soon.
Seems like the doom and gloom that's everywhere else is starting to sneak into the games industry too then.
So the Wii will stop selling... the PS3 will suffer.
OFFICIAL:- The 360 will win..
Fanboy riot please begin below (remember the house rules- no biting!)
You've overlooked the old wooden ball-and-cup game. When the recession really kicks in, and no one can afford their electric, the old ball-and-cup will sky rocket!
Invest your money wisely, invest in a ball-and-cup!
So if Ninty starts losing money the only people who could bail them out would be...hmmm...oh yes!
The real gamers that they abandoned
Ah, but we're not with them so much anymore. Well cya Ninty, it was a good run and every time I play my n64 I'll think of the good old days when you were fun.
Yes, the company most likely to suffer in a recession is the one that's virtually got a license to print money at the moment, and not the two who are recording losses already.
So the Wii will stop selling... the PS3 will suffer.
OFFICIAL:- The 360 will win..
Fanboy riot please begin below (remember the house rules- no biting!)
You've overlooked the old wooden ball-and-cup game. When the recession really kicks in, and no one can afford their electric, the old ball-and-cup will sky rocket!
Invest your money wisely, invest in a ball-and-cup!
Lol, I actually loved my cup and ball, I remember passing it round my mates to see who could catch it the most out of x number of go's... that was classic gaming! fond memories.
I hope Nintendo uses the money made this generation to create a proper graphically next gen console. I know they took a big risk with the wii-mote and thankfully it paid off. I just can't believe how Sony has managed to royaly screw up with the PS3. I mean, they obviously got too comfortable at the top and didn't feel threatened by Ninty at all, oh well every dog has it's day, peaks & troughs and all that gubbins.
Well at least the big N has been making money this whole time as opposed to selling at a loss so that should help. I would bet 50% of the people who buy a Wii don't even know you can play other games besides what was included on it.
I know what will save nintey- a new gimicky prerihial! How about the wii knife that can be used with games like cooking mamma, but also in mugging games like London streets 20008? (I made that up) And it can also have a bladed edge so you can practise your mugging/cooking skills in real life!
If nintendo had stuck with the 'hardcore gamers' then they would almost certainly have gone bust already.
All the daft people on here moan that Nintendo abandoned their core fanbase, but the truth is that it was the other way around. This is just a stone cold fact, and Gamecube sales are the conclusive proof of that.
Im not really a fan of the direction Nintendo have gone in, but people need to realise they are a business. They aren't there to please a small minority of people. They are there to make as much money as possible, just like any other company.
Unfortunatley correct. I know that I myself bought Twin Snakes when the GC was in its death throes and we all thought Ninty would go the way of Sega. They didn't and I don't think there's anyone here who wasn't happy that they pulled them selves out of their rut. But alienating the very customers who brought them this far will do them no good in the long run and if we had a great original title for every Carnival Games and Wii Music then nobody would have a problem.
Unfortunatley correct. I know that I myself bought Twin Snakes when the GC was in its death throes and we all thought Ninty would go the way of Sega. They didn't and I don't think there's anyone here who wasn't happy that they pulled them selves out of their rut. But alienating the very customers who brought them this far will do them no good in the long run and if we had a great original title for every Carnival Games and Wii Music then nobody would have a problem.
People saying core gamers abandoned Nintendo are bang on the money. GC came last in the previous gen and I reckon without the handheld market and Pokemon, Nintendo would have called it quits as a console maker.
Also, they mentioned they interviewed independent shops. I would think the mainstream/casual gamer is more than likely to buy their games at HMV, Game etc, probably anywhere but an independent shop.
And what is wrong with buying a games console to play every few weeks when you have people over? My parents hardly ever play their wii, but they enjoy it when they do and they certainly know that their are other games out there; they just don't need loads more than wii sports, Mario and Sonic etc. What's wrong with that?
No doubt though that Nintendo dropped the ball in terms of decent games for the last 9 months or so though. Maybe 2009 will be better.
Right, because so-called "real gamers" couldn't possibly be hit by a recession. No siree Bob. Apparently they're such addicts to the hobby they'll go on gaming marathons til they die or survive on Mountain Dew and Twinkies long past what "casuals" could endure so that they can buy more games.
And what is wrong with buying a games console to play every few weeks when you have people over? My parents hardly ever play their wii, but they enjoy it when they do and they certainly know that their are other games out there; they just don't need loads more than wii sports, Mario and Sonic etc. What's wrong with that?
I agree. There is also nothing wrong in buying a PS3 and only ever playing singstar on it if you are enjoying it or a 360 and only ever playing lips, buzz and viva pinnata. However there appears to be an elitist mentality amongst some gamers who think that no one else should ever be aloud to participate in gaming. What these so called gamers seem to forget is that we all started out by playing some sort of casual games (pong was the one that got me into gaming) and casual games have been around ever since and will continue to be around. In fact casual games are great for a little light relief from fallout3.... Also this christmas I could be socially retarded and play some complex games while the rest of my family watch tv or the whole family including myself could get together and have fun playing lips or wii sports. I know which one will make mine a better, more sociable christmas.
No doubt though that Nintendo dropped the ball in terms of decent games for the last 9 months or so though. Maybe 2009 will be better.
It does look like Nintendo have finally realised that they need more deeper games to balance out the catalogue. I have nothing against the casual games but I do want more intelligent games too. As I said though it does look like they are going to start fixing the inbalance. There are some great games on the way next year.
Also does anyone know when they are going to release the promised patch to fix the SD card storage?
"As the market has become more casual-gamer focused, then it will be more susceptible to the economic rhythm," he said. "I would say that Nintendo therefore would be the most susceptible."
Yeah and Kimbo Slice is gonna be signed by Dana White and used as the UFC's next poster boy after he beats Brock Lesnar
You patrionising bankers,We are not all casual ftlog,some have been with nintendo along time,loyalty they won't be going anywhere and will continue to buy the games,we are not all casual-yes the market has opened up there but its a market that weren't really there,so all those fans of N64-cube,most are still there if not sony's,i'm loyal to ninty games,but i will still buy 3rd parties if they are a good standard,QOS Conduit SonicDK are all on list and Layton.
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HAT sounds catchy.
