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See the original image at arstechnica.com

Gaming Appears to be Recession Proof as Wii Dominates sales

arstechnica.com — The NPD numbers are in for March, and both hardware and software sales are way up. With Nintendo leading the way, the gaming industry seems to be oblivious of the constant talk of a recession.

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  • wynja, on 04/19/2008, -9/+36Those selling escapism have always thrived during bust times.
    • fkr3, on 04/19/2008, -4/+22Isn't it a bit early to call it bust times? People aren't exactly living in Central Park yet....
    • mrzack, on 04/19/2008, -4/+2true
    • 0ceanic, on 04/19/2008, -0/+8yes, i was going to make the same point. historically, entertainment spending during recessions has increased.
    • Elranzer, on 04/19/2008, -10/+2The problem with "escapism" and the PS3/360 is that the PS3/360 strive more and more towards realism. Realistic war simulations and other like genres aren't going to relieve stress in individuals depressed over war issues.

      The Wii completely takes the user away from realism and places them in complete nonsense and fantasy.
      • s1mph0ny, on 04/19/2008, -1/+6For most americans, the largest issue is the economic recession. Sure we don't like our soldiers being deployed as targets, but it doesn't effect many people directly. War sims don't usually bring up the economy, so they are still for the most part an escape.
    • KingWilson, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1did any one else read "proof of recession"
    • keozen, on 04/21/2008, -0/+1In volatile market, only stable investment is porn
  • rickyroca, on 04/19/2008, -16/+9Good for the PS3.... 2008 or Bust.
    • whyufail, on 04/19/2008, -3/+15It's selling because it's cheap. Trust me, it does not bode well unfortunately for the 360/PS3 which have much higher price tags.
      • grumbel, on 04/19/2008, -0/+3XBox360: €200 vs Wii €250... Ok, this is still only in Europe, but still, price isn't the major reason why the Wii is selling, it the 'experience' it tries to offer, the harmless social casual games, which in turn might help a lot to spread marketing by word of mouth. The problem that the PS3 and XBox360 have is that they have very little to offer for non-gamer people and also blood and goods don't make a good x-mas present for a 10 year old, which is why many parents might stay away from it.
      • Mrstupid7, on 04/20/2008, -0/+1By your logic, Gamecube sales should be through the ***** roof. They're selling for 100 dollars and you can still buy them in Wal-Marts.
    • MuskokasFinest, on 04/19/2008, -0/+3Is anyone else surprised the PS2 outsold the 360, PS3 and PSP in February?
    • DavidGX, on 04/19/2008, -2/+1SOMETHING has got to be good for the ps3.. lol.
  • scottsharperz, on 04/19/2008, -14/+28It's nice to see people are still spending money even though the economy is not doing good. Wii is def. the better of the consoles imo. :o)
    • consoneo, on 04/19/2008, -10/+5Being that it's the only of the consoles I own, I do enjoy the Wii. But I do not believe it to be a better console than the Playstation 3. The PS3 has motion sensing controllers, just like the Wii, and it has a lot more power/options. The only thing, in my mind, that makes it inferior, is the fact that it costs so much more. That can't be helped, because you have to pay for all of the extras.
      • YellowSnowDemon, on 04/19/2008, -1/+6The Wii has better exclusives, unless you're insecure about playing Mario over Resistance.
        • staticneuron, on 04/19/2008, -2/+1It is serious, I find Ratchet and clank, and uncharte to be far above what is offere for the wii. The only games i can compare are SMG and no more heroes. The wii collects dust if I am not gaming with a group while the other systems can get play solo (with good stories) MP with split screen or online play. My PS3 and 360 get more play than the wii..... period. I don't hate the wii I just don't feel compelled to play the games when I am by myself.
      • brotherfranciz, on 04/19/2008, -1/+4Are you comparing the SIXAXIS to the Wiimote? The Wiimote is far superior with regards to motion sensing and force feedback.
      • EtherGnat, on 04/19/2008, -1/+2"I do enjoy the Wii. But I do not believe it to be a better console than the Playstation 3."

        Because there has to be a single "best" console? I don't understand why people feel the need to perpetuate this myth. Depending on your needs the best console might be the Wii, the 360, the PS3, or some combination thereof (or something totally different).
    • Ender008, on 04/19/2008, -6/+3Fanboy much?
    • joshua5, on 04/19/2008, -0/+8People need something to do with all the new free time after loosing their job.
  • mywhitenoise, on 04/19/2008, -21/+5I thought the whole reason the Wii was in short supply in the US was because Nintendo doesn't want to ship as many consoles because of our weak dollar.
  • dansmeek, on 04/19/2008, -13/+4i read this as "Gaming Appears to be Recession: Proof Wii Dominates Sales"
    as in "the gaming industry is in a recession and that the article assumed gaming meant ps3/360/pc and since the wii was dominating sales and is not a videgame.... that this was PROOF" (please dont flame me, I was just thinking thats what the title meant based on my poor reading comprehension and the constant articles that bash the Wii. I would own a Wii if I could find one in a store damnit).
    Anyway, I thought it was funny. And yeah... ever since the TV strike, videogames have fulfilled my TV/Entertainment time. And it will probably stay that way. Money that i would have put into DVDs or ridiculous products that I saw in adds during commercials are no more. All $$$ seems to go to videogames. And i honeslty think it might be healthier than watching TV. Especially since the News gets me angry. Very angry. Every time I watch it. Tv's bad.
  • Darren07, on 04/19/2008, -7/+2Nothing is recession proof, the people who are screwed today couldn't afford to spend $50 on games when they weren't screwed.
    • s1mph0ny, on 04/19/2008, -0/+2So the 13% of people who lost their homes can still spend $60 on video games?
  • umbriago, on 04/19/2008, -0/+57If I lose my job, I'm certainly going to be playing video games all day.
    • Jerky1312, on 04/19/2008, -4/+25And you will buy the cheapest console available.
    • mrzack, on 04/19/2008, -5/+3WoW
    • crump199, on 04/19/2008, -1/+2You could look for another job... but that's no fun, and Wii is.
    • Deadpixel1221, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1I've lost my job and that's pretty much all I've been doing lately. Let's see Castlevania Portrait of Ruin, The World Ends With You or some homebrew Quake DS...
    • loopyloopy, on 04/19/2008, -1/+1i'm already there, i'm already there.
  • RoadDoggFL, on 04/19/2008, -23/+4Why isn't "XBOX 360 OUTSELLS PS3 IN MARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111" on the front page?

    :-/ I can't wait till those submissions die.
  • NecroSexy, on 04/19/2008, -11/+2The charts indicate that the Wii and DS are obviously lying.

    Sick numbers.
  • dannyboy3020, on 04/19/2008, -0/+27There is nothing better than video games to take your mind of the perils of modern life!!!
  • threemagic, on 04/19/2008, -1/+18Income tax returns = console purchases. Shocking...

    Really though, recession means a lot of the more expensive entertainment gets cut out leaving you home for most of your entertainment. I bet HBO/Cinemax/Showtime/TMC subscriptions are rising too.
    • bjornski, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1I'd actually like to see numbers on that.

      With the economy going into a downturn, are premium channel subscriptions going up? Or down?

      I know we've canceled all of ours, because it's just too damn expensive.
  • TheSexyGeek, on 04/19/2008, -3/+10I think the Wii is selling because of the recession. People are going with the cheaper console.
    • JulyZerg, on 04/19/2008, -6/+8They're going for the best console...
      • wageslaven, on 04/19/2008, -8/+4I think that's a bit of a stretch. The wii has the most novel control, its certainly not "the best". If you pluged a Wii control bar into the PS3 or Xbox 360, it would be better than Wii in an instant.

        Yet, Wii doesnt have Media sales, online is a joke, the complexity of the games is limited and other issues.

        If the recent news of MS releasing a motion controller is true, Wii is going to be in trouble.
        • OwlFlavored, on 04/19/2008, -1/+8What people fail to realize is that the Nintendo's success has MUCH more to do with software than it does with their controllers. Sure, Wii Sports and a few others are great for motion controls, but most of the games that are really selling (Smash Bros, Mario Galaxy, Zelda: TP) have very little to do with the Wii's control scheme and much more to do with the fact that regardless of technical limitations (compared to XBox 360 and PS3) Nintendo makes the most fun games. They always have had really strong first party titles, and that's what keeps Nintendo fans coming back.
          • grumbel, on 04/19/2008, -3/+1If it would be for Mario, Zelda und Metroid the Gamecube would have sold like crazy, but it never did. What is selling the Wii is clever marketing, people want the Wii Sports experience and the Wii is the only thing that can provide that.
          • staticneuron, on 04/19/2008, -2/+2No the wii is drawing in those still foreign to gaming because of the controls. It is not selling that well because typical gamers are flocking to it. The typical gamers who wanted one would already have one by now. These are people I see even at my work place. They are enamored by the motion control. Wii sport is one of the best games they have ever played.
        • Zarokima, on 04/19/2008, -3/+1And don't forget Zack & Wiki and No More Heroes.
        • bjornski, on 04/19/2008, -3/+2After playing the Wii at my friends house, I can definitely say it's not "the best".

          It's novel, it's kinda neat. It's a GREAT console for party games (we sit around, drink and play games together), but I'd never own one myself. I don't like it enough. (though I AM a Mario addict, and those are cool)

          But as for "best"? Hardly.

          I personally see their numbers going up because it's cheaper than the competition.
        • Mrstupid7, on 04/20/2008, -0/+1Yeah those Gamecube sales numbers are huge.
    • staticneuron, on 04/19/2008, -2/+1The console is not selling because it is cheaper, It is selling because of the controls. Non gamers who experience it become converts. I have seen it everywhere. I have seen it at my workplace (where the majority of workers are over 40 and normally wouldn't be into gaming. I see it at parties.

      Its not even a question. The motion control is why it is selling.
  • breezytrees, on 04/19/2008, -0/+19no job=more time for gaming
  • mrzack, on 04/19/2008, -0/+20people wanna bury their sorrows in simulation of life. Live life vicariously through a 8000 polygon protagonist...
    • BobMysterioso, on 04/19/2008, -0/+10its the wii.. you only get 4000 polygons.

      I kid, I kid. I like the wii - just wish I could get more songs in GH3.
      • bjornski, on 04/19/2008, -2/+1Buddy just bought an X-box specifically for Guitar Hero/Rock Band.

        He wasn't about to pay the Sony tax, and wanted the downloadable content that wasn't offered for his PS2 version.

        So now he's trying to sell his used Sony computable equipment.

        I don't play it, but it's fun to watch while we're all drinking, and he's an addict.
        • bjornski, on 04/20/2008, -0/+1Dugg down for saying my buddy bought an X-box.

          You people are strange.
        • BobMysterioso, on 04/22/2008, -0/+1But you said both comments. You dug yourself down.

          < head explodes kab00m! >
      • NanoStuff, on 04/19/2008, -1/+4The PS3 has twice as many polygons as real life. It's true, Sony said it.
  • brwright, on 04/19/2008, -3/+4Where are people finding the Wii's and DS's? There are none in sight in Indiana.
  • HeyChris, on 04/19/2008, -3/+7I'm buying a Wii after I get moved in to my new apartment. They are readidly available here now and have been for weeks so I'm not worried about that. I already own a 360 and have no need for a PS3.
  • jayscot, on 04/19/2008, -9/+2Actually much of the economy is fine...the building industry sucks right now though.
    • s1mph0ny, on 04/19/2008, -2/+312% unemployment says otherwise.
      • orangysb, on 04/20/2008, -0/+1The latest statistic from the bureau of labor statistics says it's 4.6%.
  • rodbotic, on 04/19/2008, -6/+1this reminds me of this vid

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFoyp71xw3w
  • mattes5, on 04/19/2008, -0/+13Not much of a surprise to me... as the price of gas goes up..... people save gas by staying at home playing games.... no boating or 4wheeling... just good ole gaming
    • YellowSnowDemon, on 04/19/2008, -0/+2I'd rather game anyway. ***** 4wheeling... boating is tempting though.
    • JasonMath, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1The price of oil can affect electrical bills, though (if you use oil for electricity).
  • chamberlanderic, on 04/19/2008, -2/+2Where is the : Wii is better than Vista comment ?
    • ahughes, on 04/19/2008, -1/+6if (Wii == "hardware" && Vista == "software") {
      argument = null;
      } else {
      argument = "pointless";
      }
      • Shaflugi, on 04/19/2008, -0/+5I don't like the way you align your curly brackets :(
        • s1mph0ny, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1It's faster to type them that way, and if you're using a highlighting editor it doesn't really make any difference to readability.
  • Ender008, on 04/19/2008, -0/+3Ugh this is only going to insight another console war. I'm tired of it.
  • mal1964, on 04/19/2008, -0/+4I bet used games and consoles from pawn shops and game stop are having better sales than normal
    • bjornski, on 04/19/2008, -0/+2And I bet they're getting more of them in than usual also.

      When the mortgage comes due, those are the types of things that get sold off first.

      Garage sales are going to be incredible this year.
  • wageslaven, on 04/19/2008, -9/+4Something missing here is game sales.

    And, the Xbox 360 has an attach rate of 7.5 games per console, twice that of the other two, and the highest attach rate in console-gaming history.

    Developers live-and-die by attach rates, and we're still early in this generation, there is tens of millions of consoles to be sold yet (for each). But the Xbox 360 is going to attract all the best games and developers because Xbox 360 owners *buy games*.

    Sure, the Wii is outfront, but other than 1st person titles, not much else gets sold.
    • ChanM, on 04/19/2008, -4/+2dugg only for this statement "Sure, the Wii is outfront, but other than 1st person titles, not much else gets sold.". The Rest seems to be Xbox fanboyism.
    • Zarokima, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1I'll give you the not much else getting sold point, but there's still plenty of good third-party games on the Wii. Just to name a few, Brawl (which has been selling incredibly well), Zack and Wiki, and No More Heroes.
    • staticneuron, on 04/19/2008, -0/+2You know..... it is probably because the 360..... has been out a year longer. Honestly, lets see how well the 360 fares next year after all the familiar titles are hitting the wii and PS3 this year.
    • EtherGnat, on 04/19/2008, -1/+1"Sure, the Wii is outfront, but other than 1st person titles, not much else gets sold."

      It's true first and second party titles account for a little over half of Wii game sales, but third party titles have still sold over 44 million copies. That's almost as many game sales as the PS3 has *total* (46.64m).

      "And, the Xbox 360 has an attach rate of 7.5 games per console, twice that of the other two, and the highest attach rate in console-gaming history."

      The 360 does have an impressive attach rate. It's sold an average of almost 150,000 games for every day since the console has been released. The Wii has sold over 180,000 games per day. Make of that what you will.
  • YodaJones, on 04/19/2008, -2/+3So many Diggers, so little wii's.
  • lacreme, on 04/19/2008, -1/+5These comments are really recessing into suck.
  • sndream, on 04/19/2008, -2/+6Lol, Xbox 360 actually surpassed PS3 in March.
  • Lionhart, on 04/19/2008, -3/+3It makes sense. People will have smaller budgets for entertainment, and a lot of people will chose to play video games. You can buy a video game for $50-$60 given you have the console and get many hours of enjoyment out of it. Whereas 2 hours of enjoyment at the movies will cost you like $10+ depending on how many people. Think about it, 4 people at the movies for 2 hours = $40. 4 people playing mario party for 10 hours = $50, and repeatable. A tighter budget is why I started playing WoW again. $15 a month for unlimited entertainment. Can't beat that.
    • staticneuron, on 04/19/2008, -1/+1Or you can use a free MMO. right? Instead of playing video games you can stock up on some good books and movies. They are cheaper right? family fun? Board games!

      You arguement is full of holes. THe wii is selling because it is popular. It is the "in" thing. If someone "wanted" a PS3 or a 360 the would not "settle" for a wii. The concept of saving is not lost among people and no one just settles for less than they feel they deserve.
  • TommyHigh, on 04/19/2008, -1/+0Not surprised at all! I'm sure most people can't even find somewhere to put a console that massive!
  • duggdowncatisad, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1Duh. $4 gas = can't afford to go out = more time at home = people buy things to use while they're stuck at home, like game consoles.
  • onClipEvent, on 04/19/2008, -1/+2that's a lot of plastic....
  • ahughes, on 04/19/2008, -0/+3Interesting to see that Nintendo's sales (Wii + DS) is almost on par with all the rest combined (XBOX 260 + PS3 + PSP + PS2)
  • dqderrick, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1I usually spend over $100 on an average date with my wife? (In San Diego, CA)
    If I can find a way to spend a fraction on a VC game or even Mario Kart... I'm going to!
  • sicilian890, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1Everything is great right now, but lets not forget what happened in the early eighties when atari hit the fan. If that wasn't a gaming recession then I don't know what is.
  • dako, on 04/19/2008, -1/+3This is probably Smash Brothers Brawl doing :D
  • Alphasee, on 04/19/2008, -2/+1This is not a fanboy comment. I find it funny that the gaming system that dominates is the Wii, because of it's generic ability to produce games and an environment for the whole family, and not just a 'hard core gamer' that locks him or herself in a dark room for 6 hours a day.

    Not to generalize (:P) but most people who play the ps3 or xbox are gamers. People that play the Wii and or DS are family members. And although the graphics may not be cutting edge, masterpieces like brawl, corruption, and galexy all carry a product line, a fan base, and certain amount enthusiasm behind it. Go nintendo. Wevolution FTW.
  • carrielynn01, on 04/19/2008, -0/+0Hmm. less disposable income due to recession = less money for movies, pubs, social life = people turning to cheaper "at home" entertainment + income tax return season = increase in console sales.

    Is it me, or is common sense becoming a rare phenomena in today's media.
  • razicop, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1ups and downs are the part of any biz but good to hear that Nintendo is leading a way...nice!
  • supersteve, on 04/19/2008, -4/+1the wii is great for people who don't know how or care about gaming, the 360 is for hardcore gamers who want good games, and the PS3 is for idiots who think Blu-ray is a cool thing to have.
  • unit451, on 04/19/2008, -1/+0Wii rules. Best gaming system ever for the family. Just ordered another online. (Nintendo Wii Console and Super Smash Brothers Brawl.. try http://www.crazytowndeals.com or http://www.slickdeals.net or http://www.fatwallet.com any other deal site of your choice for good video game deals.)
  • xtac, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1I gave up waking up 6am in the morning to be told SOLD OUT. I found one on wiipeddler.com, free shipping no tax was nice, and mario galaxy is great!
  • Obelia, on 04/19/2008, -0/+1People trade down in a recession. So a lot of people are foregoing expensive luxuries like holidays, new plasma TVs, and eating out. These same people will still want to treat themselves, but in cheaper ways. Games are pretty cheap, so there may even be a boom, especially in the market for second-hand games.
  • justbrae1, on 04/19/2008, -2/+0I know too many people who have either bought a Wii and sold it because the game selection sucks unless you basically live with your friends, or it is collecting dust.
  • FongoBongo, on 04/19/2008, -0/+2This just goes to prove that "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" requires a revamp, its missing video games and consoles.
  • MattH, on 04/20/2008, -0/+1Wii and a Gamefly Subscription = recession proof
  •  

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