Despite the global financial crisis, the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association has reported strong sales for gaming consoles and games for the third quarter. The association also expects to surpass the sales records set last year.
According to IGEA, retail sales for video and computer games are expected to surpass last year’s record figure that fell just short of $2 billion ($1.96 billion).
Sales data from independent market research group GfK Retail and Technology Australia has the industry tracking 8.3 per cent higher by the end of September, compared to the same period last year. In addition, sales of console hardware has risen ten percent, and game sales are up five percent to $716 million with the Christmas season still to come.
Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association said, “The rise of family entertainment as a genre continues to underpin much of the industry’s growth – family console games now account for 32 percent of all games sold, followed by action (13.2%). Family entertainment games outstripped action games for the first time last year, accounting for 28 per cent of all games software sales whilst action games accounted for 15.5 per cent.”
“Interactive games are played by all generations across the entire household and publishers continue to produce quality games to meet the demand. In terms of classification, 67 percent of all sales were generated from G or PG rated titles,” Ron said.
“Christmas will see iGEA members delivering a number of highly anticipated games, along with some surprises, which should see sales surpass the records set in 2008. Australia’s interactive games industry continues to see healthy growth now that video and computer gaming has become as mainstream in popularity, as watching television or surfing the net,” concluded Curry.
