The social aspects of high-performance video games

Our latest ongoing research in the gaming industry has uncovered some interesting trends. The three best-selling games for the third quarter of 2008 were Wii Fit, Mario Kart Wii, and Grand Theft Auto. Two of those three are multipurpose games that appeal to a broader age group and gender. Also, when comparing total revenue from video games since 2006, Guitar Hero, another multipurpose game, placed in the top three. Consumers seem to prefer multiplayer / new interface games to traditional single player games.

Wii Fit is a good example. Not only can it be played with a group of people, but it also involves more physical interaction and is a fun way to keep fit. Compared to more traditional games, Wii Fit nearly closed the gender gap with 48% of women buying from the eBay platform. Furthermore, despite its very recent release in April and May 2008, the total sales of this game alone have exceeded the total sales of any other single game on the eBay platform.

Even in a looming economic downturn, video game sales could see a surge. These non-traditional games fulfill different aspects of the leisure experience. For example, Guitar Hero becomes a way of listening to music, while creating a new air guitar experience; Rock Band, another best-selling game that comes complete with a microphone, lets friends get together to play in a band; and Mario Kart Wii brings people together to satisfy the competitive urges of a group.

How well these sales will perform this holiday season compared to 2007 is a question that remains to be answered. At Advanced we are monitoring our daily data for video game sales and look forward to seeing how the eBay video game market develops.