Used game sales and gameplay hours rise during recession

A recent survey has revealed that gamers are getting greater value than ever out of their video games, playing the ones they own for longer and buying pre-owned games to save money.

Time spent playing games and used game purchases are up, and in fact way up over the past several months, says the Nielsen Company. Citing a new study that gauged game playing and purchasing habits during the recent recession, the media audience tracker said the number of hours gamers claim to be engaged is at an "all time high," while the purchase of used games and video game rental service have both increased to "record-breaking" levels since tracking began in 2006. The conclusion? When it comes to entertainment, consumers are opting to get more from, well, more.

Used game sales and gameplay hours rise during recession.

Anyone surprised? Used games can literally double or triple their value if they're something long form, say Dragon Quest VIII (around $10 used) or Final Fantasy X (around $15 used). You can drop $10-$15 on a movie ticket, a watered-down drink, and a bag of oily, over-salted popcorn for a couple hours of generally trite escapism, or direct that fifteen bucks toward something that'll keep you occupied for dozens. Something you can play in the comfort of your home. Something you can start or stop at leisure. Something you're actually controlling and interacting with, as opposed to passively receiving.

Nielsen adds that new game sales have been soft for three reasons: Used-game purchases are at an all-time high, video game rentals too, and 2009's been lacking the "name" games (Halo 3, Grand Theft Auto IV) to bring in the crowds. Nielsen says awareness of new titles has dipped in 2009 to its lowest levels since 2007.

Importantly, Nielsen says it's not hardcore gamers driving up the usage averages, but mainstream gamers "playing more of the broadly appealing games" like Wii Fit, Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

Read more at PC World's Game On blog!

Comments [18]

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ChokaDaChicken

It don't take no genius to figure out what's going on. Most games that come out, ain't worth the $60 price tag. Even renting this gen games prices went up, online features extend the life of a game and it's easier to find a sack then it is to find a job.

Train_of_Thought

funny. i seem to play less, like, a million times less now with the recession.

AngelofChaos

Dragon Quest VIII at the price is robbing the game itself. Ridiculous of time killed in that game. I bought me 4 used games this weekend as well. Cheap ass gamer ftw.

Fat_bot

I'm not surprised at all; games provide more entertainment value in the long run, and a movie could now start feeling like a luxury for some, especially if you have to bring a family to the show.

patsfan365

i know how i save money. i basically rent a game for free. i buy a used game and i have 7 days to play it. i can trade it back with my receipt and get all my money back by the seventh day.

war02orc

Thanks for stating the obvious!!!! HELLOOOOO! When people have less money, do you think buying 1 $60 game is a bargain or should they buy 3 $20 games??? Of course people will buy more used games or stick with what they have!

Myself, since I lost my job I have put a great many more hours into my gaming (mostly in WoW) simply to try to escape the stress of being unemployed (and believe me, after a while the stress builds up to a good amount). I don't have money to buy any new games since I have no income, but instead I have played the games I already own.

Boyanime012

once again gamers are showing how cheap they are.. you see i would never buy a use PS3 game, because i know it could be scratched, just like most used gamers are fill with scratch marks, which then makes the game stop working faster.. so i'll rather pay for the full price then to buy a used game. that's what i did with infamous. and it was worth the price along with killzone 2

Now Far Cry 2 is $29.99 for the price drop, which means i'm smart, you see i waited for the price to go down.. i'm not cheap like you gamers, i'm smart. think of me like a smart businesses man who just pull one over, on the publisher, let's not forget only the stores makes money for used games, not the publisher who is marketing the game

Boyanime012

war02orc wrote:

Thanks for stating the obvious!!!! HELLOOOOO! When people have less money, do you think buying 1 $60 game is a bargain or should they buy 3 $20 games??? Of course people will buy more used games or stick with what they have!
Myself, since I lost my job I have put a great many more hours into my gaming (mostly in WoW) simply to try to escape the stress of being unemployed (and believe me, after a while the stress builds up to a good amount). I don't have money to buy any new games since I have no income, but instead I have played the games I already own.

i'm sorry to hear about you losing your job.. i guess i'm lucky to still be able to get pay, lets hope things get better with the economy

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