Teens Spinning More Games Than CDs March 14, 2008

Read more Consoles , Entertainment , Gadgets , Games , Gizmodo UK , MP3 , Music , PC

Retail revenues for the video game sector tripled in 2007 as sales of music CDs and DVDs take a backseat.

According to the NPD Group, teen spending on games rose 41% in 2007 while sales of music CDs fell a whopping 45%. DVD movie sales flattened in the same period. Traditional music sales continue to drop across all age groups but the top reason for teens abandoning CDs was the appeal of video games.

The irony is that despite the image of hard-core gamers being basement recluses, living week-to-week in the same underpants, they actually spent most of their budget on non-gaming items – like CDs and DVDs.

NPD found that 58% had purchased a new DVD in the past six months, 46% bought a CD, and 43% purchased a console game.

Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD said:

“We have this perception of hard-core gamers glued to their consoles, and immersed in virtual worlds, when in fact, they are still spending a lot of time with, and money on, music, movies, and other pastimes.”

Of course, it might not be mentioned here, but illegal torrent file downloads must be having a big impact on CD and DVD business these days.-Martin Lynch

[NPD]

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