2004 Game Sales Set New Record
by Tom Spilman · in General Discussion · 01/26/2005 (6:56 pm) · 4 replies
A positive note for today...
"According to new figures released by the Entertainment Software Association, data collected by the NPD Group indicates that the total videogame software sales across all platforms, including consoles, handhelds, and the PC, reached $7.3 billion in 2004. The total is a new record for the games industry, surpassing the overall performance of just over $7 billion in 2003."
I just wished that an independent and trusted figure in the indie scene would start collecting data on indie sales. Sort of an opt in kinda strategy. If you contribute your sales numbers (with proof of sales and your indie status) you get access to sales information for the indie space. Probably no details as to individual products, but maybe sales by price point, sales for different genres, sales by budgets and team sizes, etc. It would be an awesome tool to further educate indies as to what is successful and what is not.
"According to new figures released by the Entertainment Software Association, data collected by the NPD Group indicates that the total videogame software sales across all platforms, including consoles, handhelds, and the PC, reached $7.3 billion in 2004. The total is a new record for the games industry, surpassing the overall performance of just over $7 billion in 2003."
I just wished that an independent and trusted figure in the indie scene would start collecting data on indie sales. Sort of an opt in kinda strategy. If you contribute your sales numbers (with proof of sales and your indie status) you get access to sales information for the indie space. Probably no details as to individual products, but maybe sales by price point, sales for different genres, sales by budgets and team sizes, etc. It would be an awesome tool to further educate indies as to what is successful and what is not.
About the author
Tom is a programmer and co-owner of Sickhead Games, LLC.
#2
01/26/2005 (7:43 pm)
And not to be a wet towel, but that's not such great news. Not bad, just "eh." It's like telling budding independant filmmakers, "Good news guys, Hollywood is raking in cash hand over fist!!!"
#3
But good sales in the industry is important. The game industry still isn't Hollywood. Games are not yet as mainstream as movies or music. Seeing expanded sales of games ensures that we won't see something like the video games slump in the mid-80s (even though it is pretty unlikely now). It also means further investment in the industry which still hasn't reached alot of the population. I see them spending the dollars to reach people and get them interested in games as expanding my potential audience as an indie. Let them spend all the money they want... we'll beat them on dollar value and gameplay.
01/26/2005 (8:08 pm)
I agree about the idea of indie sales data... it was a optimistic wish and not that realistic of me. =)But good sales in the industry is important. The game industry still isn't Hollywood. Games are not yet as mainstream as movies or music. Seeing expanded sales of games ensures that we won't see something like the video games slump in the mid-80s (even though it is pretty unlikely now). It also means further investment in the industry which still hasn't reached alot of the population. I see them spending the dollars to reach people and get them interested in games as expanding my potential audience as an indie. Let them spend all the money they want... we'll beat them on dollar value and gameplay.
#4
01/26/2005 (9:23 pm)
Good point! 
Torque Owner Joshua Dallman
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If your conversion rate (number of people who download your demo who later buy it) is less than 2%, you're doing not so good. If it's 2-3%, you're doing good. If it's 5%, I want to know what you're doing. If it's 10%, there's something in the water. It's a pretty good indicator of success -- on a relative level, not an absolute level. Which is fine because we can't compete with tens of millions in sales anyway. If the only job you have is making indie games and you have enough to pay rent, eat, and still go see a movie or have a beer now and again... I'd say you're a ridiculously successful indie.