Digital video game distribution finds brick and mortar camping, moves in for win

[wraggster]

Blame it on the economy, or simply chalk it up to a better way of earning revenue, but physical distributors of new video games are beginning to feel some major heat from the scrappy competition (http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/digital-games-distribution-earned-3-8-billion-in-2010-a-quarte/). While this mainstay segment still comprises the bulk of sales with $1.44 billion earned in the previous quarter, the combination of digital purchases, subscriptions, downloadable content, social network and mobile games -- along with help from rentals and used purchases -- now tops $1.74 billion dollars. This news comes from the NPD Group (http://www.engadget.com/tag/npd+group), and while we're still scratching our heads at the logic of combining second-hand purchases with electronic distribution, it provides a strong indicator of consumers' changing tastes and preferences (along with their willingness to spend). Does this industry titan simply need a new console or another Call of Duty (http://www.engadget.com/tag/call+of+duty) to maintain supremacy? Perhaps a modest uptick in GDP? Or does this signal the changing of the guard for our favorite electronic pastime?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/digital-video-game-distribution-finds-brick-and-mortar-camping/