People still really like video games
TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: You know, one place where prices haven’t fallen is video games. The market is still there and it’s still pretty strong. Janet Babin reports from North Carolina Public Radio.
Janet Babin: Sure, times are tough. But consumers so far seem willing to plunk down cash for a gift that offers entertainment on the cheap — at home.
Some video game consoles have been flying off store shelves in record numbers. Nintendo says sales of its Wii consoles more than doubled over Thanksgiving week compared to last year. It’s outselling Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
But Brendan Sinclair at Gamespot.com says the recession has still dinged its share of game-makers:
Brendan Sinclair: All throughout the year, there’ve been independent studios closing left and right. Electronic Arts laid of 6 percent of its workforce, more than 500 employees, THQ just shut down five of their studios and laid off people at two more.
Sinclair says video games with universal appeal are selling better than those tailored to traditional gamers. Maybe that’s because recession-weary parents want to play Guitar Hero just as much as their kids do.
I’m Janet Babin for Marketplace.
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