Digital Purchases Make Up Majority of US Video Game Sales, and Other ESA Stats

[R-T-B]

In the latest edition of "RTB's Obvious News," I present you with an alarming statistic:

Digital purchases make up most video game sales in the United states at around 74% of purchases, according to a study by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).

I know, I can hear it now: "Obvious news is obvious, R-T-B. Why'd you post this? Your news sucks!" etc etc. Believe it or not, I have a reason for bringing this seemingly lame study to your attention, and that's because despite the headline being lame, the study actually contains some interesting tidbits about the gaming market in general.




First off, there are 24% of people who still buy hard copies. I find that... fascinating, and I'm sure that future Alien Archeologists will agree. Moving on, the study shows that in most cases of under-18 gamers, not only are parents present when they make their digital purchases, but the parents actually play said games with their children at least once weekly in 67% of instances (I don't know about you, but my mom only played Tetris, and I hated that game). Regardless, this shows increased interaction between children and parents in the digital-gaming sphere, something that traditionally has not been reported in past studies.

Gender disparity is also dissolving in this most recent report. 31% of the video game playing population is comprised of females between the ages of 18 and 35. Interestingly, this outnumbers the number of males under the age of 18 (at 18%, and no that is not a typo), although it still falls behind males in general in gaming (at 62%).

Reasons for purchasing a game? Forget story and gameplay, or any of that stuff. It's on the list, but it didn't rank tops. What sells games? Graphics people, glorious graphics. 67% indicated that "Quality of the Graphics" was their #1 factor in picking a video game.

There's more, but it's a lot to digest. Read the study yourself in the source link if you want to: The report is an easy to digest interactive webpage. Go ahead, it's worth a few moments of your time. Honest, this is coming from a guy who's usually bored from this stuff.

EDIT: It appears the mobile version of this study and the pdf version show differing figures for the "top reasons for purchasing a game" section. I'm unsure what to make of the results there, so take them with a grain of salt. See post #31 in this thread for more info.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[ZoneDymo]

dat quality 3rd part gamepad

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

I'm just a console player, but I have been doing more digital purchases thanks to good flash sales. That, and the pathetic trade-in values you get from GameStop doesn't make buying physical discs worth it. And while graphics are nice, I still want a good story or fun play first. I find with the graphics, you can only spend so much time looking around.

 

[Rowsol]

Graphics determining whether you buy a game shows what sheep that people are. Some of the best games I've ever played were on SNES (FF6 anyone?). I still play Doom 2 to this day, modded of course.

This is a mentality that is ruining gaming, sacrificing FPS for picture quality. Hell, Doom ran at 35fps in '93. If this is what people care about it's no wonder publishers push graphics over playability.

 

[AsRock]

no point in buying hard copy's in most cases as they are link to steam or origin most of the time and do not require or even have the disks even in the boxes.

there is no resale value as they are linked to your account 99% of the time.

Were being forced in to than actually picking it as a option.

 

[R-T-B]

no point in buying hard copy's in most cases as they are link to steam or origin most of the time and do not require or even have the disks even in the boxes.

there is no resale value as they are linked to your account 99% of the time.

Were being forced in to than actually picking it as a option.

I've been an advocate for full digital trading/sale rights for a while now. Heck, the platforms could probably even take a fair cut to "provide" the marketplace. We know why they don't though, and it's all about money. Excellent point.

 

[manofthem]

(I don't know about you, but my mom only played Tetris, and I hated that game).

I can't believe these words were spoken (written), I shall listen no further.

For 3 reasons: A, I'm not that lucky. 2, my mom never played anything. and D, Tetris is beautiful and I would have loved to beat my parents at it.

31% of the video game playing population is comprised of females between the ages of 18 and 35.

OK I'm listening again! This is very surprising indeed as I didn't realize thst games were played by so many females. Sure, young kids play stuff like Mario and such but in that age bracket, me thinks Mario isn't the only thing being played.



Regarding digital purchases, that's the only way I buy for pc games, not worth it having hard copies. I think the only disc I have left is a game from the 90s: Rebel Assault, can't bring myself to toss it even though I have it digitally now too.

Even on consoles, though I'm last gen still, the past several games I have purchased were digital downloads (mostly game codes from eBay or whatnot). I haven't bought a console disc new or used in a very long time.

 

[Caring1]

I stopped buying games, around the time they started linking them to Steam etc and forcing you to have an online account to be able to play the game you just bought.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Oh, younger generation, so quick, so impatient.....

Nothing, but nothing can replace the joy of owning a hardware copy, since back in the day, ALL the games were sold in a nice box, with CD cases, hard print manual and artwork, maps, secrets, tips, etc. You actually HAD a felling that you own something. Now you just download a copy, install, play, pffff.... boooring. While this is good for multiplayer only games, I could never imagine having games like Diablo I, II, III, Starcraft, DeusEx, Warcraft II and III, C&C - all of them, GTAs, MaxPayne 1/2, MYST, Phantasmagoria, etc, etc with just an invisible digital copy.
You kids really don't know what you're missing.

 

[Caring1]

Oh, younger generation, so quick, so impatient.....

Nothing, but nothing can replace the joy of owning a hardware copy, since back in the day, ALL the games were sold in a nice box, with CD cases, hard print manual and artwork, maps, secrets, tips, etc. You actually HAD a felling that you own something. Now you just download a copy, install, play, pffff.... boooring. While this is good for multiplayer only games, I could never imagine having games like Diablo I, II, III, Starcraft, DeusEx, Warcraft II and III, C&C - all of them, GTAs, MaxPayne 1/2, MYST, Phantasmagoria, etc, etc with just an invisible digital copy.
You kids really don't know what you're missing.
View attachment 86843

Not to mention the games bundled with your latest purchase of a Graphics card.

 

[Nuckles56]

Oh, younger generation, so quick, so impatient.....

Nothing, but nothing can replace the joy of owning a hardware copy, since back in the day, ALL the games were sold in a nice box, with CD cases, hard print manual and artwork, maps, secrets, tips, etc. You actually HAD a felling that you own something. Now you just download a copy, install, play, pffff.... boooring. While this is good for multiplayer only games, I could never imagine having games like Diablo I, II, III, Starcraft, DeusEx, Warcraft II and III, C&C - all of them, GTAs, MaxPayne 1/2, MYST, Phantasmagoria, etc, etc with just an invisible digital copy.
You kids really don't know what you're missing.
View attachment 86843

I still have the massive background booklet that came with warcraft III and remember reading through it multiple times. I miss that kind of attention to detail in new games

 

[rtwjunkie]

I stopped buying games, around the time they started linking them to Steam etc and forcing you to have an online account to be able to play the game you just bought.

Well, there is GOG. You might be surprised, also at the selection. Take a good gander through their library. No online presence of any kind required. And the number of fairly recent and even pretty new games might surprise.

As for the study, the number one factor being graphics disgusts me. If people want such lifelike graphics: stand up, walk to door, open it, and step into the real world. Sunshine, warmth on the skin, trees rustling in the wind, birds and their songs, the array of colors in flower beds, and the smell of cut grass all await you.

Honestly, for me, story comes first, but originality, or being somewhat off the wall, or just being damned good fun gameplay all rate far above graphics for me. Those people are probably why I have to play so many Indie games, or lesser known games from big studios, because many major ones are catering to the desire for the best graphics and nothing else.

 

[INSTG8R]

I have almost 400 games on Steam alone. Where would I put all those cases?

 

[alucasa]

The downside of this is loss of jobs and loss of game stores.

But having hundreds of games on Steam and having around 100 game boxes for PS2, Xbox360, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii, Wii U, etc.... It adds up and I prefer digital downloads now.

 

[Mescalamba]

Pretty much exactly as expected.

 

[m1dg3t]

Anyone over 30 with half a brain already knows these things as they are the reason/s for it. I mean really, parents have been using gaming to occupy their kids time since pong, and naturally progressed to involving themselves along. I guess this is news to the tweenie boppers???

Oh, younger generation, so quick, so impatient.....

Nothing, but nothing can replace the joy of owning a hardware copy, since back in the day, ALL the games were sold in a nice box, with CD cases, hard print manual and artwork, maps, secrets, tips, etc. You actually HAD a felling that you own something. Now you just download a copy, install, play, pffff.... boooring. While this is good for multiplayer only games, I could never imagine having games like Diablo I, II, III, Starcraft, DeusEx, Warcraft II and III, C&C - all of them, GTAs, MaxPayne 1/2, MYST, Phantasmagoria, etc, etc with just an invisible digital copy.
You kids really don't know what you're missing.
View attachment 86843

+10000000000000000 At least those were worth the money as you actually got stuff, now just a link for your $70+!!! Way to go society, w1nning!

 

[Ithanul]

Though, one needs to be aware. They are counting mobile gaming on smartphones and tablets. Which, a whole lot of people do now a days.
Heck, their pie chart for PC gaming showed 25.8% for casual genre.
With The Sims games hogging a lot of spots on the Top 20 sales chart they show.

On the physical part. It is called data caps and access to decent internet speeds.
Major reason I still stick to physical, plus I rather have a physical disc (I can resell console games after I am finished).

 

[Ja.KooLit]

I actually dont want to own hard copies. Like others mentioned, no resale value. Besides, DVD, CD's and so are made up mostly from plastic? not sure. The thing is, those DVD's are nice. you can see them, look at them hell even nicely arrange them in a shelve or something. I once was like that but no more. I just threw them away because they are like garbage on my shelves no offense but I dont like keeping something which I know I can never ever use it anymore.

 

[Grings]

It was nice when you got some nice packaging or included goodies, but i dont miss cracked/scratched disks, losing cd key booklets, securom, and having to put the disk in to play the game (and hearing the dvd rom spin u when you do)

That said the last few physical media games i bought you could just activate it on steam/origin without installing from the disk, win/win

 

[R-T-B]

Anyone over 30 with half a brain already knows these things as they are the reason/s for it.

Over 30 here, found some aspects surprising. Must be my frog-brain...

As for the study, the number one factor being graphics disgusts me. If people want such lifelike graphics: stand up, walk to door, open it, and step into the real world. Sunshine, warmth on the skin, trees rustling in the wind, birds and their songs, the array of colors in flower beds, and the smell of cut grass all await you.

Honestly, for me, story comes first, but originality, or being somewhat off the wall, or just being damned good fun gameplay all rate far above graphics for me. Those people are probably why I have to play so many Indie games, or lesser known games from big studios, because many major ones are catering to the desire for the best graphics and nothing else.

This too was a surprising and rather disgusting statistic to me. I mean to each their own, but for me it's gameplay: Gameplay all the way.

 

[m1dg3t]

Over 30 here, found some aspects surprising. Must be my frog-brain...

Maybe the frog half LoLoL

 

[HopelesslyFaithful]

no point in buying hard copy's in most cases as they are link to steam or origin most of the time and do not require or even have the disks even in the boxes.

there is no resale value as they are linked to your account 99% of the time.

Were being forced in to than actually picking it as a option.

THIS!!!!


I have like 1200 games on steam but almost all of them are under 5 bucks because i refuse to pay full price for a "limited license".

GOG for the fucking win! That is a place i would pay more than 5 bucks for a game.

The downside of this is loss of jobs and loss of game stores.

But having hundreds of games on Steam and having around 100 game boxes for PS2, Xbox360, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii, Wii U, etc.... It adds up and I prefer digital downloads now.

you mean pointless jobs removed and the market will open up new opportunities for new work since some waste was removed?

 

[Prima.Vera]

I agree with some of the comments. I am not buying now hard copies IF the game only provides the plastic box and the disk(s). No way, this is just extra garbage to put somewhere, I agree. No, I am buying hard copies, like the Older Scrolls Deluxe, where you received a 100+ pages physical manual, the full map of the world in very high quality, a separate CD with the soundtrack, some nice stickers, etc. Now that was worth buying. And at that time was ~35$

Edit:
Above is a collector edition because of the statuette, but the Deluxe ones used to come the same but in a normal box.
Now Deluxe edition means adding extra garbage like DLCs for armor, weapons, extra buffs for multiplayer, and other useless junk, for an extra 20 or 30 more.....

 

[kruk]

It was nice when you got some nice packaging or included goodies, but i dont miss cracked/scratched disks, losing cd key booklets, securom, and having to put the disk in to play the game (and hearing the dvd rom spin u when you do)

Game cracks or mini virtual DVD images solve most of these problems. Interestingly, cracks also tend to fix compatibility problems caused by DRM and they can also slightly benefit performance.

Hard copies FTW!

 

[natr0n]

dat quality 3rd part gamepad

As someone who has a controller collection... That thing is hideous.