Games Boom Despite Food & Fuel Costs

Today is the release date for the fourth installment in the Grand Theft Auto titles, otherwise known as GTA IV. This highly popular, sex and violence saturated series has generated plenty of publicity (mostly negative) for its publisher, Rockstar Games. Some interesting factoids can be gleaned from an article in the New York Times by Matt Richtel.

Richtel focuses on several college students and twenty-somethings who profess to barely have enough money to eat each month, but are more than willing to shell out $60 for GTA IV (or $90 for the collectors’ edition). Sales of five million copies are expected in coming days.

The so-called addictive nature of games is also brought up, with quotes from the only academic in the article:

“When gamers are in it, it’s like a druglike state. It feels so good,” said Jennifer Aaker, a professor at the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley. She said players face constant challenges and receive instant feedback, a superstimulating artificial environment.

Not only is the play experience emotional, but the purchase is emotional, too, Professor Aaker said. Players want to be the first to buy the game and master it, sweeping aside the matter of affordability.

“The last thing that comes to mind is: ‘Can I afford it?’ That question isn’t even on the radar,” Professor Aaker said. “The question is: How fast can I buy it?”

Not mentioned, but clearly related to the popularity of the series is its wide-open world approach, wherein players are not required to follow any set rules or instructions. Instead, players can simply do what they want in the environment. Such approaches are also popular in MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft.

Another interesting tidbit Richtel referenced in the article is the fact the gaming industry is booming despite hardships felt elsewhere such as rising food and fuel costs. Sales of consoles and titles are up across the board; GameStop excels while other retailers suffer.

References:
Richtel, M. (2008, April 29). For gamers, the craving won’t quit. New York Times. [Online.] Available: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/technology/29game.html?

5 Comments

• 

  By Nicole, May 5, 2008 @ 10:23 am

  I can relate with the experiences of wanting to buy a new video game. However, for me it wasn’t about mastering the game it was about getting to play it first and it being just being new. I don’t have multiple game systems, I only have a WII now but I would like to have an XBOX 360 for the sole fact of playing Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV). I think it’s quite accurate about individuals not worrying about whether or not they have the money, just that they get the game because when I want a game really bad, only when they are brand new and have been hyped up for months in advance, I will make sure to find enough money in order to buy it.
  Gaming I feel is very addicting. I can sit down and play a game and it will feel like 15-30 mins went buy, until I look at the clock and see that its been almost 2 hours.
  It’s amazing how games are still high on the market even though the price of gas where I’m from is $3.59 a gallon for regular. I’m more worried about having enough money for gas than having enough money for a game or what else is coming out. I guess though there are a lot of people out there in college that don’t have to worry about where there money is coming from or how they are going to have gas money, they can just pick up the phone and ask and they once again have money. I think it’s similar in the situations with high schoolers that want video games and are just starting to drive. Most probably have a part time job but they really don’t have any expenses to pay for except gas, maybe a cell phone bill unless their parents pay it, and whatever else they want to spend money on.
  But then again there are those people that work really hard for their money and will save it and also know when they can use money to afford a game that jsut came out. My boyfriend’s brother is 26 and he works full time and has 2 kids, he either ordered or went out and bought GTA IV, but he knows where his money comes from and he works for it, unlike a lot of college students that have all the fancy equipment for gaming.

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  By Anonymous, May 16, 2008 @ 8:53 am

  When GTA first came out (top view) my friends and I would spent at least 5 hours playing it, taking turns.

  When the first 3D version of GTA came out I installed it on my PC and would play it from 5:30pm to 11:00pm – on the weekends longer – I would play tracks like ZERO 7 in the background; while my character roamed the streets, killing people, stealing cars, committing violent illigal acts that I could never do in real life – almost in a zombie like state I continued playing – sometimes without food, and becoming irritated when I’d have to take a restroom break. On one occasion I remember having to go out to buy something from Ralphis after playing for 6 hours straight. At the light a police car pulled up next to me – and instantly my heart started pumping, fear filled my councious – and the overwhelming need to run came over me.

  Some say that video games are not addicting – I beg to differ, video games provide an unhealthy amount of escape. Even though I stopped (and so would not fit under my understanding of an addict – “keep doing something that I want to stop”) I believe some can’t.

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  By play asia, May 19, 2008 @ 12:39 pm

  Never thought the fuel prices would have an impact on games.

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  By Chip, June 11, 2008 @ 7:00 pm

  Gas prices out here is $4.32 for regular, so I had to put the 360 away, and it was hard at first, but I’m actually back to playing the classic games for the older systems like nintendo, snes, gba, and all those stuff I put on my iPod Touch. I’m a game tester, but only do it part time, and I’m loving the classic games.

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