Liquor, games sales thrive during recession
Monday, December 22nd, 2008 at 3:35am by Derek
More than half a million Americans lost their jobs last month. If sales trends reflect reality, most coped by getting drunk and killing aliens.
As vehicle manufacturers and major banks crumble amidst the worst economic environment since the Great Depression, U.S. sales of video games and alcoholic beverages have increased by record amounts.
The video games industry is on pace to total a record $22 billion in U.S. sales this year, success that has been widely documented.
Meanwhile, several states are reporting strong increases in liquor sales during the 2008 fiscal year, Pennsylvania and Utah included. Ohioans bought enough liquor to fill more than 16 Olympic-sized swimming pools, a recording-breaking year of consumption.
And November data suggests the trends aren’t slowing; Americans seem to be gearing up for a holiday of drunken family gaming.
According to the NPD Group, the games industry’s unprecedented growth and success actually increased last month, as U.S. retail sales of gaming hardware, software and accessories reached $2.91 billion.
Nintendo sold 2 million Wii consoles to top hardware charts, while Microsoft’s Gears of War 2 led all software sales with 1.5 million.
Video games have clearly proven immune to the effects of an economic downturn, but the emergence of alcohol as a similarly recession-proof business is perhaps a bit more of a surprise.
In a study released this year by the Nielsen Company, which tracks consumer trends, 80 percent of interviewees said they were spending the same amount or more on alcohol compared to a year ago.
“Alcoholic beverages are withstanding the economic slowdown very well, compared to other categories that might be considered indulgent or non-necessities,” said Danny Brager of Nielsen.
“To many customers, alcoholic beverages are an affordable luxury.”
An “indulgent non-necessity” considered an “affordable luxury” is perhaps as accurate a descriptor of video games as it is of liquor.
These industries’ successes may not necessarily be concomitant, but could they be related? As gaming becomes a more social event and its demographics widen, the potential correlation becomes clear:
The only thing better than watching an off-key friend belt out “Livin’ on a Prayer” in Guitar Hero is watching him attempt it drunk.
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:41 am
LOL, sounds like my past Frioday night – we hosted a dinner party that ended up being a bit of a wine fest which then migrated down to the rec room for some Guitar Hero World Tour.
We failed out.
Repeatedly.
December 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 am
If being drunk while gaming is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
December 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 am
LOL.That pic above is funny, but i guess they’re right. As long as technology brings us more innovated consoles, and the companies keep coming with good games, the gaming industry will hardly be affected. But that’s just my thought.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
I know I contributed more to both of these causes this year than ever before…
Of course, I did just turn 21 this year.
December 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
“If sales trends reflect reality, most coped by getting drunk and killing aliens.”
Yeah, you know, instead of getting drunk and playing Chrono Trigger DS, Wii Fit, Professor Layton, Guitar Hero World Tour, Mario Kart Wii, etc…
We all get drunk and blast aliens because God knows every single damn one of us is a beer-guzzling hardcore gamer like you.
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
hmmm… i do like a drink with my mutant killing. it takes the edge off the post apocalyptic angst.
saturday night was spent with beers and fallout3, so this seems accurate! (sunday night was spent with milk, cookies, and gta4, so i’m not sure what that says- other than that holiday snowstorms require cookies)
also- everyone should go watch king of kong. great movie.
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:44 am
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December 24th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
it’s not that unusual we move to drown our sorrows in hard times. look what happened the last time we had a depression. organized crime surfaced off of our lust for liquor and the moral crusader’s retarded ideology of getting rid of something that has been around for thousands of years. if booze and videogames are your escape from a, let’s face it, pretty shitty time in history then i say let them play wii sports, drink, and be merry!
“If being drunk while gaming is wrong, I don’t want to be right”, preach on brother kentbphat