Games vs. Movies: The Battle of the Bling-Bling

The top ten movies last year were:

Six of the top ten movies are sequels, which prove that it is easier to make money by retreading on familiar ground. There is also less risk involved, provided the prequel was at least marginally successful.

This trend is also present in the gaming industry. Just look at the blockbusters on the horizon: Halo 2, Doom 3, Half-Life 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, Gran Tourismo 4, GTA: San Andreas... all sequels.

Another important element in the movie industry is the sale and rental of movies on video and DVD. People spent $22.5 billion on renting movies in the US alone. The European market follows US standards with about a year or two of delay. The profit from European movie sales reached €10 billion last year. The Japanese market saw an increase of 7.9% in movie sales in contrast to 2002. VHS tape sales went down 30%, which only proves that this media reached the end of its line.

Best sold DVDs on the US market:

Popular movies always turn out to be high-selling videos or DVDs, no surprise there. Re-mastered editions of old blockbusters like Indiana Jones movies also make good DVD sales.

The average price of a new DVD is about $20, with older movies going for as little as $10. Average price of the cinema ticket worldwide is $5.20. (Except in the US where you have to mortgage your house to see a matinee - Six) While the theatre does offer a better experience, it remains a one-time experience, while the DVD remains yours, and usually contains many extra interesting features and bonuses.

The best selling PC games in the US in 2003:

The most profitable title turned out to be EA's The Sims series. This also goes to prove that sequels of popular games sell well, and that investing time and money into an original project carries a lot more risk. The list is dominated by strategy games, with the exception of two FPS.

Things take a different turn in the console realm. Let's take a look:

Comparing the two lists, we can spot the difference in player preferences:

PC gamers mostly bought strategy titles (27.1%), games for kids (14.5%), FPS (13.5%), family titles (9.5%), FRP (8.7%), sport simulations (5.8%), driving simulations (4.4%), adventures (3.9%) and other simulation (3.5%).