I don’t think (online multiplayer games) get impacted at all (by the current recession), because people who play them are addicts … Losing their jobs makes them more likely to play because they have more time to play.
– Michael Pachter, gaming industry analyst
(via Massively) (explanation of post title for you newer addicts)
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I still think Milo’s response is one of the best troll-feeding replies I have ever seen.
ITYM ‘industry “analyst.”‘
Gee, an industry analyst that doesn’t know shit from shinola. I guess it’s not surprising in a world of bankers that can’t evaluate risk.
Agreed. Too bad he has to stoop to cheap Internet link baiting instead relying on sound analysis.
If I got laid off, I will went into hibernate mode, which includes:
cut off any non-essential cost, i.e WOW, movies, cookies etc. Switch from dsl to dial up, drop my cell, shut off my AC.
I did all this the last time the entire division got laid off, and lasted long enough before the rent kill me (this time would be the mortgage).
I don’t think game industry is immune to the down turn, there will be a lag between lay off and people run out of money for games. The only exception will be people who live on social security.
I think MMO’s still have the opportunity to thrive in a recession, but not entirely because people are addicted. I’m not denying a certain percentage of MMO players are addicted, but the real reason I think lies along the lines of the value of entertainment. You spend 15 bucks a month for most MMO’s. Heck you spend more than that for two movie tickets, and that entertains you for a maximum of 2 hours or so.
And another of Mr. Pachter’s greatest hits, from the NYT in September of 2006:
He’s right for the wrong reasons, economic turmoil is always great for the most value-dense forms of entertainment, and lousy for every other form. The Great Depression built Hollywood, and killed Vaudeville.
MMO’s have a per-hour cost of less than a quarter, less than a dollar even if you include the cost of the internet connection and pro-rate the cost of the computer. Compare that to movies at the theatre ($5/hour and up), or TV (roughly $2/hour for a normal cable bill).
Remember that Mr. Pachter is who our brilliant superstars of the investment community, who have shown themselves to be such shrewd judges of risk and expertise, look to for advice, and much becomes clear.
*rolls eyes*
It’s quote the quacks month or something?
[quote]
“It may continue to grow in China,” Mr. Pachter added, “but not in Europe or the U.S. We don’t need the imaginary outlet to feel a sense of accomplishment here. It just doesn’t work in the U.S. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
[/quote]
Who in their right mind would hire this clown?
“Who in their right mind would hire this clown?”
See Dave Rickey’s post 2 above yours.