@SAKY: Huh. Not sure how the least expensive console would suddenly start selling less should recession really hit hard.

In all honesty, I think this might be the start of a nasty one, unless something is done quick to bolster some consumer confidence, not to mention straighten out a lot of the crap involving the out-of-control credit and loan issues with the middle/lower class.

ampillion : Will comment for money.

I'm not sure you can really look to the past to make predictions on this. Back 7 years ago, and especially in the early 90s, gaming didn't target as wide a demographic as it does today. So there may be some demographics in gaming today who would spend less on games given a downturn, hurting the industry slightly. Of course, with so many different groups buying games, that helps to make sure sales aren't hurt too badly.

Sportyboard

@Witzbold: Yeah, sorry Japan, we're taking you with us. Our bad! Hopefully we can dodge the recession bullet. Fingers crossed.

Tepoz

@Witzbold: Well this econimic crisis isn't expected to last long but that comes from investors who HAVE to be positive about the situation. If this next year is going to see another 1.5 billion in revenue then SONY is needs to pick up the pace because I don't see the Wii selling as well in '08 as it did in '07. So, IMHO, SONY will not only have to have a breakout year with PS3 but they will need to compensate for slowing sales of the Wii. But hey that Wii is a wildcard, and we won't know how much of an impact the recession is going to have on the industry.

SAKY

Movies did great as an emerging popular mass entertainment form during the depression. The most that might happen (imo) is a skew to older/cheaper titles and systems.

SaintWaldo

Kinda wonder how this year is going to do with the whole economic "crisis" we are now facing though. :x

Witzbold

MGS4, LBP, and Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan, and some GTA4 for good measure, and I'll be hooked for the rest of the year. I thought that maybe a year of large numbers of quality releases would cause some to suffer from poor sales, but if 2007 worked out well, then all the better! Bring on the 2008 AAA Flood!

Bellamy

I need MGS4. I predict about 9.3 billion of that will be from MGS4 and the PS3 sales it generartes. Halo who?? Yeah that's right! I said it!!

SithNinja

Games are a need, so it doesn't matter if we're limited in money, our money will still go towards games

RyanSaotome

I know I will probably spend upwards of around 10g's for video games alone this year with all the stuff that I buy.

Streeks1984

This year will show more families staying at home and playing their Wii (and other games) other than spending the same money that they would by going out and doing things as a family. Hench the increase in SW sales....

SithNinja

The thing analysts don't get is that revenue depends on the titles that come out. You can't simply say "2007 = x billion + y% growth = 10 Billion".

2008 is going to have some heavy hitter titles, Grand Theft Auto 4, Metal Gear Solid 4, Resistance Fall of Man 2, Killzone 2 all come to mind... but none of those are going to do what Halo 3 did. Too many of those are PS3 exclusives and the PS3 is a very weak market.

2007 also had surprise hits in terms of Bioshock, The Orange Box, Assassin's Creed and Mass Effect. The Guitar Hero franchise racked up a billion dollars on their own.

But of course now that everyone has their $90 guitar they won't be making that purchase again.

I can see 2008 doing well, but not as well as 2007. My prediction is the gaming market will dip 1 to 3% over 2007.

Jordan Lund

Does this figure include used game sales? If so, then I don't think that the gaming companies can claim that the used gaming business is hurting the industry.

SilentPredator

I'm cutting back on game purchases this year - so....can someone pick up my slack? Still trying to calculate a budget - it will be pretty tiny compared to their forecasts. DOH!

@Streeks1984: 10g's? wow. I feel so poor now.

sadkermit

@Jordan Lund: Agreed, we all know that only Premium Titles sell well and work to making a profit for publishers. Just about every major studio was putting out a game. 2008 starts the development process for them all again, and you won't be seeing such a long list of very good games till 2010 or later. That being said if you were surprised about those games you listed selling well, you've got your head in the sand.

Fraidnot

*game industry's losses

damn I need an edit feature.

SAKY

@ampillion : Will comment for money.: I was speaking of the Wii's popularity which is what is driving it's sales. Meaning that I think joe consumer may lose interest in the console. Of course, back in '05, I NEVER thought Wii would be this big. So again I think the PS3 would have to make up for the game industries cause by both recession and wealening sales of the Wii console.

NOW go back a read my previous statement.

Thanks.

SAKY

@Fraidnot: are you kidding me? Have you not heard the list of titles set to come out this year. MGS4, LBP, killzone 2, home, and thats just for the ps3. Lego's coming out with 2 more titles this year, another tomb raider, resistance 2. And dont forget FF XIII.

geiko

@geiko: Go take time right now to compare the list of upcoming "big titles" vs those that came out in 07, I will be vindicated.

Fraidnot