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GameStop expects this console cycle to last longer

by rawmeatcowboy
22 May 2008
GN 1.0 / 2.0

“In previous quarters we’ve made the case that many of the metrics tied to the analysis of the business on a predictive cycle model have changed… We stated in the past that we believe this business will be deeper, wider and longer than at any time in the past [or] any cycle in the past, and the evidence keeps growing that that’s the case. [It’s] deeper in that the power and the pull of the games has continued to attract an increasing number of core and avid gamers purchasing games like Super Smash Bros. Brawl, GTA IV or Army of Two and purchasing these titles in record numbers. As the average age of the gamer has surpassed 30, it’s very obvious that great games continue to attract long-time gamers. The cycle is also going to be much, much longer. Last week, three of our top 20 titles were for PlayStation 2, a console now in its eighth year, and I fully expect – given the computing power of the PS3 and Xbox 360 – we’ll be seeing longer life as developers use the horsepower of these systems in more creative applications in the future. [The cycle] is wider in that we’re seeing expanding demographics, particularly with more females and families discovering the entertainment value of gaming, emerging genres [such as] Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and releasing yesterday Wii Fit, which is blowing off the shelves, and a wide variety of systems from which to choose.” - GameStop CEO, Dick Fontaine

Now, if we could just get GameStop to scratch the insane deals they have on trade-in titles.

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