Need another reason to download games? Here's one. A postal worker got caught swiping games from Gamefly envelopes.
Meanwhile, there's more evidence that gamers are booting up downloads - especially during a recession. According to this story in Reuters, premium downloads of online games is growing 50 to 100 percent per yer. This is happening while game sales - so far in 2009 - are down by 14 percent. Consider the difference between buying a new Madden game and getting it online:
"[The] exclusive downloadable five-on-five football game offers a $15 casual alternative to the fully-packed 'Madden NFL 10' console games, which retail for $40 to $60. It's not just the mainstream audience that's migrating to downloads. Chris Buffa, editor-in-chief of AOL's GameDaily.com, said as hardcore gamers have tightened their belts during the recession, they've opted for more affordable gaming options. 'Instead of going to the store and picking up three or four games, they're buying that one big game each week,' said Buffa. 'Personally, I opt for more downloadable content over retail releases because I get more for my dollar.'
David Kushner is the author of many books, including Masters of Doom, Jonny Magic & the Card Shark Kids, Levittown, The Bones of Marianna, and Alligator Candy. A contributing editor of Rolling Stone, he has written for publications including The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired, and The New York Times Magazine.
