The old saw that video games are bigger than Hollywood as long been undermined when sell-through figures for DVD (and video, old timer) are taken into consideration.

The wisdom has been that video game sales had no tail. Even monumental launches such as GTA IV only have a brief lifespan before spinning into pre-owned. Movies, on the other hand, have a life to live after their initial cinematic release. Hence, movies from the 1930s can continue to make revenue for the copyright holders. Video games from the 1930s... not so much.

According to stats-producer, Media Control Gfk International, at least on strand of this argument could have been snapped in 2008. Apparently, 53% of 2008’s global "packaged media commodities market", accounting for $61 billion (£44bn) was taken up by video games sales - a 20% rise in revenues year-on-year.

This compared to a six per cent drop in sales of DVD and Blu-raydropped to $29.8bn (£21.5bn).

The Wii was apparently responsible for the growth in sales for video games.



^{Sources:
MCV
Edge-Online
Gamesindustry.biz}