Gamers go online to save a buck
Nibble
Free with adverts
Friday, 30 January 2009, 12:55
CASH-STRAPPED GAMERS are turning to free-to-play online games with adverts in a bid to save cash during the economic slump.
According to Comscore figures, visitors to online computer game websites grew 27 per cent in the United States in 2008, reaching 86 million by the end of December. The total time people spent playing games online leapt 42 per cent.
Yahoo! Games was the most popular website in the category with visits climbing 20 per cent to 19.5 million followed by Electronic Arts with visits rising 21 per cent to 15.4 million.µ
L'Inq
AP
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...or they're just popular because they're fun. How did you get from "people like simple online games" to economic crisis?
Well when you're unemployed and tired of searching want adds, posting resumes, and reading depressing financial news, what better than some light web-based entertainment. Can't afford to nip down to the pub for a pint, so it's the next.. perhaps last.. best thing to do to kill some time between job rejections. Cheers, John
I'm just waiting for a game worth my money. Diablo III is on top of the list, but I also have high hopes for Dawn of War II.
Meanwhile, I'm biding my gaming time with sessions of Battlefield 2 with my friends, and Evil Genius when I'm alone.
If you have good games, there's no problem with going back to them every now and again.
Come to think of it, I think I'll fire up that old copy of Dungeon Keeper I have somewhere. Smashing fun, that was.