Growth in Game Sales

Computer and video games now represent a $10.5-billion industry that eventually could rival the market for movies, according to a trade organization study. Game sales have grown 15% a year from 1997 to 2000, according to a state-of-the-industry report released by the Interactive Digital Software Assn., a group that represents video game makers. The industry’s total value was based on game publishing, transportation, wholesale and retail sales and other related areas. The industry also created more than 219,000 jobs and paid $7.2 billion in wages in 2000, according to the study. Retail sales of computer and video game hardware and software totaled about $7.8 billion. By comparison, domestic movie ticket sales reached $7.7 billion in 2000, while DVD and videocassette tape sales hit about $10.8 billion, according to firms that track the film industry.