The video game industry is on the cusp of the most fruitful and creative period that it has ever experienced. It has been building for the last couple of years and it is about to explode because the perfect storm is on the horizon.
1. There is a lot of talent that has been laid off from the big studios, because these companies are trying to weather the economic downturn. Red Dead Redemption is one of the biggest hits (critically and commercially) this year and they laid off a big portion of the development team.
2. Game delivery systems are in place (XBox Live, iTunes) where companies do not need space on Game Stop and Best Buy shelves. I have downloaded more games this year than I have purchased at a big box store and I am not alone.
3. The games that are coming out are fun and inexpensive. The companies can take chances on stories and characters and they do not have to spend millions on a license and pass it along to the customers. Angry Birds and Words With Friends are 99 cents and free respectively.
The games that are getting most of my play these days are downloadable titles that do not break the bank. I no longer have to choose Mario over Huggies. By the way, Mario won.
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