Online holiday spending up 23%

by Blake Snow { Dec 13th 2005 at 8:59AM }

The trend continues. Online spending during the holidays is up 23% over the past month according to comScore Networks. In addition to an increase in online purchases, two of the top five internet related searches in the same period were game related. From the article: "The keywords 'Xbox 360' attracted 5 million searches, 'Harry Potter' 4.8 million, 'Star Wars' 2.5 million, 'Barbie' 2.1 million and 'PlayStation' 1.9 million. A milestone: Searches for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console more than tripled those for Sony's PlayStation."

That's likely given the 360's late November launch, so it should be interesting to gauge the difference in search traffic when Nintendo and Sony launch their next-gen systems. How has e-commerce changed your gaming purchases?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JDH @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

I will never pre-order again (thanks to a certain retail chain for gaming that has botched my chances of getting a 360 this year).

I will buy direct from an online retailer and just wait for my order to be filled first before any of the so called pre-orders.

Reeve @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

E-commerce has *improved* my gaming purchases. No one needling me to buy a strategy guide or magazine subscription once I check out, the prices can be better, imports are MUCH easier to get ahold of, and the used game market on eBay (both buying AND selling) tends to be much better than at a game store.

Needless to say, the only times I step into a brick and mortar game store is when I want to browse, or I need something right away.

Jason @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

Yeah this whole fiasco has dampened my excitement about being one of the first to pre-order Playstation 3. But honestly, I think I'll pre-order anyway, I just wont wait outside the night before.
Also, I'll be buying from my local gameshop, not a mega-chain.

kc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

i buy alot of stuff online but for books music and games i buy instore 99% of the time. i will read reviews and listen to samples online, but when i go to a store i like to browse and maybe pick up some good deals. i only buy stuff online when i know exactly what i want and i cant find it in the store.

JDH @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

I'm not going to get the PS3, but the Revolution has tweaked my interest enough to want one. I'm not one of those 'fanboys' for Nintendo and against Sony. I own a PSP and a DS. I just like games- doesn't matter what platform. I don't discriminate based on graphics or manufacturer. For me its about gameplay, however.

I will probably buy the Revolution online as long as its not bundled with 3 games I don't want.

AK @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

I do a lot of reserach online, but most of the time I prefer to save money on shipping (and the time its takes for delivery) and make the final purchase at a local retailer. The only execptions are when the price difference outweights the extra shipping cost by a fair margin, or when the product I want is unavailable locally.

On a slightly related note- I started using Gamefly 2weeks ago and cancelled my Game Pass from Blockbuster (my local BB doesn't have any 360 games for rent yet nor do they know when they will be receiving them). It takes a little getting used to not being able to go to the store and exchange the game on the spot for another, but on the other hand, most of the good games were usually rented out anyways. Plus, Gamefly has a much larger selection to choose from (in relation to my local BB).

JDH @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

AK-

I have Gamefly too. I don't like that they don't have an East Coast shipping distribution location, but the service is nice.

At the moment I have 3 360 games out (PDZ, Condemned, and PGR), which I can now purchase through GF for a discount as a used game. I'm pretty sure that I'm the first player to *ahem* rent the games. (notice I didn't say *play*)

I've also bought NBA2K6 and COD2, an HDTV cable, and hard drive.

But I lack the most important part: the 360.

Oh EB, why won't you call?

AK @ Dec 18th 2005 9:02PM

JDH

Sucks that you haven't gotten yours yet, my best friend just got his yesterday (second shipment anyone), and he WORKS for EB Games as an asst. manager. I got mine after waiting only 2 hours outside Costco on launch day (no pre order).

Anyways, NBA 2K6 and COD2 rock!!! COD2 needs a little help online, but we can always hope for an update...(please Infinity Ward). PGR3's graphics are unbelievable and the game is highly addicting, especially the online carreer. I rented (and played) Kameo and I found it quite entertaining. Not something I would normally purchase since I don't see much in replay value, but a solid game nonetheless. NFS:MS is also a pretty good game (if you are into the car modding scene at least)and it is the best game in the EA lineup by far.

I will be getting PDZ today or tomorrow through Gamefly, so we'll see how that one goes.

The 360 has ran almost perfect in the 3 weeks that I have had it. I say almost because last Tuesday when I turned it on I got the dreaded system error message several times (hardware failure). I called MS and had them overnight me a box so that they could repair it (supposed turnaround is 5-7 days- not bad), but it seems like the 360 likes me too much and somehow sorted itself out because the next day, after coming back from work, I turned it on and voila!! it booted up perfectly (So much for the extra hours of sleep). Since then it has been on almost 6 hours a day, more on the weekend and has had absolutely no hiccups. Maybe it got scared that I didn't want it anymore =) I'm keeping the overnight box just in case, a little blackmail if you will. Overall, I am very pleased with the system and its functionality (I have tested almost every feature with the exception of the media center extender- casue I don't have a MC PC). And I can't wait until Q1 2006 when the lineup will really get hot.