GameStop doesn't see recession's impact on gamers

GameStop's senior vice president of merchandising, Bob McKenzie, doesn't think the recession has had much impact on gamers. Speaking with Venture Beat during the Resident Evil 5 launch event in San Fransisco, McKenzie said people are staying in more often (presumably awaiting further financial ruin) and turn to video games and other entertainment to pass the time.

But has GameStop seen a spike in the lucrative -- yet controversial -- used game market since the recession? McKenzie wouldn't say "yes," but quickly pointed out that gamers today are even more aware about "tightening their wallets." Even though traffic at retail has slowed, McKenzie reiterrated that GameStop continues to post solid numbers -- recently reporting a 24 percent increase in year-over-year sales to $8.8 billion.

Unfortunately, the rest of the industry isn't fairing as well. Perhaps video game publishers should get into the used game market. As long as they vow to keep all of the profit for themselves they should be able to dig themselves out of this whole "economic apocalypse" thing.