Nintendo isn't hurting during recession

In tough economic times, the Nintendo Wii sets industry records

When times get tough, people seek escape. Inexpensive and entertaining escape.

Who wouldn't prefer hanging out with friends over sitting alone agonizing over bills.

The recent rise of popularity in the casual gaming experience is perhaps, due in part, to gaming's relatively low-cost entertainment value.   

Sure, video games are an investment. But it's a one-time cost. You purchase a system and a game. Then invite your friends over, and over, and over, and over.  

Forget the one-off concert experience. There's  Rockband.  Forget about going out bowling. There's Wii Sports.  When you add all these evenings up, there's quite a bit of cash saved.

It's no wonder the Nintendo Wii set industry records in 2008. Nintendo's Wii, which goes for about $249.99 at Best Buy, sold 10.17 million units in 2008 breaking the previous record of Nintendo's DS which sold 8.52 million in 2007 for most video game consoles sold in one year. More than 3 million Wii's, which sell for a considerably lower amount than Sony PS3's at $399.99, were sold in December alone. According to a report released this week, the Nintendo Wii represented 55% of next-gen home console sales in 2008.