Video Games Launching Earlier This Year

The video game selling season typically begins just before the holidays. Major games – like major films – are released and promoted in due time for the coveted holiday shopper blitz.

This year, however, publishers of video games are looking to break out of the mold and sell their titles earlier in an attempt to pump up flagging sales. Market research firm NPD Group says US sales of video games fell 11 percent in 2009.

Producing a high-end video game can take years and cost as much as $20 million. It's difficult to make back that investment during a short holiday selling season. Thankfully, the audience is expanding beyond children – more adults are playing video games today. Game publishers think that adults will be willing to buy games all year long, and that's why they're moving to adjust their selling strategy.

Major games "Battlefield: Bad Company 2," "God of War III," and "Final Fantasy XIII" will all be released next month. Most of the games that will release in the next six months target older players who would be more likely to pay the $60 price tag for such games.

The video game industry has already seen success with releases that defied convention. "Grand Theft Auto 4" released in April 2008 and went on to sell an unprecedented 8.5 million copies in its first month.

The growing popularity of video games among adults signals that grown ups, perhaps even more than children, need a break from reality.