Kiwis spend more than $179 million on video games in 2011

New Zealanders spent more than $179.6 million on gaming hardware, software and peripherals last year, according to a report released by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association and NPD research.

The figure could potentially be significantly higher, as it excludes online retail, digitally distributed games, downloadable content, mobile games, and in-game microtransactions.

"As people increasingly consume interactive entertainment through mobile devices and online, it’s becoming more difficult to collect sales data through a single source," said iGEA New Zealand director Mark Goodacre.

"Kiwi gamers are almost buying equally through online stores and local retailers."

The Digital New Zealand report found that 24% of Kiwi gamers buy games new through digital distribution, and14% buy boxed copies from online retailers. However 37% of gamers still buy boxed copies of games from physical stores like their local JB Hi-Fi or EB Games.

Chairperson of the New Zealand Game Developers Association, Stephen Knightly, said local studios were earning more by exporting games digitally than Kiwis were spending on games.

"Online, social and mobile games have been the fastest growing parts of the games industry in recent years and they’re also the kinds of games that Kiwis are good at making," he said.

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