I don't want to pick on anyone in particular,
because this is something I hear or read every week, and the myth seems to be
spreading. But let's stop it now - the games industry is
NOT bigger than Hollywood!
The myth began because worldwide game sale revenue
overtook box office ticket sale revenue a few years back, which has a lot to do
with the fact that most games cost an awful lot more than movie tickets. In
Australia it's $100 versus $15 - not a fair fight.
The games industry is certainly big (over $40
billion worldwide, and over $1.5 billion in Australia per annum) and gamers
want it to prosper and for more people to appreciate the delights of
interactive entertainment. But please, the games industry is neither bigger or
more ubiquitous than Hollywood.
How many people do you know that don't watch
movies? And Hollywood doesn't just make money from box office sales, it earns even
more from merchandising, DVD sales and licensing fees from pay television,
free-to-air networks and more.
Gamers might like to hope that one day the
myth is true, and that our ignorant politicians finally recognise the interactive industry's
legitimacy, but until then gamers should focus on winning over new audiences and
convincing sceptics of the medium's artistic potential and cultural value
rather than spreading unhelpful myths.