Roughly 11,500 industry layoffs since late 2008

[justinian]

noname2200 said:

Mummelmann said:
Again, everyone seems to base everything entirely on choosing the "wrong" platforms to develop for and completely ignore the fact that we've had a second depression and recession that brought entire nations to their knees and even rendered some bankrupt, killed half the world's largest banks, several big car manufacturers, punctured the real estate market and generally made thousands upon thousands of companies go under and probably cost several million their jobs.
When viewed in context, the gaming industry has done quite well for itself compared to many other industries and many of the affected ones were in dire straits long before this generation started.

That means nothing: in 2008 the Video Game Industry recorded its second-highest revenue ever, something that can't be said for the other industries you listed.

Revenue is not the problem. The recession is NOT the problem. Don't let executives' excuses for their piss-poor decisions convince you otherwise.

jammy2211 said:
Is there any figures for previous years?

 Probably, although I don't have access to them myself.

Really??

The VG industry was predicted to explode like nuke in the mid noughties.

Even if 2008 was the second highest revenue ever it was also very likely the highest developing cost of games ever.

Revenue don't mean shit if most of it goes towards covering expenses leaving you with next to nothing in profit.

Casual or even some seasoned gamers out of work or worried about keeping their jobs have more important priorities .. or so I am led to believe, than to buy every game on their wish list.