This thread has little connection to reality. There's no basis for your claim that software sales in Europe have plummeted.
The quickest way to point this out is the following:
- Software sales peaked in 2008, with 180 million, then saw 160 million and 170 million in the next two years respectively, before plummeting to 100 million in 2011. 2012 then saw a rebound, increasing to over 140 million.
- From the start of the year up to week ending 15th June, the total software sales for 2012 were 41.66 million*. In the same period this year, they have been 38.65 million. That's a drop of less than 10% year on year. This drop is slightly exaggarated as well, as digital numbers are certain to have increased due to 3DS' increasing, and Wii U being launched.
With what's happening for the end of the year, it's looking likely that software sales will be roughly the same as last year. So far, we're seeing the trend that increased 8th generation software is nearly offsetting the 7th generation drops, and having more machines released should help cement that, leading to slightly higher software sales for Q3 + Q4 this year than we saw last year.
Overall, you're looking at 2013's software sales being in the 140-150 million range, which puts it at over 80% of the highest it has ever been.
I think 80% of the max is a safe estimate, as there are two main errors in the comparison. 1) VGChartz' tracking has improved, and 2) Digital sales have increased. Neither should make a large impact on the numbers, and they work in opposite directions of each other, largely cancelling each other out.
Your disappointment over software numbers has little basis in reality. Which is good, I suppose, because it means that everything is fine! Or at least much better than you seem to think.
* I'm excluding VGChartz' PC software numbers for all years.
Edit: Oops! This sounded a bit harsher in tone than I intended. I'm not meaning to have a go at you here, or anything of the sort. You're asking a legtimate question, it's just slightly flawed in its premise. I hope you're not taking offence to this - that's not my intention.
(I'm not sure that edit actually made things any better! Oh well!)
