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[Sullla]

Thanks for those third-party financial numbers, celine.  There's a really important trend here that needs to be pointed out. Leaving aside Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, let's look at who's making and who's losing money right now:

Profiting

Activision FY08:
2,900; ~2.9 Billion Revenue.
344.9; ~345 Million Profit.

Konami FY08:
2,842; ~2.84 Billion Revenue.
176.2; ~176 Million Profit.

Ubisoft FY08:
1,460; ~1.46 Billion Revenue.
172.45; ~172 Million Profit.

NamcoBandai Game Segments Division FY08:
1,392; ~1.4 Billion Revenue.
141; ~141 Million Profit.

Square Enix FY08:
1,446; ~1.4 Billion Revenue.
90; ~90 Profit.

Capcom FY 08
804; ~804 Million Revenue.
78; ~78 Million Profit.

Koei FY08:
285.29; ~285 Million Revenue
51.96; ~ 52 Million Profit

Losing

Electronic Arts FY08:
3,665; ~3.67 Billion Revenue.
(487); ~487 Million Loss.

SegaSammy Consumer Business Division FY08:
1,363; ~1.4 Billion Revenue.
(58); ~58 Million Loss.

THQ FY08:
1,030; ~1 Billion Revenue.
(35); ~35 Million Loss.

Take 2 Interactive: FY07 Q2 - FY08 Q1:
929,613; ~930 Million Revenue.
(169,340); ~169 Million Loss.

InfoGrames, FY07*:
473; ~473 Million Revenue.
(159.8); ~160 Million Loss.

SCi/Eidos FY07:
279; ~279 Million Revenue.
(59.9); ~60 Million Loss.

Midway FY07:
157,195; ~157 Million Revenue.
(100); ~100 Million Dollar Loss.

Do you see the trend there? It's a biggee, so let's reorder in terms of overall revenue to make it clearer, and add some color for profit/loss:

Total Revenue

1) Electronic Arts FY08: ~3.67 Billion Revenue. ~487 Million Loss.
2) Activision FY08: ~2.9 Billion Revenue. ~345 Million Profit.
3) Konami FY08: ~2.84 Billion Revenue. ~176 Million Profit.
4) Ubisoft FY08: ~1.46 Billion Revenue. ~172 Million Profit.
5) NamcoBandai Game Segments Division FY08: ~1.4 Billion Revenue. ~141 Million Profit.
6) Square Enix FY08: ~1.4 Billion Revenue. ~90 Million Profit.
7) SegaSammy Consumer Business Division FY08: ~1.4 Billion Revenue. ~58 Million Loss.
8) THQ FY08: ~1 Billion Revenue. ~35 Million Loss.
9) Take 2 Interactive: FY07 Q2 - FY08 Q1: ~930 Million Revenue. ~169 Million Loss.
10) Capcom FY 08 ~804 Million Revenue. ~78 Million Profit.
11) InfoGrames, FY07*: ~473 Million Revenue. ~160 Million Loss.
12) Koei FY08: ~285 Million Revenue ~ 52 Million Profit
13) SCi/Eidos FY07: ~279 Million Revenue. ~60 Million Loss.
14) Midway FY07: ~157 Million Revenue. ~100 Million Dollar Loss.

Notice a pattern there? With the noticeable exception of EA, the most profitable companies are also the largest companies. Aside from Capcom and Koei, all of the smallest companies are struggling mightily. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. This is the very definition of market consolidation at work. Only the biggest, baddest publishing studios can afford the huge development budgets associated with the PS3 and 360. The smaller and even mid-tier publishers are being swallowed up before our eyes.

I don't think this is particularly good or healthy for the gaming industry...