Why You Buy What You Buy - D.I.C.E. 2012

Retail game sales have been sluggish or slumping for years, but those losses are being more than made up for by the explosive growth of digital and social games, according to NPD analyst Anita Frazier. In a brief talk at D.I.C.E. 2012, Frazier raced through some of the industry-tracking firm's first findings in trying to look at the entire spectrum of gaming around the world.

One of the first things Frazier talked about was the difference between markets. French gamers prefer portable gaming systems, while the US is more likely to have players use their smartphones for games. German gamers were particularly fond of downloadable content, and those in the UK and France were more likely to spend their money on used games. On top of that, Frazier specifically talked about smartphone gaming, and whether or not it was adding to portable gaming or taking away from it. While Frazier didn't answer questions like whether or not mobile gaming is undermining dedicated gaming handhelds or growing the market to new audiences, she did provide an abundance of statistics that offer new perspectives on the issue.

The D.I.C.E. Summit (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) is a once yearly conference dedicated to exploring approaches to the creative process and artistic expression as they uniquely apply to the development of interactive entertainment. It is organized by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences and hosts the annual Interactive Achievement Awards, which celebrate the best games of the past year, as voted by AIAS members. Comedian Jay Mohr will return to host the awards show, which takes place on February 9.

For more, check out GameSpot's coverage page, which will feature full video of every panel and keynote address from the 2012 D.I.C.E. Summit.