Analysts predict gaming industry growth months ahead

The country may be experiencing some economical doldrums, but the gaming industry shows promise that not only will it keep rolling, it will even roll better and rake cash in the process. Several analysts even admit that they have greatly underestimated the industry’s performance for this month. Read more in the full article!

Just a few days ago Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian gave his sunshiny assessment of the gaming industry, saying that it will experience a very healthy growth in the next few months. Now, more analysts are agreeing with Sebastian’s predictions, with several even issuing their mea culpa for terribly understating the gaming industry’s growth in February.

Consider the numbers given by Benjamin Schachter, an analyst from USB Investment Research:

While new releases during the month, such as Devil May Cry 4 (Capcom, 529,000 units across two platforms) and Xbox 360 exclusive Lost Odyssey (Microsoft, 204,000 units) sold well, overall software dollar growth continues to driven primarily by the big hits from the 2007 holiday, including Call of Duty 4, Guitar Hero 3, and a nice showing from Rock Band (in terms of dollars, Rock Band on the Xbox 360 was the number one title, a milestone for this franchise).

Jesse Divnich of simExchange also noticed another good result that came out of February’s sales results, stating that they originally predicted the software ratio of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions Devil May Cry 4 as 1.61 to 1, in favor of the Xbox 360 version. But the official numbers clocked in at 1.26 to 1 in favor once again of the Xbox 360, indicating that the PlayStation 3 Devil May Cry 4 was a definite console mover.

On a related note, Divnich also indicated that Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros. Brawl will break Infinity Ward‘s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC, PS3, Xbox 360) record and take the top spot in the March sales count.

Pachter also believes that the gaming industry will enjoy smooth sailing in the coming months, saying that he predicts a 19% increase in sales, but noted that the figure may be too conservative.