Credit crunch: Analyst opinion, part two

During an economic slump when consumers feel the need to tighten their belts, paradoxically the sales of alcohol and cigarettes, the amount of gambling and also cinema attendance all rise for consumers.

Games are a cost-effective form of entertainment per hour and are a satisfying impulse buy when consumers are cutting back on foreign holidays and other similar luxuries.

There are two areas where I am concerned in the short term: Subscription-based MMOs, which are a ripe area for a cost-conscious consumer to trim, and new games businesses which are entirely dependent on online advertising, especially if they do not have a clearly-differentiated audience.