NZ video games retail sales reach $179.6m in 2011

New Zealanders spent more than $179.6m on console hardware, gaming software and peripherals in 2011, according to a report released by the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (iGEA) and NPD research.

The latest report excludes sales from online retail, downloadable content, online games subscriptions, in-game micro-transactions and mobile games.

iGEA New Zealand director Mark Goodacre said as people increasingly consume interactive entertainment through mobile devices and online, it is becoming more difficult to collect sales data through a single source.

"Kiwi gamers are almost buying equally through online stores and local retailers," Goodacre said.

Digital New Zealand report found that 24% of Kiwi gamers buy new games from a download store and 14% buy new boxed games from an online shop, with 37% buying purchased box games from a local retailer.

New Zealand Game Developers Association chairperson Stephen Knightly said local studios were earning more by exporting games digitally than Kiwis were spending on games.

"Online, social and mobile games have been the fastest growing parts of the games industry in recent years and they're also the kinds of games that Kiwis are good at making," Knightly said.