ABC Results Jul-Dec 2005:Gaming Sector Sees Dismal Year End
The gaming sector saw a disappointing performance overall during the last six months of 2005, with all but one title seeing a decline in total sales.
Future Publishing dominates this market, with the company’s PSW (Formerly Playstation World) the worst hit, with a decline of 37.6% year on year leaving a circulation of 43,708.
The publisher’s NGC Magazine also suffered, with a decline of 32.6% in the same period leaving the title with a circulation of 11,200.
Only the company’s Edge magazine displayed a year on year increase in sales, adding 16.4% to easily outperform a depressed market. Meanwhile Official Playstation 2 magazine remains the market leader, despite losing 40,000 from its total year on year.
Elsewhere, Uncooked Media’s 360 Gamer reported its debut ABC figure this period, totaling 10,047.
| Gaming Magazines: Jul-Dec 2005 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jul-Dec 04 | Jul-Dec 05 | Actual Change | % Ch |
| 360 Gamer | Uncooked Media Ltd | n/a | 10,047 | n/a | n/a |
| Edge | Future Publishing | 28,790 | 33,522 | 4,732 | 16.4 |
| GamesMaster | Future Publishing | 62,159 | 55,520 | -6,639 | -10.7 |
| NGC Magazine | Future Publishing | 16,622 | 11,200 | -5,422 | -32.6 |
| Official Playstation 2 Magazine | Future Publishing | 172,593 | 132,069 | -40,524 | -23.5 |
| Official UK Xbox Magazine | Future Publishing | 88,136 | 64,403 | -23,733 | -26.9 |
| PC Gamer | Future Publishing | 57,023 | 48,699 | -8,324 | -14.6 |
| PC Zone | Future Publishing | 40,480 | 33,580 | -6,900 | -17.0 |
| PSM2 | Future Publishing | 54,442 | 40,428 | -14,014 | -25.7 |
| PSW (Formerly Playstation World) | Future Publishing | 70,077 | 43,708 | -26,369 | -37.6 |
| Xbox World 360 | Future Publishing | 24,161 | 19,048 | -5,113 | -21.2 |
| Computing Magazines: Jul-Dec 2005 Year On Year Comparisons | |||||
| Title | Publisher | Jul-Dec 04 | Jul-Dec 05 | Actual Change | % Ch |
| MacFormat | Future Publishing | n/a | 17,191 | n/a | n/a |
| PC Format | Future Publishing | n/a | 36,320 | n/a | n/a |
| Personal Computer World | VNU | 93,038 | 76,020 | -17,018 | -18.3 |
The figures listed in NewsLine’s ABC reports are those reported by the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) as at Thursday 16 February 2006. Late submissions and changes may be made after this date, and will thereafter be amended in MediaTel’s Press database.
ABC: 01442 870 800 www.abc.org.uk