Increase in casual gamers, game sales decrease in 2009

USA Today reports that 2009 was another milestone year for the growing crop of casual gamers. Facebook hit Farmville has seen a whopping 65 million hop on their tractors and rescue lost livestock.

NPD Group reports that two-thirds of Americans now game through social networks, cellphones, and oh yeah, video game consoles. And six out of ten households have at least one game console. In spite of those numbers, the bad economy still slowed game sales. Game and system sales are expected to drop below 2008′s record $21.3 billion. That will mark the first sales drop since 2004, and it’s happening despite Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo all slashing console prices.

But in 2009, one franchise certainly proved its staying power in any type of economy. Call of Duty:Modern Warfare 2 shattered records, making $310 million in the U.S. and U.K on its first day and rushing to five-day sales of $550 million. That eclipsed the previous record holder, Grand Theft Auto IV. 2010 is already poised to unleash some big hitters with sequels to Bioshock, Mass Effect and Final Fantasy in the pipeline. It’s a great time for gaming, whether your chosen device is an iPhone, PC or game console.

Read [USA Today] Also Read [Gamertell]