Market Influences and Trends

In fact, the motivation or inspiration for computer mods and mod projects, comes from many sources, but one of the strongest sources is from video games. More and more, both the mods themselves as well as the modded projects from those that use them, resemble items and environments found inside some of the hottest games to reach the shelves in the past 5 years. It would seem in addition, that the video game manufacturers are also starting to recognize in depth, just how large the modding community is, and how the games these manufacturers produce, are influencing some of today's most fascinating mod projects.

The biggest venues outside of industry related venues of course, are the lan parties, which are also growing in popularity, giving modders and those that are in awe of the creations they produce, a forum to display their latest creations, to everyone who wants to see, inlcuding some of the largest hardware manufacturers and video game producers. It's no wonder there's so many products reaching the market aimed at aftermarket upgrading or modifying.

In 2004, according to The NPD Group, U.S. retail sales of video games, which includes portable and console hardware, software and accessories, saw sales of over $7.3 billion. In addition, total industry unit sales were up 4 percent over the same period last year. Sales in general were up between 7 and 13 percent, and hardware inventory was in short supply over the 2004 holiday season.

"In 2004, video games flew off the shelves as eight titles were sold per second per day throughout the year, evidence of the continuing vast popularity of games among consumers of all ages," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the U.S. association representing computer and video game software publishers. "This industry remains strong and poised for renewed double digit growth over the next five years as we enter a new cycle of video game console launches. The future could not be brighter."

Anita Frazier, Entertainment Industry Analyst for The NPD Group states, "The successful launches of some of the highest quality and best marketed titles ever produced, drops in price points for hardware, as well as the introduction of new hardware systems all helped make 2004 another stellar year for the video games industry."

Another influence into not just modding, but overall hardware purchases, comes from the hardware review sector. Websites of professional reviewers, putting the latest hardware through its paces, and making recommendations accordingly. Nowhere is this more evident, than looking at online sales figures for computer hardware, with over 40 percent of computer hardware and sofware purchases being done online. When you add into this, that computer modders are known to use only the best products in their artistic creations, the modding community in general, is an open ear looking for guidance from those that portray the ultimate end-user.

Regardless of the number of influences out there, the modding community is still pretty confined, and densly populated message boards and high-traffic websites overflow with both existing, and up-and-coming modders, searching for news on the latest products, the latest mod projects, and the means to put their ideas together.

This is where thebestcasescenario.com comes in.