Although it's pretty much common sense that more people have played a given game than have bought a given game, a new study shows that the difference in numbers may be significantly larger than expected. The latest "Gameasure" report from research firm Interpret uses Call of Duty 3 to illustrate its point: while about 2 million units had been sold at the beginning of February, Interpret estimate that the real number of people playing the game is more like 9 million. That's, like...carry the one, subtract ten...a lot million more.
As you might expect, the discrepancy comes from folks who rent the game, borrow it from a friend, or simply buy it used. This really only starts to matter when it comes to all those in-game advertising deals we keep hearing about. Said Interpret's Michael Dowling:
Also of note? According to Gameasure, 21% of all males between the ages of 18 and 34 have played Halo 2. That's just sick.
Interpret: Game Sales Figures Underestimate Audience? [Gamasutra]
