The Nintendo Wii, which has been leading the way in terms of console sales for so long, has now taken a hit, proving that the gaming industry is not unaffected by the global slowdown. Until recently, the Wii was responsible for the majority of console sales across the world, with the Wii Fit and the very different style of gaming on offer proving a hit with new markets and hardcore gaming fans alike.

However, Nintendo has just announced a dismal picture of its profits, with the third quarter profits in 2008 down a massive 18% from the same time in 2007. On top of this, its recurring profits between April and December fell by 18.1%. This has mostly been down to the strength of the Yen.

The discouraging figures have led Nintendo to revise its sales estimates for the Wii console for the fiscal year up to March 2009. The company is expecting a drop of 3% with console sales now predicted to total 26.5 million units.

However, it’s not all bad news at Nintendo HQ. Just as the company has had to revise its sales targets down for the Wii, it has gone the other way with the Nintendo DS Lite, the popular handheld console that has been responsible for bringing the ‘Brain Training’ phenomenon into our homes.

The DS Lite has been doing so well, along with the new DSi that has been released in Japan, that the sales prediction for the units has gone up from 30.5 million to 31.5 million. The DS Lite's popularity is such that it is now one of the only consoles which could be called fully recession proof.

It appears that all the hype surrounding the manner in which games are apparently going to overtake all other forms of entertainment in the next few years has not been for nothing. Rather, the trend may be coming true as we speak. Analysts at Media Control GfK have released data that shows video game sales rocketed by 20% last year, up to £22 billion, whilst sales of DVDs and Blu-rays dropped by 6%.

This means, according to GfK, that over half of all global sales of packaged entertainment were in the games sector.

However, the data also suggested that there were certain contributing features, noticeably the popularity of a particular Nintendo Wii console, as well as a bumper crop of successful games in long-running franchises, that allowed the games industry to beat the recession so spectacularly.

And there’s more good news ahead for the gaming industry: GfK has also predicted that 2009 is going to be a fantastic year for the industry, going completely against the gloomy economic predictions that so many other businesses have got to look forward to. It is predicted that 57% of all home entertainment sales will be down to games this year, whilst DVD and Blu-ray sales are expected to fall still further.

So, does this signal the end for DVD sales? Not quite. The Dark Knight managed to ratchet up a cool 15 million sales in 2008, meaning that they are still very much alive and well. But this does mark a change of the guard, so to speak. Games have now proved themselves to be completely recession proof, with people still keen to buy the newest and best releases as they come out.

After the amazing success of the Nintendo Wii, not many negative words have been spoken against the popular games console. However, last month saw doctors and fitness experts reversing this trend, with numerous individuals claiming that the games console is potentially damaging for our health. This seems like a ridiculous claim, given that the console was designed to buck the trend for games consoles to turn otherwise active players into couch potatoes, who spend their time sitting on the sofa moving only to reach for their next packet of crisps. It would now seem though that the Wii is being blamed for hundreds of injuries, which have ranged from knee and back problems to black eyes and general bumps and bruises.

Several insurance companies have joined the doctors and fitness experts by expressing their own anxieties about the Wii. Insurers including Direct Line and Halifax say that they have had to deal with numerous claims directly related to the games console. Televisions have been smashed, windows have been shattered, and precious antiques have been ruined by over-enthusiastic gamers.

The simple fact remains that the Wii can be a lot of fun and, if gamers stick to the following tips, they will probably be able to avoid injury and damage around the house:

• Clear a large space before starting the game
• Remove valuables from the room if you feel they may be at risk
• Make sure your contents insurance covers potential damage caused by Wiis
• Keep pets out of the room whilst you play on the console
• Stretch thoroughly before starting play
• Take short breaks after each fifteen-minute session of play

Just before Christmas the Xbox 360’s Dashboard went through a major overhaul and, hidden deep within the re-designed Marketplace, is something yet to be fully embraced by most of the consoles' owners. This is because unlike the other new features that have been added, the Community Games channel is something that may not have an instant impact. Instead it offers an ever evolving space which will need time to grow if it is ever to fully realise its goals.

Originally known as XNA Games, it was heralded the “YouTube of Gaming” by many websites when it was first announced. The idea was simple enough: put the power to create in the user’s hands making it possible for everyone that plays games to make and upload them to Xbox Live. In 2006 Microsoft released XNA: Game Studios Express, a piece of software that uses the coding language C#. Unlike rival tools such as Flash and Java, Microsoft’s new language offered the full power of C++ (used to make full Xbox 360 games) but removed some of the pains and time restraints associated with it. This provided an incredibly flexible system to potential game makers and as a free download it was hard to refuse.

Many people did download the software but it’s likely that this is as far as most of them ever got. Just as on YouTube, wannabe creators can code their games, upload them and have them in the hands of their audience within 48 hours. Unlike YouTube, however, making a game, even with the simplified C#, is not a point and shoot affair. What this means is that the majority of releases on the platform have so far been made by people who have a background in coding rather than design. So far this has somewhat hindered many of the uploaded games. Of the 100 plus titles, around 80% appear to be clones of generic puzzlers, Asteroid-like shooters and Pong.

So is this all Community Games will ever amount to? Hopefully not, the potential for the channel is definitely present and there are already a few gems hidden among the other titles that show off the type of innovation and genre depth that it may one day house. Before releasing Grand Theft Auto IV on the Xbox 360, Rockstar tested the programming waters by making a low budget table tennis game. I believe the majority of these clone titles are merely the community’s way of doing the same and that as the market matures so will the level of creativity. There are a few boundaries in place that will need to change if this is to happen though. For example, currently games cannot be given away for free and an across the board 3 minute long demo system somewhat restricts unfamiliar or complex ideas from being properly shown. Looking at how Microsoft have handled other areas of Live in the past though it would be crazy to think that any of these rules are set in stone.

It could be years before Community Games has enough content to match the thousands of websites offering free Flash alternatives. With the ability to harness the entire processing power of the 360 though, along with the ready built infrastructure of Live and with the right dedication, Microsoft could not only match its competitors but eventually go on to change the independent development model forever.

Young games console enthusiasts across the UK have been jumping with joy this week after Vtech started to sell the Smile Motion console. This games console has been designed specifically with the Nintendo Wii in mind but it is being heavily marketed towards those aged between three and seven. The Smile Motion console features gear sticks which are motion sensitive. When these gear sticks are moved by the child, the characters appearing in the game will move simultaneously.

As well as being a lot of fun for kids, the console also aims to educate in an effective and entertaining way. Young kids can expect to learn about numbers and colours and will also be able to improve their spelling skills whilst having a good time. Games available on the Smile Motion console currently include a Thomas the Tank Engine game.

The company responsible for the console will hope that the Smile Motion will be able to build on the amazing success of the Nintendo Wii, of which there are currently over five million being used in households throughout the United Kingdom. The Wii has managed to attract younger gamers than other consoles, which usually offer less interactive games, many of which are of a violent and graphic nature.

Vtech has also responded to criticism that children aged between three and seven should not be playing on games consoles at all. The marketing director, Clive Richardson, revealed that the console is “something Mums can buy knowing their children will learn from it”.