Business

<< Previous   of   Next >> Michael O'Leary / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Flint Jelvik (left) and others ventured out to shop for video games at Game Crazy in Everett on Dec. 22.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, December 29, 2008 Cost-conscious families look to video games Rather than going out, cost-conscious families find all the entertainment they need at local video game outlets. By Yoshiaki Nohara Herald Writer The ongoing recession is prompting Krystel Olson and Andrew Walther to cut back on spending. The Marysville couple tries to spend less money going out. They found a new way to entertain themselves at home: video games. Olson, 20, and Walther, 24, recently braved the snowy weather to go to Game Crazy on Evergreen Way in Everett. They bought a used Wii console for about $200, as well as a few games. "We are not big on video games at all," Walther said. "But with Wii, we can do a lot of movements." The video game store inside Hollywood Video seems to be doing well despite the bad economy that is hurting various industries, store manager Matt Buxton said. More people like Olson and Walther are finding it cheaper to play video games than going out for a movie or dinner. Customers can also trade in used games for cash. "We are probably a little bit busier this year," said Buxton, 25. He said he manages seven part-time employees and doesn't expect any layoffs next year. Rather, he noted, his staff could expand as Game Crazy adds more new stores. "We are growing," he said. The store sells new and used games for various systems such as Xbox, Play Station 2 and 3, Nintendo DS and Wii. A new game usually costs about $60 and keeps people entertained for a while, Buxton said. Wii has cultivated new video game players, Buxton said. Senior citizens buy the Wii console and games to do exercise; the console's simplicity has attracted women as well. More than 2 million Wii consoles were sold in November, an all-time record of video game hardware sales for a non-December month, Nintendo reported. The console has sold 15.4 million in the United States since its debut in November 2006. "Wii is kind of fun. It's not that complex compared to other games out there," said Robert Portulano of Everett. Portulano, 44, said he plays various video games with his daughter, Alison, 14, and his son, Andrew, 11. "I just like to look at graphics," Portulano said. He recently shopped at Game Crazy in Everett in search of holiday gifts. "I think everyone is trying to cut back," he said. "That's why I'm looking at used games." Curtis Thornberry, 16, of Everett said he spends up to $180 per month on video games. Curtis, who started playing video games at age 4, said he enjoys games that take a lot of skill and thinking. Wii is for beginners, not for him, Curtis said. Curtis said he continues to sell his old video games and get different ones. That helps him play within his budget. "It's cheaper than other entertainment," he said. Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Teen dies after Granite Falls crash 2. Bikini coffee stands to be regulated as adult entertainment 3. Sultan brothers plead guilty in death of rival gang member 4. Body found after house catches fire north of Bothell 5. Gregoire unveils budget with deep cuts, will press for tax hikes 6. Grief and gratitude expressed for four slain officers 7. Two teenagers hurt in crash near Granite Falls 8. Friends and family honor Clearview couple who loved always 9. Roe appointed interim county prosecutor 10. Arlington's budget is ‘bare bones' 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Zambian woman thanks students for their help • Food banks see rise in use • ‘Making Spirits Bright’ in Edmonds • Wolfpack takes aim at state • Seahawks help students smile • 95 and still volunteering • Sno-King joined by local TV king • Veterans back for Wildcats • Lynnwood seeks to plug $2 million budget gap • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million