Average used game prices started at a high of $12.69 on Jan. 1, dropped down to a low of $8.57 on Nov. 3 and rose back up to $9.68 by the end of 2008, according to the site. The free fall from January mirrored a similar drop in 2007, but ended up shaving an addition 11.8 percent off resales prices.

The article's author JJ Hendricks believes the drop in used game prices is because of the recession, but I'm not so sure that's a good explanation. Looking at the charts you can see that 2008 prices drop below 2007 prices in April, regaining strength for only a month or so before dropping below 07 again.

Perhaps it's because of the quality of used games being sold. There is certainly anecdotal evidence that gamers are holding onto more recent titles longer than they used to.

Average Game Prices During 2008 [Video Game Price Charts]

Weary Kotaku Scout, rest your pink-and-chartreuse-seared eyes by laying them on this tasteful graph. There, there.

At right are the charted results of a study conducted by PlayOn, who reports that the ratio of Horde to Alliance players is actually pretty stable. Meaning that Alliance outnumber Horde on PvE and RP servers about 2-to-1, are approximately matched on PvP servers, but that these ratios don't change much.

Of note, while there was a severe Alliance imbalance on the PvE and RP servers, there was a matched equilibrium on the PvP server. Again, neither changed over time.

Server Sample: RP (High), PvE (High), PvP (High)
Sampling Period: July 2005 - January 2006
Sampling Resolution: ~12 minutes
Parsing Method: The sample unit is each unique character in each 2 week period.
Data Filter: Characters above level 1 and who spent less than 95% of their time in a main city.
Sample Size: ~100k characters in each 2 week period

This goes against my assumption, usually strongest after getting mobbed by pallies at Crossroads while my greenskinned brethren stand idly by, that the Alliance are breeding like Ohio schoolgirls. Eliza Gauger

Alliance/Horde Ratios [PlayOn]

GamePolitics once again shows us a handy graph. Print it out and keep it in your wallet, so next time you feel like jacking that ambulance or tank cheating your way through your algebra final, you can sort of rub it, talisman-like, and chant your Personal Empowerment Mantra: "I am a good person. I play Grand Theft Auto. I did not install Hot Coffee. It's only a game."

There is no epidemic of youth violence in America.

The whole concept is a lie... Kids are not killing each other more frequently than they used to. In fact, it turns out the opposite is true.

Check out that ugly graph on the right... violent crime is at the lowest it has been in a good thirty years. For effect, I've also marked the release of the Playstation console, the first Grand Theft Auto game, the PS2 console, and the infamous GTA 3. Wow, look at those surges in violence!

Believe it or not, I got that graph... from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Statistics. All I added was the video game timeline...

Encouraging words indeed, but a commentor "found Duke Ferris's graph and conclusions to be grossly misleading," and wags his finger in warning against this sort of generalizing. Read his cautioning here. Eliza Gauger

Youth Violence Waaaay Down - Games to Blame? [GamePolitics]

Some number-cruncher graphed out how all the big video game series have performed in Japan. Any trends? They all seem to be doing worse. Much worse. Granted, the graphs don't include up-to-date info like Final Fantasy XII or New Super Mario Bros., but franchises don't seem like sure-fire cash cows anymore. The bottom of the graph lists the game titles, while the left notes the sale figures in the ten thousands. Fascinatingly gloomy stuff. What about you in the peanut gallery, do you still care about sequels and franchises?

More graphs after the jump. Brian Ashcraft

*Biohazard is called Resident Evil in the US. The graph written all in Japanese is the Super Mario Bros. series.

More Graphs Here, Including Hardware [Yoru Iro Library]