Figures released by market research firm IDC reveal that the first three months of 2013 have been generally very negative for nearly all major PC hardware manufacturers, with the single exception of Lenovo.

Worldwide PC shipments are down 13.9% on this time last year, marking the worst year-over-year decline since IDC began tracking sales in 1994. IC’s report says that “Fading Mini Notebook shipments have taken a big chunk out of the low-end market, while tablets and smartphones continue to divert consumer spending.”

“PC industry efforts to offer touch capabilities and ultraslim systems have been hampered by traditional barriers of price and component supply, as well as a weak reception for Windows 8.”

The two companies most affected are HP and Dell, while even Apple is reporting a 7% drop in hardware sales (though, iPad sales are no doubt more than enough to compensate). The only company not losing sales is Lenovo, who remained steady and even increased in some markets such as the US.

Read the full data and some good breakdowns over here.

Source: Ars Technica.

A recent survey by the NPD Group, whose work basically provides the most reliable guidance as to gamer consumer trends, has found that more people are still buying used games than buying digitally. 78 percent of ‘core gamers’ — defined as those who play for more than five hours a week — frequently purchase used games, while only 70 percent buy full digital games regularly.

Both of these stats are beaten out by new retail games, which still sits at 88 percent. Digital continues to make inroads, but, as these figures show, it still has a long way to go to fully eclipse the traditional model. In fact, as NPD analyst Liam Callahan added in the report: “While many core gamers indicate they are purchasing full games and digital add-on content frequently, there are those that stated they have never purchased digital content.”

Source: GamesIndustry.biz

NPD Group Australia reports that game prices in Australia are now lower than they were when recording of data began in 2000.

Additionally, MCV Pacific is reporting that Australian game prices dropped by 15% on average in 2012, the biggest drop on record since 13% in 2004.

NPD Analyst Andrew Milgate claims that “There are a few things that have contributed to the lower average prices this year,” citing the falling cost of console hardware and “strong sales of Skylanders & Skylanders Giants figures”.

Source: MCV via VG247

Gamestop, known locally as EB Games, have released figures showing that the take-up of digital gaming continues to improve strongly year after year.

Overall sales figures are down on last year by 4%, but most interesting is that used game sales are way down by the order of 15%, something that Gamestop attributes to “fewer new titles released throughout 2012 and less promotional activity”.

Digital sales are way up: 40% up on last year in fact, and Gamestop’s global e-commerce sales have jumped by 20%. When even Gamestop is noticing the digital shift, you know it’s time to start embracing those downloads.

Source: MCV UK

The NPD group, traditionally the bastion of reliable sales figures for the U.S. games market, have released their latest data over the weekend. Retail sales are down again for the 8th month in row, with sales of consoles and portable software down 23% from this time last year.

Figures are looking good for digital sales however, up 17% from this time last year, and showing that publishers who move to embrace a digital model will probably be those to suffer least from downturns in sales and market shifts. However, the NPD group notes that the upswing in digital sales is not enough to offset the decline in retail, and overall figures are expected to be down. Industry analysts are hopeful that the impending release of new consoles will bring these shamefully low figures back up once more.

Source: MCV, NYT