32% of industry growth in 2008 is from music games

You can’t get away from it. Go to a party and there’s always Rock Band. Go to Wal-Mart and people are playing Guitar Hero. Best Buy? Rock Band again. Industry events? Music games. And then you go home… and play more.

UBS analyst Ben Schachter says that these and other music games helped boost the growth of the games industry 32% in 2008. We’re only half a year into 2008! According to the NPD, 2008 total game industry sales ($9.47 billion) are already 35% ahead of last year’s total, and these music games have played a big part.

The Guitar Hero franchise total sales are up 87% from last year, pulling in $15 million in sales in July alone. Add to that Rock Band’s $47 million in sales, again, just for July!

It’s not even close to over, with games like Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero World Tour, and Rock Revolution on the horizon, just in time for the holiday season.

I hope you really like these music games. I know Nick Chester does.

[Via 1UP]