I still can't find "Tetris DS," but my search during these last couple of weeks has had me talking to Capcom, Electronic Arts and Atlus. I've been learning about how to survive the gaming economy.
But it hasn't gotten me any closer to "Tetris DS," and no one (even GameStop wouldn't return my calls or e-mails) could specify when a typical game's shelf life ends.
Maybe they don't want to speculate about their own products. "Okami," a new IP with hardcore appeal, didn't last long, but Capcom wouldn't timline their last re-order. "Resident Evil 4," however, they said will be actively selling for two or three more years.
I decided to ask an analyst instead. Evan Wilson, senior research analyst at Pacific Crest Securities, said there was no answer. When pressed, he caved: the average game has only "a few months" before the industry moves on.
That's a generalization, of course. An "average game" could last longer depending on the time of year, the health of the platform and genre competition. If you don't want to buy used, however, you're looking at just a few months time.