$1.74 Billion Spent On Video Game Content? That's a Lot of Microsoft Points.

Image via DICE Designer @ChristinaCoffin

Someone once said that the guy that invented money was smart, but the guy that invented the poker chip was a genius. I suppose the same could be said for Microsoft Points, Facebook Credits, Wii Points and all the rest because according to a recent report, in Q2 2011 consumers spent more on video game content than they did buying physical video and PC game software. "Content" seems to be defined as anything except physical games, including in-game content, game downloads (including mobile games like on on your iPhone), game rentals and everything else.

To me it's a staggering number, and indicative of where the industry is headed. A few years ago I don't even think I'd heard of the term "DLC," but now if I love a game I won't think twice about spending 1,200 Microsoft Points on new maps. And iPhone and iPad games? What's a couple of bucks if I can get a few good hours out of it (or, more importantly, if it will distract my kids for 15 minutes).

"It adds up" is apparently an understatement.

Consumers spent additional $1.74 billion on video game content in Q2 [BGR.com]

Battlefield Bad Company 2 DLC 50% Off

I know Battlefield 3 is coming out in a month and a half, and I realize that I was really, really late to the party playing Battlefield Bad Company 2. But as someone who just purchased most of this content in the past couple of months, this news doesn't make me very happy. I want half my points back for that stillborn Vietnam expansion bullshit.

Check it out in the XBOX Live dashboard, or follow this link to XBOX.com.