This is a phrase spouted by marketing bods, more in the early '90s than today, but still heard in the corridors of smaller software houses. Essentially, the 80-20 rule refers to 80% of a software house's income being generated by 20% of their titles. Imagine this: Softco have games A, B, C, D and E. Games A and B are okay and sell in moderate amounts. Game C is fantastic but it's far too niche for mainstream gamers - an online only, turn-based, AD&D paint package say - and Game D is an absolute dog. Game E, on the other hand, is Softco's Driver. It's the one game that's making them money and therefore propping up all the others.

Though there's still an element of this kind of behaviour happening in the software world, it's disappearing because the money made by Game E just isn't enough to carry all the others. Games A, C and E all have to be huge sellers if they're to support games B and D, and this is one reason we're seeing more and more sequels and unimaginative releases in tried and tested genres.

Future Gamer runs on the 10-90 rule, in which the Ed does 90% of the work each week (cough).