
THE GAMES INDUSTRY
The games industry is the fastest growing part of the broader entertainment industry.
Recent key milestones
2004: Games sales revenues overtake cinema box office receipts
2007: Games sales revenues overtake music industry revenues
2007: Halo 3 becomes the fastest selling entertainment release in history. This title generated more than $170 million in revenue in its first 24 hours on sale in the US alone
2008: Grand Theft Auto IV becomes the fastest selling entertainment release in history. In its first week, GTA IV took in over $500 million.
2008: World of Warcraft exceeds 10 million paid subscriptions worldwide.
Forecasts
Games revenues are forecast to be in excess of $57bn in 2009 [source: DFC Intelligence]
ONLINE GAMES
The majority of modern games incorporate an online component, taking advantage of the connectivity of all main gaming devices (PCs, consoles, handheld devices). Online games played over the Internet allow numbers of players (from dozens to many thousands) interact with each other in the game environment.
This connectivity can also allow game developers to keep adding content to their titles should they wish to. For example, Mythic Entertainment have produced 5 retail and 2 free expansions for the GOA-published Dark Age of Camelot.
In excess of 15 million people worldwide subscribe to massively multiplayer online games, paying a monthly fee.
CASUAL GAMES
Casual games are to become more prevalent worldwide - "The
Casual Games
Association expects 2008 to bring casual games into the everyday lives
of consumers with stand alone massively multiplayer casual games and
the integration of gaming into existing social networking websites."
[source: Casual Games Market Report 2007]
Key findings of this report include
- Casual games are a $2.25 billion a year industry
- The casual games market is growing at 20% a year
- Men make up 48.3% of casual game players, women 51.7%. However, women account for 74% of paying casual game players.
DEFINITIONS
MMORPG:
Massively
Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. This is a particular
genre
of computer game in which very large numbers of players interact with
each other in a virtual world.
Free to play (F2P):
A game offering where players can play a
game for free. Revenue is generated for the publisher through the sale
of additional in-game items.
Casual
Games:
Casual games are video games
developed for the mass consumer, even those who would not normally
regard themselves as a “gamer.” Casual games are fun, quick to access,
easy to learn, and
require no previous special video game skills, expertise, or regular
time commitment to play.
MARKET