Videogames to Become $40 Billion Market by 2012

[lost]

I couldn't think of any flashier a way to put it than that. Looks like our beloved hobby is on the up and up. According to a market research company videogames will produce even more serious cash by 2012. From InformationWeek (http://www.informationweek.com).

Communications market researcher TMNG expects the global gaming industry to reach $40 billion in annual revenues by 2012. Earlier reports have noted that Apple's iPhone with its user-friendly touch screen has been a leading driver of the mobile gaming segment of the gaming business.

TMNG, which examined the impact of video games on both mobile and fixed service providers, attributed the strong growth of gaming not only to features on mobile devices, but also to increased network access, faster broadband speeds, and next-generation gaming consoles.

"Despite the current economic downturn, gaming has proven to be resilient in these trying times and is the leading entertainment segment that is fueling growth," said TMNG chairman and CEO Rich Nespola in a statement. "The expansion of casual games, simpler user interfaces and the proliferation of innovative business models is broadening the gamer demographic. The timing is ripe for service providers to hedge the business cycle."

The survey also found that the user demographic of video gamers is changing -- women gamers make up nearly 50% of the user base of some games and gamers are getting older with 33 now the average age of gamers. Mobile games are expected to make the sharpest impact on the gaming business in the coming years -- TMNG is predicting that mobile games will enjoy a 24.6% compound annual growth rate through 2012.


More here. (http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/virtualworlds/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=215900256&subSection=News)

[Johan]

I'm happy for the industry. The larger it grows, the more likely it is that we will all find plenty of what we enjoy individually within it. As the pie grows larger, the demographic slices will be tastier and more filling, even in the narrowest of niches.

Cheers! :)

[Major Dan]

MORE

R-E-S-P-E-C-T for the Video game industry

And

Less OMGZZZZ Video Games are ruining our kids.

[Johan]

Actually, I think the bigger the gaming industry gets, the more there will be of people thinking they are ruining kids...despite the average age of a game buyer being somewhere in the mid-30's.

Actually, the average age of a game buyer is 40. Yeah! (http://www.scribd.com/doc/4786870/ESA-ESSENTIAL-FACTSABOUT-GAMES-AND-Violence-2008)

Same info at CNet. (http://forums.cnet.com/5208-4_102-0.html?threadID=209437)

[Major Dan]

Actually, I think the bigger the gaming industry gets, the more there will be of people thinking they are ruining kids...despite the average age of a game buyer being somewhere in the mid-30's.

Actually, the average age of a game buyer is 40. Yeah! (http://www.scribd.com/doc/4786870/ESA-ESSENTIAL-FACTSABOUT-GAMES-AND-Violence-2008)

Same info at CNet. (http://forums.cnet.com/5208-4_102-0.html?threadID=209437)

I am 41, so yea that makes sense to me. But money is hard to turn down...hard I say...really hard to turn down. If nothing else we can afford more lobbyists. :D

[Illuminus]

Wait... isnt the world ending on 2012? Could there be a connection :confused:

[Anenome]

Look, here's where games are going:

Gaming technology is what is eventually going to produce simulated worlds, and with that, eventually, the Technological Singularity - which will be a direct descendant of gaming technology and the greatest technological creation in history.

Our hobby is more important than we realize. It has implications for the future that are massive. And these figures simply show that simulations technology (games) are becoming increasingly important to our culture, and thereby the world.

Further reading for the uninitiated: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity

[speeder]

Look, here's where games are going:

Gaming technology is what is eventually going to produce simulated worlds, and with that, eventually, the Technological Singularity - which will be a direct descendant of gaming technology and the greatest technological creation in history.

Our hobby is more important than we realize. It has implications for the future that are massive. And these figures simply show that simulations technology (games) are becoming increasingly important to our culture, and thereby the world.

Further reading for the uninitiated: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity

yeah! The PS4 is going to be awesome!

[Major Dan]

Look, here's where games are going:

Gaming technology is what is eventually going to produce simulated worlds, and with that, eventually, the Technological Singularity - which will be a direct descendant of gaming technology and the greatest technological creation in history.

Our hobby is more important than we realize. It has implications for the future that are massive. And these figures simply show that simulations technology (games) are becoming increasingly important to our culture, and thereby the world.

Further reading for the uninitiated: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity
Star Trek's HOLODECK FTW. Star Trek really predicted the future. The war with the Klingons will be a bitch for sure. :cool:

[Anenome]

How about uploading yourself into the computer? When people are digital, they would finally have total control over themselves, unlimited by the body anymore.

[Major Dan]

How about uploading yourself into the computer? When people are digital, they would finally have total control over themselves, unlimited by the body anymore.

Firewalls, my friend, firewalls are everywhere :(