Online Game Market Overview

This 44-page report consists of the first two sections of The Online Game Market.  This report provides an overview of the major trends in the online game market.  For the table of contents for the full report click here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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I.     Executive Summary.. 5

A.       Overview.. 5

B.        Major Trends. 8

1.     Online Console Games. 9

2.     Worldwide Market and Online Games in Asia. 11

3.     Casual Gaming Market 12

4.     Online Gaming Consolidation. 13

5.     Bundling Becomes Key. 14

6.     Impact of Broadband. 15

7.     Emergence of Online-Only Games. 16

8.     Glut of Product/Need for Capital/Learning by Failure. 17

9.     Changing Distribution Channels. 18

10.      Trend to Flat-Rate Pricing. 19

11.      Online Games as an Extension of Retail Games. 19

12.      Emergence of Dedicated Servers and Networks for Enhanced Online Gaming. 20

C.        Challenges to Online Gaming Industry. 20

1.     Technology Impediments. 21

2.     Game Design Paradigms. 22

3.     Consumer Awareness. 23

4.     Uncertainty in Profitable Business Model 24

5.     Level of Online Hardware Penetration. 25

6.     Reaction from Traditional Retail Channel 26

II.       State of Online Games. 27

A.       Overview.. 27

B.        History of Online Games. 37

1.     History. 37

2.     The Market Niches Today. 43

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