The Burgeoning Online Gaming Industry

We have all dabbled a little bit with playing games on our PC. Some have also dabbled online. Well more than some. Online games raked in $960 million in 2003, according to research firm The Themis Group. And Themis expects that number to hit $1.3 billion this year, thanks in part to the growing adoption of fast, broadband connections, which accelerate online game play. Also feeding the surge: a growing selection of online-enabled titles that represent virtually every conceivable game genre, from racing and flight simulators, to sports, to first-person shooters, to massive multiplayer role-playing games. Whether you want to shoot, run, drive, fly, punch, kick, talk, act, scheme, build, or grapple, you can do it all online.
Platform Play


There's just one problem: You face so many choices that it can be difficult to make sure you're getting the most out of your online gaming experience.


The biggest decision most people face is whether to buy games for their computer or to purchase a console system like the Sony PlayStation 2 or Microsoft Xbox. A few years ago there was no question: If you wanted to play online, you had to do it on a PC. But the latest versions of PS2 and Xbox have changed all that. Both offer network ports for high-speed Internet access, and both feature subscription services that let you find online gaming environments, keep track of friends, and download game updates. The Xbox requires a broadband connection, however; so if you want to play games over an analog modem connection, the Sony PS2 is for you. (Note: The Nintendo Gamecube does not offer a viable online gaming option. The company sells broadband and dial-up adapters for its GameCube console, but those adapters work only with one game and don't allow true Internet access.)


Despite all the hype and popularity of Xbox and PS2 it seems that the shift will be back towards PC games.Enter the era of gaming through social networks. Yes the future of this market lies in network sites like myspace, facebook,youtube etc. And what's more is there will be a shift towards daring and challenging friends and strangers to online skill games. The market potential is huge (almost infinite) and the days of free online games may become redundant.


The real winners in this arena will not necessarily be the players of these online games but rather the providers of the platforms to play them on. Anyone who is interested in the next Internet Revolution had better sit up and take note right now. Plans are afoot to take this online gaming industry by storm. The opportunity is ripe for the picking and the clock is ticking.

Malcolm Smith is a new Internet Entrepeneur who is always on the lookout for new and innovative business models. Visit http://uvmelaunchtosuccess.blogspot.com/ for more information.