Abstract
Overview
These past two years have marked a radical departure in the dissemination and
content of massively multiplayer games:
- Unprecedented success of World of Warcraft (WoW), from Vivendi Universal
Games subsidiary, Blizzard Entertainment. Boasting close to 7 million
subscribers (each paying roughly 12 USD a month), WoW has become the most
widely-played online game in the world - outperforming South Korean rivals -
and one of the highest earners. Does this overwhelming popularity herald MMG's
transition to the mass market?
- Ongoing innovation, with cases in point that include Dofus from French
studio, Ankama, enjoying rave reviews from gamers and industry members alike.
- Growing popularity of web-based massively multiplayer games, both hosted
and not, including Habbo Hotel, Kochon Land, Ogame and Battle Arena - aimed
at players without (or no longer) the time to devote themselves fully to
complex gaming universes, but who still crave interactive entertainment.
- Development of a virtual economy inside the games: Second Life (Linden
Lab), Entropia Universe (MindArk), World of Warcraft and most of the major
titles all offer features enabling trade within the game itself.
These new trends taking shape in the very specific world of MMG have also
become the source of broader explorations in a variety of other areas, where
the notion of persistent universe is becoming a central part of development
and innovation (mobile services, desktop software, online applications...).
Key questions
- Is a global mass market possible? Under what conditions, and on which
devices?
- What will be the business models of the future?
- What role do gamer communities play?
- Online game distribution modes: going all digital?
- What breakdown between production, operation, publishing and distribution?
- Is the public ready for persistent universes?
Who should read this report?
Game producers, publishers and distributors
- Assessing the development of MMG
- Resituating existing services' growth prospects and competition zone
- Understanding the value chain and business models' organisation
Internet companies
- Understanding video game specialists' positioning and strategy
- Assessing the implications of MMG's increasing popularity
Operators (telcos, media...)
- Understanding video game companies' overall strategy
- Anticipating repercussions of consumers' increasing usage Analysing
partnership possibilities with video game companies
Manufacturers (consumer devices)
- Understanding the way use of new platforms and devices is evolving
- Keeping track of major developments in the MMG market
Investors and analysts
- Analysing the overall state of competition, and for MMG in particular
- Evaluating the market's scope and future prospect
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