Massively Multiplayer Games Outlook and Challenges

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Introduction to massively multiplayer games

• 2.1. MMOG components
• 2.2. Characteristics of the MMOG offer
  • 2.2.1. The MMOG offer
  • 2.2.2. The top massively multiplayer online games

3. The MMOG environment and market

• 3.1. MMOGs' economic environment
  • 3.1.1. Increasingly long commercial and user lifecycles
  • 3.1.2. Business models: from subscription to item selling
• 3.2. MMOGs' community environment
  • 3.2.1. Community at the heart of the phenomenon
  • 3.2.2. Gamer profile
  • 3.2.3. Gaming modes
• 3.3. Market and industry players
  • 3.3.1. The MMOG market
  • 3.3.2. The players

4. New development trends and future prospects

• 4.1. Development of an autonomous economic system
• 4.2. Other trends and growth outlook
• 4.3. Online gaming's growth outlook

5. Annexes

• 5.1. NCsoft
  • 5.1.1. Vital statistics
  • 5.1.2. Company profile
  • 5.1.3. Product description
• 5.2. Vivendi Games
  • 5.2.1. Vital statistics
  • 5.2.2. Company profile
  • 5.2.3. Product description
• 5.3. Electronic Arts
  • 5.3.1. Vital statistics
  • 5.3.2. Company profile
  • 5.3.3. Product description
• 5.4. Sony Online
  • 5.4.1. Vital statistics
  • 5.4.2. Company profile
  • 5.4.3. Product description
• 5.5. CCP games
  • 5.5.1. Vital statistics
  • 5.5.2. Company profile
  • 5.5.3. Product description
• 5.6. Linden Lab
  • 5.6.1. Vital statistics
  • 5.6.2. Company profile
  • 5.6.3. Product description

Tables

• Table 1: The massively multiplayer online game market (million USD)
• Table 2: Number of heroic fantasy and science fiction games
• Table 3: Top heroic fantasy tames
• Table 4: Top science fiction games
• Table 5: Top 30 massively multiplayer games, as of 30/06/2006
• Table 6: Top MMOG publishers
• Table 7: Estimated PC game revenues
• Table 8: Estimated massively multiplayer online game revenues
• Table 9: Massively multiplayer games' share of the sector's revenues

Figures

• Figure 1: Growth of operational massively multiplayer online games (1996-2006)
• Figure 2: Breakdown of MMO games by volume of operational titles, mid-2006
• Figure 3: Growth of massively multiplayer online game subscriptions
• Figure 4: Massively multiplayer games' market share
• Figure 5: Growth of active subscriptions per game (+ 120,000 accounts)
• Figure 6: Growth of active subscriptions per game (from 70,000 to 700,000 accounts)
• Figure 7: Growth of the PC game market
• Figure 8: Growth of the massively multiplayer online game market
• Figure 9: Growth of massively multiplayer game subscribers
• Figure 10: World video game software market