Casual Gaming Market Update

Table of Contents

1.0 Notes on Methodology

2.0 Definition of Casual Games

3.0 Casual Gaming Market Overview

• 3.1 Consumer Adoption and Important Implications
• 3.2 Demographics of Casual Game Audience
  • 3.2.1 The PC Platform
  • 3.2.2 The Console Platform
• 3.3 An Overview of the Industry Value Chain
• 3.4 Industry Characteristics
• 3.5 Analysis of Key Industry Players
  • 3.5.1 Positioning of Key Players
  • 3.5.2 Casual Game Developers
  • 3.5.3 Casual Game Publishers
  • 3.5.4 Distributors and Aggregators
  • 3.5.5 Casual Game Portals
• 3.6 Key Technologies and Trends
  • 3.6.1 Popular Development Platforms: Balancing Issues
  • 3.6.2 DRM Solutions: Build or Buy
  • 3.6.3 Emerging Trends

4.0 Established Business Models of Casual Gaming

• 4.1 Try-Before-You-Buy
• 4.2 Web-based Advertising
• 4.3 Subscription Services
• 4.4 Skill-Based Gaming
• 4.5 Advergames
• 4.6 A Comparison of Existing Business Models

5.0 Emerging Platforms, Distribution Channels, and Business Models

• 5.1 Emerging Platforms and Channels
  • 5.1.1 Game Console
  • 5.1.2 Bricks-and-Mortar Retail
  • 5.1.3 Mobile Phones
  • 5.1.4 Portable/Handheld Devices
  • 5.1.5 TV Set-top Box
• 5.2 Emerging Business Models
  • 5.2.1 In-Game Advertising
  • 5.2.2 Micro-transaction
• 5.3 New Genres
  • 5.3.1 Advanced Casual Games
  • 5.3.2 Casual MMO
  • 5.3.3 The Surge of the Middle Market

6.0 Other Important Issues

• 6.1 Entrance of Large Publishers & Industry Consolidation
• 6.2 Web 2.0 and Casual Games

7.0 Market Forecasts

• 7.1 Frecast Methodology
• 7.2 Detailed Forecasts

8.0 Market Implications and Key Recommendations

Resource Book

1.0 Consumer Adoption of Casual Gaming

• 1.1 Growth of PC Casual Gaming
• 1.2 Shifting Demographics of PC Casual Audience
• 1.3 Popular Casual Gaming Services
  • 1.3.1 Popular PC Casual Gaming Services
  • 1.3.2 Analysis of Xbox Live Service
• 1.4 Popular Casual Game Genres

2.0 Segmentation of Gamers

• 2.1 Segmentation of Internet Gamers
• 2.2 Segmentation of Casual Gaming Audience
• 2.3 Demographics of Casual Audience by Platforms

3.0 Analysis of Gamer Behaviors

• 3.1 Hours Spent on Online vs. Offline PC Gaming
• 3.2 Session Length: Online vs. Offline PC Gaming
• 3.3 Social and Family Gaming Behavior
• 3.4 Monthly Expenditure on Games
  • 3.4.1 Expenditure on Games in General
  • 3.4.2 Monthly Expenditure on Games Among Casual Gaming Audiences

4.0 Consumer Interest in Alternative Business Models

• 4.1 Massively Multiplayer Online Games and Casual Gaming
• 4.2 General Perception of Game Advertising

5.0 Profiles of Casual Game Developers and Publishers

• 5.1 Big Fish Games
• 5.2 MiniClip
• 5.3 Mumbo Jumbo
• 5.4 NeoEdge Networks, Inc.
• 5.5 PlayFirst
• 5.6 PopCap Games
• 5.7 Sandlot Games
• 5.8 Sierra Online (Division of Vivendi Games)
• 5.9 WildTangent

6.0 Profiles of Aggregators and Distributors

• 6.1 Boonty S.A.
• 6.2 Oberon Media
• 6.3 Trymedia (Macrovision)

7.0 Profiles of Online Portals and Retailers

• 7.1 AOL Games
• 7.2 EA / Pogo.com
• 7.3 Microsoft Network Games (MSN Games)
• 7.4 RealArcade
• 7.5 Shockwave Games
• 7.6 Yahoo! Games

8.0 Profiles of Technology Providers

• 8.1 Adobe Systems, Inc.
• Sun Microsystems / Java

Figures

The Bottom Line

• U.S. Consumers Play Online Games Most Often
• Who is Paying for Online Content?
• Type of Games Played
• PC Casual vs. Core Gaming Audience by Age and Gender
• Major Portals' Demographic Compositions
• Console Casual vs. Core Gaming Audience by Age and Gender
• PC Casual Gaming Industry Value Chain
• Characteristics of the PC Casual Gaming Market
• Categorizing Key Players
• Market Positioning of Major Companies
• Casual Game Developers' Annual Revenue
• Summary of Selected Developers
• Selected Casual Game Publishers
• Selected Casual Game Aggregators
• Selected Casual Game Portals
• A Comparison of Common Technology Platforms
• North American Casual Game Retailer Revenue Model - 2005
• Breakeven and Profitability Analysis: Download Model
• Top Ten Casual Game Portals (April 2007)
• Major Subscription Programs in the U.S.
• Summary of Advergames Developers
• A Comparison of Existing Business Models
• Number of Xbox Live! Subscribers
• Competitive Analysis of Game Consoles
• Worldwide Sales Momentum of Three New Consoles
• Game Consoles and Casual Offerings
• Casual Game Retail Landscape (PC Only)
• Handheld Platform Casual Titles
• Time Spent on Gaming Device
• Selected Casual MMO/Advanced Casual Games with Micro-transaction
• Advanced Casual Games Overview
• Overview of Casual MMOs
• Formation of the Middle Market of the Video Game Industry
• Mergers & Acquisitions and Investment
• Game Portals Utilizing User-Generated Content
• U.S. Forecast of Total Casual Gaming Revenue
• Detailed Breakdown of Forecast Numbers
• Comparison of CAGR by Type of Business Model (2006-2012)
• Casual Game Revenue Model - 2007
• Casual Game Revenue Model - 2012

Resource Book

• U.S. Consumers Play Online Games Most Often
• Adoption of Five Casual Gaming Services: 2006 vs. 2007
• Trends in Casual PC Gamer Demographics 2006-2007
• Interest in Web-Gaming Service with Rich Features: by Age and Gender
• Trends in Casual PC Gamer Demographics 2006-2007 by Education
• Trends in Casual PC Gamer Demographics 2006-2007 by Income
• Top Five Online Gaming Services: by Percentage of Paying Users
• Online Gaming Services
• Using Online Gaming Services
• Awareness of XBOX Live Service
• XBOX Live Service Usage among Xbox & Xbox 360 Users by Age
• XBOX Live Service Usage among Xbox & Xbox 360 Users by Gender
• Genres of Console Casual Games Played by XLS Usage Groups
• Types of Games Played Personally
• Casual Game Genres Played by Gender & Age
• Summary of the Six Gamer Segments
• PC Casual vs. Core Gaming Audience by Segment
• Console Casual vs. Core Gaming Audience by Segment
• PC Casual vs. Core Gaming Audience by Age and Gender
• Console Casual vs. Core Gaming Audience by Age and Gender
• Among Groups: Number of Hours per Month Online vs. Offline
• Among Groups: PC Gaming Session Online vs. Offline
• Adults vs. Teenagers: Social Gaming Habits
• Among Adults: Social Gaming Habits
• Among Adults: Gaming Time Split
• Monthly Expenditure on Gaming
• PC Gaming Under-monetized Compared to Console Gaming
• Monthly Expenditure on Computer Games by Age and Gender
• Monthly Expenditure on Console Games by Age and Gender
• Monthly Expenditure on Online Games
• Monthly Expenditure on Online Games among PC Casual Audienc
• Among Casual Gamer Groups: Adoption of MMOG
• Among Groups: Interest in MMOG
• MMOG Intenders by Age and Gender
• Perception of In-Game Advertising
• Power Gamers Have Strong Opinions about Game Advertising
• Opinion about Seeing In-Game Ads to Win Prizes: by Gender and Age
• Opinion about Seeing In-Game Ads if it Helps Reduce Cost
• Opinion about Seeing In-Game Ads if it Helps Enhance Game Play
• Least Intrusive Approach of Ad Insertion: by Age and Gender