DALLAS, TX--(Marketwire - November 9, 2010) - The gaming business is undergoing a major shift away from subscription models as virtual items become a larger part of its economy, reaching almost $6 billion worldwide in microtransaction revenues by 2015, according to international research firm Parks Associates.
"Gamers are investing real money in virtual items in Farmville, World of Warcraft, and other online games, to the point they are filing lawsuits to establish 'ownership' of these virtual goods," said Pietro Macchiarella, research analyst, Parks Associates. "The enormous player base, availability on multiple devices, and the introduction of instruments such as Facebook Credits contribute to growing revenues."
The firm's new report Online Gaming: Global Outlook finds 19% of active gamers in the U.S. spend money on in-game virtual items. In contrast, subscribers to premium online game services decreased from 35% in 2008 to 28% in 2010. Publishers of social games, like Zynga, have seen revenues explode as larger percentages of their customers opt to pay for virtual items. The same trend is visible for massively multiplayer online games, where companies such as Nexon America have managed to reach millions of dollars in revenues from microtransactions.
"It is becoming increasingly difficult to justify subscription fees," Macchiarella said. "Thanks to social games and free-to-play MMOs, both casual and hardcore players have the option of playing quality games online for free. The virtual-items model that has proven so successful in Asia is finally generating significant revenues in North America."
Macchiarella predicts that social games in particular will generate higher ARPUs as payment methods and monetization business models are perfected.
For more information on Parks Associates' Online Gaming: Global Outlook, visit www.parksassociates.com or contact sales@parksassociates.com, 972-490-1113.
About Parks Associates
Parks Associates is an internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research, custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service subscriptions.
Each year, Parks Associates hosts executive thought leadership conferences CONNECTIONS™, with support from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, and CONNECTIONS™ Europe.
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Contact Information:
Mindi Sue Sternblitz-Rubenstein
Parks Associates
972-490-1113
mindi.sue@parksassociates.com