Online Casual Gaming Revenues to Top $1 Billion by 2013

February 27, 2009

By Jennifer Hull

Parks Associates, an international research firm, has issued a report titled, "Networked Gaming: Driving the Future II," which forecasts that the online casual gaming market will exceed $1 billion in revenues by 2013. The company advised online gaming companies to embrace social networking and community features as key strategies in continuing the rapid growth of the gaming market.

Social and Community Features Appeal to Diverse Online Gamers

The Parks Associates report notes that social and community features can help companies in casual gaming expand beyond their traditional target demographic of women ages 35-54. Offering features such as a persistent identity and integration with social network sites allows companies to maintain their core audience while broadening their appeal.

Free-to-Play MMORPGs will Include 20 Million Gamers by 2013

These features can also build gamer interest and loyalty among the growing number of free-to-play MMORPGs, which will include over 20 million gamers by 2013. The report recommends that large game publishers should build cross-platform, gamer-centric networks. Online publishers should also leverage open-platform efforts like Facebook Connect and MySpaceID, allowing users to enter online gaming websites with their social network ID and share their online activities with their network of friends.

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. The company's expertise includes new media, digital entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television services, digital health, mobile applications and services, consumer electronics, and home control systems and security.