Online Gaming Gets Big Boost From Consoles, Handhelds Reports In-Stat.SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Video game consoles This is a list of video game consoles by the era they appeared in. Eras are named based on the dominant console type of the era (even though not all consoles of those eras are of the same type). Some eras are referred to based on how many bits a major console could process. and handheld game consoles See video game console. are greatly expanding the market for online gaming See gaming. , reports In-Stat (http://www.in-stat.com). Worldwide console and handheld online gaming subscribers numbered 3.4 million in 2004, and could exceed 30 million by 2009, the high-tech market research firm says. Whether Sony continues to offer free online console subscriptions or goes to a paid subscription service when it releases the PlayStation 3 in 2006 will have a big impact on subscriber growth and revenues over the next few years. "Microsoft is the only console maker so far to launch a paid subscription service," said Brian O'Rourke Sir Brian na Murra O'Rourke (1540?–1591), hereditary lord of West Breifne (modern County Leitrim) in Ireland during the later stages of the Tudor reconquest of that country, was proclaimed a rebel and became the first man to be extradited within Britain. , In-Stat analyst. "And we expect the release of the Xbox 360 and additions to its subscription service to accelerate Microsoft to just under 50% annual subscriber growth between 2004 and 2009." A recent report by In-Stat found the following: --Sony currently believes that a paid service is too large a barrier to console online gaming, and uses free online play primarily to reinforce customer loyalty. --Nintendo has taken a hands-off approach to online console gaming thus far, but is taking a very aggressive approach in handheld console gaming, setting up a network of Wi-Fi hotspots in Japan, North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. and Europe to host its free DS online service. --Sony has launched several networked gaming titles for its PSP (PlayStation Portable) See PlayStation. handheld console in 2005. However, Sony has not been as active as Nintendo in setting up hotspot networks or marketing the online service. The report, "Console and Handheld Online Gaming: Overshadowing the PC" (#IN0501852CM), contains forecasts for online gamers annually through 2009 for game console and handheld units. Forecasts for each console include: annual installed base, number of subscribers, subscriber revenue (where appropriate), and additional revenue garnered through paid downloads. Analysis is provided for console online strategies of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, and handheld online strategies of Sony, Nintendo and Nokia. Please note that this report does not forecast PC online gaming. For more information on this report, please visit: http://www.instat.com/catalog/Ccatalogue.asp?id=212 or contact Erin McKeighan at 480-609-4551 or emckeighan@reedbusiness.com. The report price is $2,495. About In-Stat In-Stat (www.in-stat.com) is the leading provider of actionable research, market analysis and forecasts of advanced communications services, infrastructure, end user devices and semiconductors. Our insights are derived from both a deep technology understanding and comprehensive research, which examines each segment of the value chain for each market. Technology vendors, service providers, technology professionals and market specialists, worldwide, rely on In-Stat's tenured ten·ured adj. Having tenure: tenured civil servants; tenured faculty. Adj. 1. tenured , experienced staff and in-depth research to support critical business, product and technology decisions. In-Stat is a strategic segment of the $8 billion Reed Elsevier global information network, with access to an expansive worldwide electronic network, extensive technology databases and well-informed personnel. As a member of Reed Business Information Reed Business Information is a large business publisher in the United States, United Kingdom, continental Europe, Australia and Asia. It is a division of Reed Elsevier. In 2005, Reed Business Information started the Quill Awards, a literary award broadcast on NBC. , In-Stat is a division of the largest business-to-business publisher in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . |
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