Comments on: U.S. Casual Gaming - only $52 million? http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/ Phil Steinmeyer's rumblings on the game biz, programming, and life Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:24:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Rachel http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-15998 Rachel Sat, 04 Nov 2006 01:33:46 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-15998 There are many errors in their calculations (omitting advertising, not a good understanding of Real's business model) and the sample size of the survey is small - so I would not use this number at all There are many errors in their calculations (omitting advertising, not a good understanding of Real’s business model) and the sample size of the survey is small - so I would not use this number at all

]]> By: PhilSteinmeyer.com » Blog Archive » More Badly Written Articles http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1273 PhilSteinmeyer.com » Blog Archive » More Badly Written Articles Wed, 07 Jun 2006 03:47:18 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1273 [...] Phil Steinmeyer’s rumblings on the game biz, programming, and life « U.S. Casual Gaming - only $52 million? [...] [...] Phil Steinmeyer’s rumblings on the game biz, programming, and life « U.S. Casual Gaming - only $52 million? [...]

]]> By: kim pallister http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1147 kim pallister Tue, 30 May 2006 06:57:33 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1147 All of the analyst community is struggling to get a handle on what 'online' means, and it's hard when the target keeps shifting. This was a step in the right direction for NPD, and hopefully they'll improve next year with feedback. All of the analyst community is struggling to get a handle on what ‘online’ means, and it’s hard when the target keeps shifting. This was a step in the right direction for NPD, and hopefully they’ll improve next year with feedback.

]]> By: Phil Steinmeyer http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1102 Phil Steinmeyer Fri, 26 May 2006 21:09:58 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1102 OK, now I see. NPD's wording is really sloppy, which is why I imagine some of the news sites got it wrong. At the beginning of the linked article, they say, "online subscriptions to PC games and gaming web sites were estimated to account for $344 million" - clearly talking about subscriptions. Then they break that down to $292 million for 'game-specific subscriptions' (i.e. MMORPGs), and $52 million for casual [subscriptions]. But the sentence they use to describe the latter is somewhat misleading "According to the research, paid casual gaming sites, such as those allowing users unlimited play of a variety of games from services like Pogo.com or RealOne Arcade, reached sales of $52 million in 2005 with about 1.05 million paid subscribers" And the CNN article just shortened that to $52 million in sales for casual sites, rather than $52 million in SUBSCRIPTION sales for those sites (with presumably a rather larger figure for the more traditional, digital download sales, which are NOT mentioned in the NPD press release). It's odd - NPD is finally paying attention to casual game sites (sorta), but they're only looking at the smaller segment of that market (subscriptions), rather than the more meaty 'download and sell for $19.99' category. Oh well... OK, now I see.

NPD’s wording is really sloppy, which is why I imagine some of the news sites got it wrong.

At the beginning of the linked article, they say, “online subscriptions to PC games and gaming web sites were estimated to account for $344 million” - clearly talking about subscriptions.

Then they break that down to $292 million for ‘game-specific subscriptions’ (i.e. MMORPGs), and $52 million for casual [subscriptions]. But the sentence they use to describe the latter is somewhat misleading

“According to the research, paid casual gaming sites, such as those allowing users unlimited play of a variety of games from services like Pogo.com or RealOne Arcade, reached sales of $52 million in 2005 with about 1.05 million paid subscribers”

And the CNN article just shortened that to $52 million in sales for casual sites, rather than $52 million in SUBSCRIPTION sales for those sites (with presumably a rather larger figure for the more traditional, digital download sales, which are NOT mentioned in the NPD press release).

It’s odd - NPD is finally paying attention to casual game sites (sorta), but they’re only looking at the smaller segment of that market (subscriptions), rather than the more meaty ‘download and sell for $19.99′ category.

Oh well…

]]> By: PJayTycy http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1101 PJayTycy Fri, 26 May 2006 18:31:45 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1101 Phil, this is the npd press release: http://www.npd.com/dynamic/releases/press_060525.html It doesn't contain more info though. Phil, this is the npd press release:
http://www.npd.com/dynamic/releases/press_060525.html

It doesn’t contain more info though.

]]> By: Donavon Keithley http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1080 Donavon Keithley Fri, 26 May 2006 00:33:51 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1080 Yeah, $52m, 1.05m subscribers -- sounds about right. However, take a look at http://tinyurl.com/kpusf: "NPD analyst Anita Frazier said digital downloads appeared to have contributed about 3 percent of total PC market sales in 2005, which would amount to about $42 million." All I can figure is maybe that's a measure of conventional retail games electronically distributed. Yeah, $52m, 1.05m subscribers — sounds about right.

However, take a look at http://tinyurl.com/kpusf: “NPD analyst Anita Frazier said digital downloads appeared to have contributed about 3 percent of total PC market sales in 2005, which would amount to about $42 million.”

All I can figure is maybe that’s a measure of conventional retail games electronically distributed.

]]> By: Phil Steinmeyer http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1079 Phil Steinmeyer Fri, 26 May 2006 00:09:00 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1079 I think this is the relevant Gamasutra link: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9455 Yes, $52 million in casual subscription revenue is more sensible, but then, if that's what NPD was estimating, they've missed the presumably bigger part of the industry - casual game downloads. I went to NPD's site looking for the press release these articles were based on, but couldn't find it. I think this is the relevant Gamasutra link:

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9455

Yes, $52 million in casual subscription revenue is more sensible, but then, if that’s what NPD was estimating, they’ve missed the presumably bigger part of the industry - casual game downloads.

I went to NPD’s site looking for the press release these articles were based on, but couldn’t find it.

]]> By: Russell Carroll http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1078 Russell Carroll Thu, 25 May 2006 23:52:59 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1078 Gamasutra shows the $52 million as being revenue from subscription services, which would mean that non-subscription sales were not broken out. It would be a good explanation. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7832 Gamasutra shows the $52 million as being revenue from subscription services, which would mean that non-subscription sales were not broken out. It would be a good explanation.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=7832

]]> By: John Nelson http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1076 John Nelson Thu, 25 May 2006 17:45:23 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1076 Phil, I have to agree with you on this estimate. For so long the casual, and serious game industry has not been considered in estimates that it will take a fw years before the numbers start showing realistically. Phil, I have to agree with you on this estimate. For so long the casual, and serious game industry has not been considered in estimates that it will take a fw years before the numbers start showing realistically.

]]> By: Donavon Keithley http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1075 Donavon Keithley Thu, 25 May 2006 17:27:51 +0000 http://www.philsteinmeyer.com/104/us-casual-gaming-only-52-million/#comment-1075 A quick addendum for clarity: RealArcade (minus GamePass) and Zylom get most or all of their revenue from actual game sales AFAICT. Gamehouse is a mix of sales, advertising, and mobile games. Mr. Goodliving is all mobile games. A quick addendum for clarity:

RealArcade (minus GamePass) and Zylom get most or all of their revenue from actual game sales AFAICT. Gamehouse is a mix of sales, advertising, and mobile games. Mr. Goodliving is all mobile games.

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