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>  Massively Multiplayer Online Games head towards critical mass as second wave platforms emerge

Richard Jones, iMagineer-in-Chief //  20 March 2007

Who could resist a report entitled "Western World MMOG Market: 2006 Review and Forecasts to 2011"?  Actually it has one big statistic to make you stand up and take notice : the market value of Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) has hit $1bn outside Asia (which has its own gigantic bubble of MMOG activity).  World of Warcraft is cited as the rocket fuel for MMOG expansion in Europe, followed by the UK-developed Runescape.

New MMOG horizons

A spokesperson predicts that “growth in the market will be primarily driven by increasing broadband household penetration, increasing penetration of online
console platforms, and the continued introduction of more casual MMOG
experiences, which are attractive to a wide number of consumers.”  Indeed, there are already diverse online experiences available - from the traditional fantasy gaming format through to virtual world building, and faux-emotional experiences such as virtual pets (e.g. Neopets - over 70 million virtual pets.  Gulp.)

Beyond subscription

The report also highlights the expanding horizons for generating cash from MMOGs - extending the traditional subscription model into in-game merchandise, online currency and (what else) advertising.  How far this starts to devalue the escapism of the 'virtual experience' remains to be seen as developers push the boundaries (and their luck).

Sony invites you into its Home

Meanwhile Sony are seeking to claw their way into online gaming and social networking through "Home" - its new Playstation 3 platform that it says it part of a "movement called Game 3.0. It's about emerging entertainment, powered by the audience at the centre of the experience."

The concept draws on similar themes to that seen in Second Life - avatars of real people (or not, who looks like that in real life?).  There are the predictable options to tinker with home building and fashions - with 3D advertising to come.  The game will facilitate "spaces" for various interest groups to populate, with Sony promising this will not simply be like wandering around a Sony shop.  Though you cannot see them inviting Phillips to create a space in a hurry...

As ever the crunch will be in the implementation - if it offers swift, accessible and compulsive social networking interaction with maximum charm and "no instruction manual necessary" (this is for the Playstation generation don't forget - vying for attention alongside Singstar) it could be massive.  And as posted elsewhere, Sony can align this foray into web 2.0 with the much awaited launch of LittleBigPlanet that draws on similar themes.

R.J.

Read more:

>  ScreenDigest report (pdf format)

>  BBC coverage "MMO games on the rise" and "Virtual worlds are worth $1bn"

> Back to Rocktails Blog Home

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