The Consumer Markets: Gaming service advises game publishers and developers, hardware vendors, service providers, marketers, rights owners, and investors about this dynamic marketplace from global and regional perspectives. Providing a comprehensive analysis of the technologies, services, and end-user preferences shaping the gaming market and identifying which factors are accelerating or inhibiting market growth is the overarching aim of this IDC service.

• Video game console manufacturer competitive dynamics
• Connected console content and services
• Online PC game software and services
• Dedicated handheld hardware and software
• Wireless and mobile/portable gaming trends
• Gamer demographics and genre preferences
• Aggregate industry revenue by region
• Market shares of key PC, console, and handheld/mobile hardware and game software developers/publishers
• Console disc sales by region
• Digital distribution and downloadable content (DLC)
• Emerging business model opportunities and threats

• Video Game Console and Software Forecast
• Connected Video Game Console Forecast
• Online PC Gaming Forecast
• Consumer Predictions
• U.S. and Global Gamer Demographic Surveys
• Wireless and Mobile/Portable Gaming Analysis
• Market Impacts: Advertising, DLC, "Cloud" Gaming
• DRM, Piracy, and User-Generated Games

In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct research on specific topics or emerging market segments via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment. To learn more about the analysts and published research, please visit: Consumer Markets: Gaming.

1. Which companies and business models will drive the gaming market in 2011 and beyond?
2. How are online advertising models impacting game content and competitive dynamics?
3. Which gaming industry segments should grow the fastest?
4. How is casual online gaming changing gamers' spending habits?
5. How are connected consoles faring against Web-connected TVs, set-top boxes, PCs/Macs, etc.?
6. Which console manufacturer ecosystem is best positioned to generate revenue through 2014?
7. How are advanced motion sensing interfaces and 3D impacting the industry?
8. How are devices like the iPad and services like OnLive shaking up the status quo?

IDC's Consumer Markets: Gaming service analyzes the product strategies, competitive positioning, financial viability, and strategic direction of key players in the gaming market, including:

Activision Blizzard, Amazon.com, AMD, AOL, Apple, AT&T, Big Fish Games, Bungie, CAPCOM, Comcast, Dell, Dolby Laboratories, Electronic Arts, Facebook, Freescale Semi., Gameloft, GameStop, Glu Mobile, Harmonix, HP, IBM, IGN Entertainment, Infinity Ward, Intel, Konami, Logitech, LucasArts, Mad Catz, Microsoft, Mumbo Jumbo, NCSoft, Netflix, Nintendo, Nokia, NVIDIA, OnLive, PlayFirst, PlaySpan, Polyphony Digital, PopCap Games, Qualcomm, Rambus, Real Networks, Rockstar Games, Sega, Sony, Sprint, Square Enix, Sun Microsystems, Take-Two Interactive, THQ, T-Mobile, Toshiba, Ubisoft, Valve, Verizon, Vivendi Universal, Vodafone, Wal-Mart, Walt Disney, Warner Bros., WildTangent, Yahoo! Games, Zipper Interactive, and Zynga.

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