| A century ago, the term 'games' would have | | | | computer games and video game parlors though |
| referred to either field sports or games like | | | | still hold their ground, it is online gaming |
| Chess. With the advent of technology and more | | | | that is gradually cementing its roots in the |
| recently, the Internet, the term has taken a | | | | ground. |
| new meaning. Online gaming has gained massive | | | | |
| popularity over the last few years. People no | | | | Most of the online game portals generate |
| longer play games in the comfort of their | | | | their revenue from advertisements. Is it easy |
| homes but also in cyber cafes and, as techies | | | | to host games online? Have you noticed the |
| will vouch for it, in offices! | | | | video game consoles lined up outside |
| | | | restaurants or in shopping malls? Have you |
| Online gaming offers a lot of flexibility to | | | | even been to a game parlor? The coin-operated |
| gamers - flexibility to decide where to play, | | | | machines there are the original arcade game |
| when to play, what to play, with whom to | | | | units. With the advent of the Internet, they |
| play. With this kind of gaming, gamers do not | | | | took shape into online games, now easily |
| need to install games on their computers or | | | | facilitated by Flash, making it easier for |
| game consoles anymore. Furthermore, most of | | | | websites to host such games. |
| the online games are available for free. | | | | |
| Online gaming is becoming increasingly | | | | Recently, big-shots like EA Sports have |
| popular as it sets a stage for social | | | | entered the online gaming market. Social |
| networking. Multi-players games make gaming | | | | networking websites are adding games to their |
| competitive, hence more interesting. The | | | | features to attract gamers. Last year, in a |
| latest trend in online gaming is community | | | | report by the market research company, NPD |
| gaming. This April, Cafe website opened a | | | | Group revealed that sixty-two percent of all |
| social gaming service. | | | | gamers play games online. In a recent report, |
| | | | it revealed that forty-two percent of the US |
| In August last year, Park Associates, a | | | | population plays games online. |
| market research and consulting firm, | | | | |
| published a report from its research on | | | | According to a February 2008 report by |
| online gamers in the US. Based on its | | | | MMOGCHART, World of Warcraft, an online game |
| findings, the firm categorized gamers into | | | | devised by Blizzard has continued to dominate |
| six segments, namely, occasional gamers, | | | | the subscriptions in the online-games' |
| incidental gamers, leisure gamers, dormant | | | | market, with 62.3 percent of the |
| gamers, social gamers and power gamers. The | | | | subscriptions market share, with RuneScape |
| report also declared that online gaming will | | | | following next with 6.9 percent. |
| become a 4-billion dollar industry by 2010 in | | | | |
| the US alone. | | | | Currently, with one-fourth of online gamers |
| | | | in the age group of 2-12, it is evident that |
| The interactive world of the Internet was | | | | this segment of gamers will demand more |
| revolutionized by Flash and Java, making | | | | advanced and innovative games in the years to |
| online gaming a lucrative and rewarding | | | | come, promising a tremendous rise in the |
| activity for netizens. The standalone | | | | online gaming market. |