Amsterdam
– Americans spent $3.8 billion on massively multiplayer online games in 2009,
where some 21 million residents spend an average of $15 per month on such
titles, according to a report by TNS and Gamesindustry.com.
While the majority
of U.S.
multiplayer online gamers do not pay to play, 46% do. Americans spent an
estimated $400 million on up-front payments for games sold as downloads or on
discs boxed and sold at retail; $2.4 billion, meanwhile, was spent on monthly
or annual subscriptions.
Another $1 billion in revenues was generated through
the sale of in-game virtual items or virtual currency trade in free-to-play
multiplayer games.
"World of Warcraft" is the most popular online multiplayer
title in the U.S., claiming 12.5 million players; the top five is rounded off
by "NeoPets," "Club Penguin," "Disney ToonTown"
and "Runescape," according to the report.
When looking outside of the
U.S., massively multiplayer
online game revenues in the EU came in drastically lower, with the U.K.’s $250 million in 2009 slightly beating out
Germany.
Related Links:
http://www.gamesindustry.com/profile/service/1870
