He grows a lateralism form over functionThe election does not guarantee democracyPassersby bulge eye or burst out laughingSwaps specialists role growing in several marketsClearly the refusal must be firmly substantiatedBut it is also known to speak when neededMore a market is liquid most operations are fast and intense exchangesauthorities will act before the ECB but in a long timeRight Courbevoie unanimously denounced the operationWill remain then to finance the infrastructureThe market for video games has in turn the horrors of the crisis, but long-term prospects remain more than favourable. Launched since the mid-2000s, the current generation of so-called living room consoles, i.e. the Sony PlayStation3, Microsoft Xbox360, and, especially, the Nintendo Wii has reached its cruising speed. Some 100 million of these machines have elapsed in the world.
This market is largely dominated by the Wii, which has sold over 50 million copies and was able to put an end to the reign of the PlayStation. With its openness to new players - women and the elderly - and the possibility of playing more instinctively, the Wii is the console that has passed the most quickly in the history of video games. So far, competitors have not said their last word and both Microsoft that Sony responded, including via technological innovations.
According to the Bank UBS, by the end of this cycle, provided for in the years 2014-2015, some 200 million of the current generation consoles should be sold. "The old stereotypes are steadfast, but in today's market, almost everyone is player," noted UBS analysts.
According to the Institute NDP, mainly due to the success of the Wii, women now represent 29 of users of video game consoles in the world, i.e. 5 points better than in 2008.
100 Billion
In this context, the new generation of consoles is still looming: the current sales remain important and technological innovations - such as those announced by Microsoft in the last E3 in Los Angeles - will come and go.
Above all, further declines in prices - including the PS3 - are expected in the weeks ahead, which should also contribute to supporting the market.
These price declines are strategic: not only they are boosting sales of consoles, but they also have a direct influence on game sales. Not to mention the psychological effect. "Historically, consumers are prepared to wait for the price declines", believe the UBS analysts.
Accordingly, the duration of the current cycle of consoles should be between 8 and 10 years, from 4 to 6 years for previous generations.
According to the Swiss Bank, the value of the market of video games (consoles, games, accessories, subscriptions on the Internet, games on mobile phones and advertising) should just 100 billions of dollars in 2015. After a year growing in 2009, in which the market should grow by 3, progression should be again significantly in 2010 with 15, according to UBS. In the end, between 2008 and 2012, the Bank anticipates an average growth of 10 per year.
After a fall of 16 this year, the market of consoles (including portable consoles) strongly should rebound next year ( 21) and progress until 2013.
A risky industry
For the games itself, which represent value a large third of the market, this growth should translate into an increase of $ 26 billion this year to almost $ 40 billion in 2013, an increase of more than 50. But these forecasts are based on the principle of a return to growth in the global economy next year, which is not yet acquired. Especially, in the world of entertainment, the portfolio of the consumer is more and more requested, and video game is not a product cheap prices hovered around 60 euros the game, which increases the risk for publishers in an uncertain economic environment.
As it has shown in the past - leadership of Sony, and Nintendo, disappearance of the other constructors of machinery, bankruptcy of publishers-, the video games industry remains a risky industry, where the places of players are never frozen.
