14 DAY TRIAL // Most of the titles recently released on gaming consoles like the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 from Sony have highly emphasized the multiplayer element, with cooperative play for two or four players being offered alongside classic competitive multiplayer. So, it might come as a surprise that the PC is still the dominant platform when it comes to playing online, if the data offered by the NPD Group is to be believed.
More than 20,000 players were questioned at the beginning of the year in order to compile the way the online gaming market evolved in 2008. The use of consoles and handhelds for online gaming now accounts for 25% of the market, up from 19%. Despite the increase, the PC is still way ahead, mainly because the world of the MMO has not yet been successfully translated for gaming consoles, although Sony is laboring to change that with DC Universe Online for the PlayStation 3.
Sony terribly needs that, with the NPD saying that the Xbox 360 accounts for half the console online gaming market. The Nintendo Wii is surprisingly second, while the PS3 is third. Use of the PlayStation 2 for online multiplayer has gone down dramatically. Those playing on the Xbox 360 and the PS3 are getting more content than those using other systems, although the rhythm of DLC downloads is slowing down. The NPD Group recommends publisher and developers to focus more on getting out expansion packs out via DLC, which tend to generate more revenue.
It seems that online gaming is getting more and more popular amongst those who are aged between 13 and 17. They are now increasing their presence in online gaming at a rate of 17% per year, while the presence of those between 18 – 34 and 35 – 54 is slightly down.