IDC's Consumer Markets: Gaming service educates and advises publishers and developers, hardware vendors, service providers, marketers, content owners, and investors about this exciting and diverse global market. The service provides a comprehensive analysis of the multiple technologies, services, and end-user preferences shaping the gaming market and explains which factors are accelerating or inhibiting revenue opportunities and growth.

This service covers the following segments of the gaming market:

• Videogame console hardware and software
• Dedicated handheld hardware and software
• Connected console software and services
• Online PC game software and services
• Wireless games

Throughout the year, this service will address the following topics:

• Gamer demographics
• Industry revenue
• Market share
• Online gaming evolution
• Digital distribution
• New markets and business models

Our research addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

1. Which companies and business models will drive the gaming market?
2. How will advertising integrate effectively with game content?
3. Which games industry segments will provide the best growth opportunities?
4. How are online games changing gamers' behavior?
5. How will connected consoles change users' expectations?
6. What business threats and opportunities will emerge from connected consoles?
7. How will the wireless gaming market evolve and grow?
8. Will casual, lapsed, and new gamers finally make games a mass-market medium?

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

Activision Blizzard, Adobe, AOL, AMD/ATI, AT&T, Big Fish Games, Capcom, Comcast, Dolby Laboratories, Double Fusion, Eidos, Electronic Arts, Freescale, Gamestop, Glu Mobile, IBM, IGA Worldwide, IGN/GameSpy, Intel, I-Play, Konami, Logitech, LucasArts, Mad Catz, Microsoft, Midway, Mumbo Jumbo, NCsoft, Nintendo, Nokia, NVIDIA, PlayFirst, PopCap Games, Real Networks, Sega, SkillJam, Sony, Sprint, Square Enix, Sun, Superscape, Take Two Interactive, THQ, T-Mobile, Ubisoft, Valve, Verizon, Vivendi Universal, Walt Disney/Buena Vista, WildTangent, and Yahoo! Games.

This service focuses on the following core research. In addition to the insight provided in this service, IDC may conduct additional research on specific topics, or emerging market segments, via research offerings that require additional IDC funding and client investment.

This biannual study examines the console and handheld gaming industry and includes hardware and software shipments and revenue forecasts by four key regions: North America, Western Europe, Japan, and the rest of the world (ROW).

This research analyzes the worldwide online console gaming market, including business models, competitive analysis, and key demographics.

This study examines the U.S. online PC gaming market, including business models, game distribution, and demographics.

Surveys conducted via telephone and online provide key gamer demographic information. This information is used to demonstrate changing behavior, spending, and preferences and to gauge future market trends.

This annual study explores the many opportunities and challenges of the U.S. wireless gaming market. In addition to examining the perspective from the gaming industry, the study also looks at end-user preferences, wireless carriers, and mobile device manufacturers.

IDC offers a complete market intelligence solution customized to meet your business requirements. The array of products and services available to you includes:

• The opportunity to have your specific questions answered through personal interaction with industry experts who cover the topics and markets in your service
• Around-the-clock access to our market intelligence on idc.com, IDC's personalized Web experience
• A view of the market's future with 12 months of continuous intelligence about its direction and the reasons behind it, along with actionable advice for taking advantage of existing and emerging opportunities
• Special client discount pricing on purchases of research from other services
• Complimentary admission to IDC's annual Directions conference, where you'll hear our latest forecasts and network with IDC analysts and other industry professionals
• Complimentary invitations to monthly executive telebriefings, interactive forums designed to provide you with insights about research and strategies directly from IDC analysts

To find out how our flexible packaging options can meet your specific business needs, please contact your IDC sales executive.

As a privately held company, IDC believes that our customers are our primary constituency. A large percentage of every revenue dollar is reinvested back into our products, including more analysts, more geographic coverage, and extensive primary research.

Our steady growth over the past 10-plus years reflects our commitment to investing in our customers.