Analysts: Online Games Market Will Nearly Double By 2016

Analysts at DFC Intelligence are estimating that
revenues for the worldwide online gaming market will reach $29 billion
by 2016, up 84 percent from the $15.7 billion reported in 2010.

According to its latest Online Game Market Forecasts
report, the majority of those revenues ($23 billion in 2016, or 88
percent) will continue to come from online games on the PC. An estimated
$17 billion of that will come from subscriptions, online usage and
virtual goods, with consumer acceptance of the latter said to be growing
"at a rapid pace."

The firm has raised its overall online game industry forecast slightly,
though it has lowered its console forecast in the process. While
dedicated game consoles are expected to embrace online business models
more in the coming years, growth in this sector is slower than the firm
expected.

"The Wii U is the only new console system on the horizon and Nintendo
has never had a major focus on online games," said DFC analyst David
Cole. "More importantly the short lifecycle and fragmented nature of
console hardware can make it hard for companies to try creative new
business models."

The recent attacks on Sony's PlayStation network may also cause console
manufacturers to "take a more conservative attitude" toward online
gaming, according to DFC.

percentage of world population obesity also nearly doubles

too much junk food nowadays heh