| ONE in TEN people you know is doing it RIGHT | | | | The online browser based games sector has been |
| NOW. | | | | identified as the next step in the evolution of |
| In just three years, that could be SIX in | | | | online entertainment and people of all ages, from |
| TEN…and whether you are cashing in on this | | | | around the globe, are already playing in their |
| incredible market or not, they will be there, playing | | | | millions. And within this sector, “casual |
| online browser based games, 24 hours a day. | | | | skill-based games” heads the popularity table. |
| The potential reach of the internet is incredible. | | | | What are casual skill games? |
| With broadband (allowing quicker internet access) | | | | Casual games of skill are familiar, enjoyable online |
| reaching more and more homes and internet | | | | computer games such as: |
| cafés, the popularity of live interaction with | | | | • Shooting games online |
| others online is booming. | | | | • Online sport games |
| It is the speed of today’s home internet | | | | • Online pool games |
| connections that is driving this market. In the | | | | • Online puzzle games |
| USA, nearly 75% of internet users had broadband | | | | • Basketball games online |
| at home last year, up from 57% only one year | | | | • Online dart games |
| previous…and internet usage in India increased | | | | These types of games are played in a |
| by 54% in one year alone. | | | | tournament style format online, with each |
| The internet is the fastest growing market in the | | | | individual paying a cash entry fee to participate |
| history of the world but there is currently one | | | | and with a cash or merchandise prize going to the |
| market that is growing at four times the rate of | | | | winner or winners of the tournament. Skill-based |
| overall internet growth. People are no longer just | | | | games are given this name due to the fact that |
| using the web for gathering information anymore; | | | | the outcome of each competition is based on the |
| they now see it as a primary source of | | | | players’ ability and performance, with any |
| entertainment. The popularity of this trend is even | | | | elements of luck eliminated. Therefore, skill games |
| beginning to eat into TV-viewing figures and as a | | | | are not classed as gambling and as a result avoid |
| result it is affecting TV advertising revenue. | | | | falling under most countries’ strict |
| Meanwhile, in-game advertising is forecast to grow | | | | anti-gambling statutes. |
| by 70% year-on-year, to be worth billions of | | | | People around the world like to play these online |
| dollars in just three years time. Therefore, it’s | | | | computer games for a fun and exciting challenge. |
| no real surprise that TV companies are | | | | Playing them online against someone else adds an |
| determined to secure their piece of online games | | | | extra social and competitive element; and |
| real estate – buying businesses, launching | | | | competing for cash prizes between USD$1 and |
| games sites and placing their content online in an | | | | $1,000 upwards adds an extra dynamic that |
| interactive form. | | | | makes them even more exciting and rewarding! |
| Alex Burmaster, European Internet Analyst, | | | | There are millions of people from all over the |
| Nielsen/NetRatings (a global leader in internet | | | | world playing online browser based games at this |
| media and market research) said, “Take the | | | | very moment and this figure is set to treble over |
| fact that the online games sector is growing at | | | | the coming three years. If you are interested in |
| four times the rate of overall internet growth | | | | making an additional income, there are a few |
| together with the increasing numbers online and it | | | | good skill games sites that actually offer affiliate |
| is easy to see why companies such as MTV | | | | programs; so you now have the opportunity to |
| Networks are looking to get a piece of the | | | | tap into this incredible market right at the start of |
| action.” | | | | the next huge global growth wave. |