Online Video-Gaming Enjoys Dramatic Success In USA: NPD Group

US online videogame play is on the rise as growing numbers of teenagers turn to the Internet for opponents and game software, according to an NPD Group report released on Tuesday.

As per an NPD Group report released on Tuesday, the amount if online video-gaming in the USA has witnessed a dramatic rise even as growing numbers of teenagers turn to the Internet for opponents and game software.

Online gaming for consoles and portable devices "enjoyed a statistically significant" increase from 19 percent of the overall videogame market early last year to 25 percent in early 2009, NPD concluded.

Blockbuster Videogame 'Inspires' Thai Youngster to Murder and Robbery, Sales Halted
Best selling Grand Theft Auto has ‘inspired’ a Thai youngster to murder and robbery. Disturbed the distributor has halted the sales of the videogame.

"Online gaming is enjoyed by a diverse group of players," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

"The sheer variety of content and ease of access makes online gaming attractive to a much larger demographic than what we typically see in retail."

Approximately 22 percent of online gamers are aged 13 to 17 this year as opposed to that age bracket making up 17 percent of the group in 2008, according to NPD.

Videogame Industry Insulated from Global Financial Meltdown: Study
Videogame sales dropped 21 percent in Japan in the third quarter of the year but continued to rocket in the United States and Britain, according to a study released Tuesday.

The allure of online videogames has evidently faded for older players, with adults revealing they are playing less.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 models were the most popular videogame consoles for online gaming, being used by half of the more than 20,000 consumer panel members NPD surveyed for the report.

Videogame Makers are Riding the Social-networking Wave
Videogame makers are riding the social-networking wave with a flood of soon-to-be-released titles that let frie

Nintendo's Wii consoles were second choices, used by 29 percent of online gamers, while Sony PlayStation 3 consoles ranked third in popularity.

"This is a testament to the strength of Xbox 360, both overall, and particularly in the online gaming sphere," NPD said in the report.

TV And Videogame Addiction Spells Trouble For Teens
More proof to confirm that screen addiction could spell trouble for teens. New research shows that it makes them more prone to a range of health problems including obesity and smoking.

The number of online players who bought at least one videogame designed for play on consoles has risen a little bit since last year in a possible sign that the industry is "recession resistant," according to NPD.

Source-AFP
TAN/L