New consoles, online games to keep market soaring to 2017

PARIS— The global video gaming market is set to grow 11.1 percent a year until 2017, boosted by a new generation of consoles and the increasing popularity of online games, according to IDATE digital research and consultancy firm.

The market, estimated at 53.9 billion euros ($73.8 billion) this year, is expected to soar to 82.1 billion euros in 2017, the France-based firm said in a report.

Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, which are jostling for control of the gaming market, have each released the latest versions of their consoles ahead of the Christmas shopping season.

The wave of new devices is expected to keep the market buoyant until 2017, IDATE said.

Home consoles like Sony’s PlayStation or Microsoft’s Xbox, which make up 31 percent of the market today, are expected to have a 40 percent share of the total market in 2017.

Handheld consoles such as Nintendo’s 3DS or Sony’s PSVita, which have a share of about 22 percent in 2013, are projected to record declining share to 13 percent in 2017, in the face of increasing strong competition from tablets and mobile phones.

“Smartphones and tablets offer a radically different experience, and… in terms of the budget, the tablet is a significant competitor for the consoles,” Laurent Michaud, who is in charge of gaming research at IDATE.

“The choice of purchase between the tablet and the console will determine the success of this generation of machines,” he said.

The offline computer game is expected to record an irreversible decline, while this year online games are emerging as the leader.

The increasing popularity of online games stems from the fact that they dominate the gaming industry in China and South Korea, Michaud noted.

“They are games oriented towards ‘Free2Play’ and it is no surprise that they are gaining colossal success because the games are good,” he said, referring to the downloadable games.

One example is the online game Candy Crush which records 700 million sessions a day and racks up daily sales of $850,000 (630,000 euros).

Online games are expected to record average growth of 11.4 percent while mobile gaming is seen progressing by 12.2 percent annually between 2013 and 2017.

Traditional game developers which are used to selling physical copies of their games on discs, have not been keeping pace with virtual ones.

Many were slow to exploit the phenomenal success of games played on social networks.

In December 2012, only Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Namco Bandai Games, Konami, Take Two Interactive et Disney Interactive Studio were present on Facebook.
They have also been slow to join on the smartphone and tablette bandwagon.

In December 2012, only Electronic Arts and Square Enix were among the top revenue generators on Apple’s App Store. And only Electronic Arts and Take Two Interactive had games that ranked in the top 20 by revenues.

On Android Market, none of the traditional gave developers had games on the bestsellers’ list.

source: technology.inquirer.net

Diablo III comes to consoles, makes for better gameplay

It's been a while since the release of Blizzard’s third entry into its popular PC game franchise, Diablo. Since then, Diablo III has been criticized for a number of questionable design elements, ranging from Blizzard’s controversial decision to restrict the game to always-online play, to its glaring lack of new gameplay features despite a decade in the making.

Enter Diablo III for the console.

According to Kotaku, Blizzard is now bringing Diablo III to the console. This version, though still at its core the very same game, aims to address the problems of its PC game cousin.

 

 

First and foremost, Diablo III can finally be played offline. Gone are the infamous lag issues, server problems and the notorious Error 7 woes. Secondly, the console controller as a replacement for the mouse and keyboard offers a new, potentially more fun and intuitive way to play the game. For one thing, our index fingers will no longer ache from all that clicking. But whether this new interface will lead to sore thumbs instead remains to be seen.

On the PS3, the player uses the left joystick of the controller to move the character around. R1 and the colored buttons are primarily for mauling monsters and interacting with the environment, but they can be customized to fit any play style. The L buttons are for potions.

One addition to the characters’ common moves list is one many fans have been clamoring for and that I, personally, would have loved to see in the original game: an evade command. No longer will our virtual avatars have to stand dumbly in place and take fireballs to the face; now they can dodge enemy attacks, like any intelligent demon-hunting veteran will do. Another gameplay tweak so intuitive one wonders why it wasn’t in the original in the first place, is the ability to move while attacking. For the more fragile classes like the Demon Hunter and the Wizard, this is a blessing.

But wait, there’s more! When questioned about the other changes made to the console port, Joshua Mosqueira and Matthew Berger of Blizzard had plenty to say.

Regarding boss battles, Berger said, "We know that there's a huge tradition of boss battles on console games. We're going through bosses and updating visuals, cinematics. Also, the pacing."

The item system has also been modified. Players can now see how an item will affect their characters’ stats before they pick it up.

Online play will make use of the PlayStation Network instead of Battle.net, which means owners of the console port won’t be able to form parties with PC gamers. There is, however, another option that allows multiplay on one console and on one television, so that now you can play with your mom or your yaya at home if your online friends are too busy ogling Lara Croft to hunt demons with you.

The PC version of Diablo III sold over 12 million copies. Blizzard is confident the console port will sell just as well, however; from their estimates, over 50% of the people who have visited their booths have not yet bought or played the PC game.

As for when fans can get their hands on the console port of the game, Diablo III will be released “Soonish”, to quote Mosqueira. — TJD, GMA News

 

source: gmanetwork.com

 

Ragnarok Online goes local featuring Philippine folklore

MANILA, Philippines -- The famous web game Ragnarok Online (RO) which was introduced in the Philippines nine years ago will have its local version featuring characters and their powers based on Philippine folklore.

According to the local online game portal Level Up! Philippines, it will launch the latest patch called PortMalaya on May 9. It is the first Philippine-themed RO game map that features myths, legends, places and situations that are all uniquely Pinoy. The patch will be rolled out globally after six months.

Roy Inciong, Brand Group Head and RO Brand Manager of Playweb Games Incorporated, said Port Malaya brings a new world for gamers to explore.

“We’re keeping the fun of the game alive in RO and we hope to stoke gamer interest by infusing characters and scenarios that show all these interesting aspects of Philippine culture and beliefs. Something that all pRO (Philippine Ragnarok Online) players will be familiar with,” Inciong said.

The executive said the game features local mythical monsters such as the Tikbalang (benevolent horse), Wak Wak (gigantic bat in Cebu), Bangungot (dream monster), Manananggal (half-bodied woman witch with bat wings) and Tiyanak (vampire baby), among others.

Inciong said their company's target for Port Malaya would be 75 percent old users of RO and only about 20 percent new users.

“Over the years, RO has been able to keep fresh with regular content updates and strong gamer community involvement. It has managed to retain a solid gamer base in the Philippines,” Inciong said.

source: philstar.com

Top 5 Ninja Games

The Top 5 online free ninja games are: Ninja Fighter, N-Game, Ninja Guiji, City of Zombies and Ninjas 3D and Bike Ninja. In my opinion these top five games are very interesting, challenging, exciting and fun. Everyone will be entertained playing these 5 ninja games. If you want to have fun you can play these games.

Here I will give you a short description of these top five games. I will start with the last one:
5. Bike Ninja is outstanding online ninja game. In this fun game you have to drive your ninja bike on a jick jack path with low visibility condition. Complete all five levels as fast as you can to get maximum points. Get over all the obstacles and perform tricks if you can. Try not to tip over. Use your ninja skills and vision to drive your bike and try to reach the finish line. All the best!

4. City of Zombies and Ninjas 3D is awesome online ninja game. You have to try to protect the city from the zombies in this stunning game. You are a sexy ninja and you have to fight the zombies. Use different weapons: your katana, ninja stars, grenades etc. Everyone in the city is counting on you. Prove you’re the best. Good luck!

3. Ninja Guiji is outstanding online ninja game. Your aim in this stunning game is to complete quests and fight against Samurais on your way. Be careful you must get behind the samurai to kill him. Enjoy in this cool and fun game!

2. N-Game is really great online ninja game. Your god-like speed, dexterity, jumping power, and reflexes are all the result of an amazingly fast metabolism; sadly, so is your natural lifetime of 1.5 minutes. You have an unquenchable thirst for gold, a natural propensity for exploring rooms infested by increasingly lethal ninja-killing robots, and a devout belief in N. Have fun!

1. Ninja Fighter is an awesome online ninja game. In this totally cool game you are a ninja and your mission is to fight with other ninja. Use your ninja skills in order to win in this stunning game. Have fun and enjoy!

According to me these five games are the best online ninja games. You can play this five online ninja games and many more on Ninja Games you can find at ninja-games.biz. You must play them and see if you are sharing my opinion. I hope you will like them.

Ninja Games - Online Ninja Games

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