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2007 World Cyber Games
The Business of Games
By: Kristina Erickson Hudson
When most people think of video games, they think kids. They think toys. Here at enterpriseSeattle, we think business. Our job is to recruit new companies to our area, and to help our existing businesses thrive and grow. There are several business development managers at enterpriseSeattle, each with an expertise in a particular business cluster. Interactive Media, or the video game industry, is one of our industries of focus.
Games are big business to the Puget Sound area. According to a series of new reports from DFC Intelligence, the worldwide video game and interactive entertainment industry is expected to grow from about $29 billion in 2005 to as much as $44 billion in 2011. With Nintendo and XBOX in Seattle's backyard along with over 150 game-technology companies in the Puget Sound region, we can claim to be one of the top game development centers in the world. What does this mean for us? This industry creates a huge impact to our local economy.
What is interactive media? When using this term, we include console, PC, casual, handheld and mobile games along with their associated technology. Interactive media is a new medium of entertainment, education and learning. It uses the high definition sights and the 5.1 surround sounds to create virtual worlds where you can see, hear and become a part of the game. Contrary to popular belief, this is no longer just a toy for kids. The average game player is over 35 years old, and the average casual game player is female and in her 50s. And the numbers are growing.
Another part of this emerging industry is e-sports. Yes, you heard correctly. This industry is now considered a sport, and there are a growing number of professional gamers that generate six figure incomes. E-sports are one of the fastest growing competitive movements in recent history. Every day, across the globe, thousands of cyber-athletes are involved in organized tournaments or online to play games for real-world cash and prizes. Our local company, Penny Arcade, holds their Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) every year in the Seattle area. It has become one of the largest LAN parties in the country with over 9,000 attendees last year. Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL), Major League Gaming (MLG) and World Cyber Games (WCG) are the leaders in e-sport tournaments. CPL and MLG use traditional sport league formats, however World Cyber Games drew their inspiration from a much older sporting tradition – the Olympics.
During the next few months, over 250,000 people will vie for the few spots available for the WCG finals. This October, World Cyber Games will have their Grand Finale in Seattle. With the games, they will bring 300 members of the press and representatives from over 70 countries to Seattle. As we are a global leader in game development, it makes perfect sense that Seattle was selected to host this extraordinary event.
The author, Kristina Hudson, is the Business Development Manager for the Interactive Media and Technology cluster. enterpriseSeattle's primary mission is to grow the jobs and tax base for King County and its thirty-nine cities. It achieves this mission though fee-free customized client services programs executed by its team of business development professionals.
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