ReportEuropean Games Developer Federation
European Online Game Survey 2012
1 Jan 20127 pages~15 min full read
58% of surveyed European studios have worked on a Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG) within their three most recent projects, signaling a strong industry focus on the genre.
See it on page 2Nearly 50% of European game studios are small-to-medium enterprises employing fewer than 10 people.
See it on page 4Developers are increasingly adopting peer-to-peer architectures and in-game graphical insertion technology to integrate social features without the need for expensive central server infrastructure or extensive code modifications.
See it on page 2Industry production environments prioritize high-performance hardware, consistently favoring processing speed over cost-saving measures.
See it on page 5Modern game design strategies are heavily centered on community interaction and user-generated content as essential pillars for player engagement.
See it on page 2The research segments the European gaming audience into distinct categories, ranging from casual players to community-minded fanatics, to better inform product development and monetization strategies.
See it on page 3The European Online Game Survey 2012 provides a comprehensive analysis of the European game development landscape, focusing on industry trends, technical infrastructure, and gamer behavior. Conducted by the European Games Developer Federation and i2 Media Research, the study utilizes quantitative data from 93 industry members and qualitative insights from 1,154 gamers across Germany, Spain, France, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. The primary objective is to evaluate the operational realities of European studios and identify opportunities for enhancing community-driven gaming experiences.
Key findings indicate that the industry is heavily invested in Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs), with 58% of surveyed studios having worked on an MMOG in their three most recent projects. Developers prioritize community interaction and user-generated content, viewing these as essential components of modern game design. To support these goals, the research highlights the development of peer-to-peer architectures and in-game graphical insertion technology, which allow for enhanced social features without requiring costly modifications to existing game code or central server infrastructure.
The survey also details the technical profiles of European studios, noting that the sector is dominated by small-to-medium enterprises, with nearly half of all studios employing fewer than 10 people. Production environments are characterized by a strong preference for high-performance hardware, with a clear trend toward prioritizing processing speed over cost. Furthermore, the research segments the gaming audience into distinct categories—ranging from casual players to community-minded fanatics—to help developers optimize product development and monetization strategies. Ultimately, the findings underscore a shift toward integrated, high-performance social gaming experiences that minimize technical friction for the end user.
