Europe reports and market data
Documents
How to break into the western markets - PG Connects Bangalore 2015
Expanding into Western gaming markets requires a strategic shift toward professional business operations, legal diligence, and a resilient entrepreneurial mindset.
- Successful expansion into Western markets requires treating a studio as a formal business entity by securing robust shareholder agreements, managing cash flow, and utilizing professional legal counsel.
- Mobile game developers should target the casual sector by focusing on accessible, low-stress mechanics like match-three or hidden-object games rather than high-intensity competition.
- Audience demographics in the Western casual mobile market are predominantly older and female, necessitating the avoidance of gender-based design stereotypes in favor of mechanics that prioritize relaxation and social connection.
Libro Blanco del Desarrollo Español de Videojuegos 2015
The 2015 Libro Blanco del Desarrollo Español de Videojuegos serves as a comprehensive industry analysis detailing the economic performance and growth trajectory of the Spanish video game development sector.
- The Spanish video game industry reached a total turnover of 413 million euros in 2014, marking a 31% year-over-year increase.
- Market revenue is highly concentrated, with 50% of total industry turnover generated by only 5% of the companies.
- Employment within the sector grew by 28% in 2014 compared to the previous year.
White Paper on Video Game Development in Spain 2015: Executive Summary
The 2015 White Paper on Video Game Development in Spain provides a comprehensive analysis of the national gaming industry, detailing its rapid expansion, economic impact, and structural characteristics.
- The Spanish video game industry generated 412.4 million euros in 2014, marking a 31% year-over-year increase with projections to reach one billion euros by 2018.
- Digital distribution dominates the sector, accounting for 90% of total turnover through direct downloads and free-to-play business models.
- The industry is highly internationalized, with 56% of total revenue derived from foreign markets, primarily in Europe and North America.
Essential Video Game News: France & Europe (June 2015)
The European video game industry experienced a significant turning point in mid-2015, marking its first period of sustained growth since 2008.
- As of mid-2015, the European video game industry achieved its first period of sustained growth since 2008, driven by eighth-generation console adoption and digital business model transitions.
- While the European physical market saw a 0.7 percent decline in value and a 2 percent drop in volume through May 2015, the software sector grew by 4 percent in value.
- The industry is successfully offsetting traditional retail volatility by integrating digital ecosystems, prepaid cards, and interactive gaming toys.
Guided tour around Nordic Game 2015
Nordic Game 2015 serves as a premier showcase for the Nordic region’s influential game development sector, highlighting the area’s status as a global hub for major titles and studios such as Minecraft, Rovio, and Supercell.
- Nordic Game 2015 highlights the Nordic region as a global gaming hub, anchored by major industry players including Minecraft, Rovio, and Supercell.
- The three-day conference features 60 industry speakers across three distinct tracks focused on professional development and market trajectory.
- The event functions as a primary networking and exhibition nexus for developers, industry professionals, and hardware manufacturers to facilitate international collaboration.
Nordic Game 2015 Diary: Day 2
The Nordic Game 2015 conference served as a focal point for the international mobile gaming industry, highlighting the maturity of the Nordic region as a global leader in game development.
- Journalists receive an average of 50 pitches daily, totaling 13,000 per year, necessitating highly concise outreach strategies to secure media coverage.
- Developers can improve media engagement by embedding visual assets directly into emails, providing immediate access to playable builds, and including gameplay trailers.
- Blending three-lane auto-runner mechanics with RPG elements offers a strategic opportunity to bridge the gap between casual players and dedicated RPG audiences in a saturated market.
DICE and Massive founders on Nordic gaming scene
The Nordic gaming industry has evolved from a nascent collection of hobbyist projects into a robust, global epicenter of game development.
- The Nordic gaming industry evolved from a 1990s hobbyist demo scene into a global development hub, catalyzed by the mid-1990s success of titles like Battlefield.
- The industry has transitioned from a landscape of isolated studios to a diverse ecosystem anchored by major companies and a dense network of spin-off developers.
- The democratization of development tools, specifically Unity and Unreal Engine, has significantly lowered entry barriers and reduced reliance on traditional publisher-led models.
Nordic Game 2015 Diary: Day 1
Nordic Game 2015 serves as a primary venue for industry professionals to discuss emerging trends in game development, marketing strategies, and the evolving landscape of multi-platform distribution.
- Developers are shifting away from platform-exclusive strategies toward unified, cross-platform experiences that integrate mobile, PC, console, and virtual reality hardware.
- Crowdfunding success, as evidenced by Square Enix Collective, relies on synchronized launch strategies and professional support rather than independent, uncoordinated efforts.
- Market saturation necessitates that developers clearly define and communicate their unique selling points to remain competitive in indie publishing and ad network sectors.
How to win at networking
The Nordic region maintains a reputation as a global powerhouse for mobile game development, exemplified by the success of titles like Angry Birds.
- Building a robust professional network is the primary driver for long-term success in the mobile gaming ecosystem, often outweighing technical skill alone.
- Effective networking requires proactive engagement, such as initiating conversations with strangers rather than staying within established social circles.
- Strategic preparation, including pre-arranging meetings before events and using recognizable branding like company apparel or recent titles, significantly increases professional visibility.
Andras Velvart talks SongArc
SongArc emerged from a desire to bridge the gap between passive music listening and active, expressive performance on mobile devices.
- SongArc achieved 1.3 million downloads within its first year on the Windows Phone platform, peaking as the sixth best-rated game in the store.
- The game’s development was supported by the Microsoft Imagine Cup and the AppCampus program, a partnership between Microsoft, Nokia, and Aalto University.
- The development team is currently executing a multi-platform expansion to iOS, Android, and Windows tablets, with a target rollout for the holiday season.
Kondycja Polskiej Branży Gierwideo Raport 2015
The 2015 analysis of the Polish video game industry provides a comprehensive overview of a sector undergoing rapid structural transformation.
- The global games market in 2015 was valued at $74.2 billion, with mobile games ($22.3 billion) and retail sales ($19.7 billion) being the largest segments.
- In Poland, 72% of internet users play games. 42% play games installed on computers, 40% play on smartphones/tablets, and 38% play browser games.
- Action games are the most popular genre among Polish players, accounting for 35% of page views on GRY-OnLine.pl in the first half of 2015.
Dutch Games Monitor: The Netherlands 2015
The Dutch games industry underwent a period of rapid expansion between 2011 and 2015, characterized by a 42 percent increase in the number of firms to 455 companies.
- The Dutch games industry saw its number of professionals grow from 2730 in 2011 to 3030 in 2015, an annual job growth of 2.6%, which is above the national average of -0.4% for the same period.
- Over half of Dutch game companies are less than 5 years old, and the average company size is 7 employees, indicating a young industry dominated by small studios.
- Access to funding, availability of qualified staff, and sales are the top three challenges for Dutch game companies, with over 40% reporting issues in obtaining funds.