Game platforms

Games are getting more and more popular each year and therefore appear on a multitude of platforms. To mention the most common:

• Personal computers. (Primarily for Microsoft Windows, but some are also being made for MacOS and Linux. Games for personal computers usually support networking)
• Dedicated Game Consoles that connect to a regular television. (This includes machines such a the Sony Playstation 1 and 2, the Nintendo 64, the Nintendo GameCube, and the Microsoft Xbox)
• Arcade machines.
• Web-based games.
• Dedicated hand held consoles with an embedded screen. (Primarily the Nintendo Gameboy Color and the Nintendo Gameboy Advance)
• Interactive Television. (Games hosted at a television broadcaster and controlled via a regular tone telephone)
• Set-top boxes. (Devices provided by television cable networks to enhance the capabilities of the television)
• Cellular phones.
• Other hand held devices. (This includes devices such as the Palm Pilot)
• Entertainment kiosks. (Is usually placed at bars and cafes)
• Slot machines. (Is usually placed at bars as a replacement for the older one-armed bandits)
If we ignore the games in which you play for money, then personal computers and dedicated consoles (including the hand held ones) represent the vast majority of the revenue involved in games. Of these, the dedicated consoles represent approximately 2/3 of the revenue and the personal computers the last 1/3. On the personal computer scene, Intel Windows PCs dominates the market completely when it comes to games. Apple Macs have a small market share and Linux almost none. This low revenue for Linux users has probably to do with that Linux users are accustomed to free software. Furthermore, Linux is mostly popular as an operating system for professionals – not home users. The dedicated game console market is currently dominated by the devices by Sony and Nintendo. Sega has a small market share but this has been diminishing for some time. Sega has taken the consequence of this trend and has stopped producing consoles. Microsoft has recently (November 2001) released its first console, the Xbox, and this is likely soon to become a dominating player. There has been a rising in the popularity of web based games especially among groups that do not usually play games; woman and middle aged and older men. I have been unable to determine the impact these games has on the distribution of revenue, but I believe that it is insignificant compared to the personal computer and console market. Since the personal computers and dedicated consoles dominate the game industry
scene I will focus on only these platforms for the remainder of the report.