5253 Around the World with MCV.Pdf
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Throughout 2012, MCV has offered an insight into some of the most promising games markets and lucrative territories. Here we compile every International Factfile in one volume – your handy guide to a world of video games CONTENTS Australia..................................................................04 Italy ............................................................................32 Austria ......................................................................05 Japan ..........................................................................34 Benelux....................................................................06 Korea ..........................................................................35 Brazil ........................................................................08 Mexico ......................................................................36 Bulgaria ..................................................................09 New Zealand..........................................................37 Canada ......................................................................10 Norway......................................................................38 China............................................................................11 Philippines..............................................................39 Cyprus ........................................................................12 Poland ......................................................................40 Czech ..........................................................................14 Portugal ....................................................................41 Denmark ..................................................................15 Russia ........................................................................42 Egypt ..........................................................................16 Saudi Arabia..........................................................44 Estonia ......................................................................18 Serbia ........................................................................45 Finland......................................................................20 Singapore................................................................46 France ........................................................................21 Slovakia ....................................................................47 Germany ..................................................................22 Slovenia....................................................................48 Greece........................................................................23 South Africa ..........................................................49 Hong Kong..............................................................24 Spain ..........................................................................50 Hungary....................................................................25 Sweden ......................................................................51 Iceland ......................................................................26 Switzerland............................................................52 India ............................................................................27 Thailand....................................................................53 Indonesia ................................................................28 Turkey........................................................................54 Iran..............................................................................29 Ukraine......................................................................55 Ireland ......................................................................30 USA ............................................................................56 Israel............................................................................31 www.mcvuk.com Around the World 3 INTERNATIONAL FACTFILE In association with Wholesaler and distributor of video games, consoles and accessories Australia THE FACTS Population: 22,810,700 Currency: Australian Dollar GDP (Per Capita): $66,984 KEY RETAILERS Capital City: Canberra BigW, David Jones, Dick Smith Language: English Electronics, EB Games, GAME, Game Traders, Harvey Norman, JB HiFi, KMart, Myer, Target, The Good Guys, Toys R Us, WOW Sight & Sound BEST DISTRIBUTORS AFA Interactive, All Interactive, HES, Mindscape, Namco Bandai Partners, QV Software, Tuff Kat PUBLISHERS IN THE REGION Activision Blizzard, Disney Interactive Studios, Electronic Arts, Konami Oceania, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia, Take 2, THQ, Ubisoft, Warner Bros TOP DEVELOPERS 2K Marin, 3 Blokes/RockYou, 5th World Media, Big Ant Studios, Brawsome Games, Codesion, ABOUT THE MARKET Creative Assembly, Defiant Development, esc Factor, AUSTRALIA’S video games market Additional time must therefore be passed legislation that will Firemint, Halfbrick Studios, Iron is very similar to that of the UK. built into the launch process.” introduce an R18+ rating next year. Monkey, N3V Games, Nnooo, The Interactive Games and Some consumers also import Sadly, the other running theme in SEGA Studios Australia, SidHe, Entertainment Association reports from the UK – despite Australia Australia’s gaming headlines is its Tantalus, The Voxel Agents that the vast majority of households being a PAL territory, it doesn’t development studios shutting own a games devices. always receive the latest releases at down. 2011 saw the closure of LA “As such, most of the major the same time as Europe. Noire creator Team Bondi, THQ’s publishers currently have Melbourne and Brisbane studios, representation in Australia, either KMM Studios, and de Blob dev director or via a distributor,” an Blue Tongue. IGEA spokesperson told MCV. “Our Our research shows There are still plenty in operation, research shows that the majority of of course. Mobile, app and indie Australians are currently purchasing that the majority of developers such as including Fruit games from a traditional retailer.” Australians“ currently Ninja makers Halfbrick Studios and Leading specialists include EB purchase games from Flight Control creators Firemint Games and JB HiFi. While they have thrived while traditional account for most games sales, a traditional retailer. console studios have perished. hypermarts such as Kmart also have IGEA spokesperson IGEA reports that the interactive a strong presence. games market is on course to grow Publishers need to take into Importing is also partly used so at a compound annual growth rate account the market’s geography that consumers can access games of 9.5 per cent – putting Australia when releasing their titles. that have been censored or banned slight ahead of the global market, All Interactive’s senior brand in Australia. The nation’s strict age which is growing at 8.2 per cent. manager Angela Spehr said: “Due to ratings system has been a long- Australia’s size and location, getting running issue in the games industry You can find out more about stock to and around the country is However, earlier this year, the Australia’s games industry at our complex and time consuming. Australian government finally sister site www.mcvpacific.com 4 Around the World www.mcvuk.com +44 (0)203 137 3781 INTERNATIONAL FACTFILE [email protected] Austria KEY RETAILERS AND DISTRIBUTORS PEGI’S PROBLEMS GameStop, Koch Media, Austria and neighbouring Switzerland were MediaMarkt, Müller, PlayArt central to last year’s controversy surrounding Multimedia, Saturn, Sony PEGI, the Pan European Game Information DADC, Stadlbauer, Video Game ratings board. Store, Videogames Pilko, Things kicked off when PEGI ruled that Videolife games released in countries using the ratings system could no longer have any other TOP DEVELOPERS ratings on the box. The prime example was Bongfish, Broken Rules, the German USK certificate, often found Cliffhanger Productions, alongside PEGI ratings on titles released in ContenTainer, JoWooD, Mi’pu’mi both Austria and Switzerland. Games, Pro3 Games, Social There was outcry from smaller publishers, Spiel, Sproing, Sunfox Games, complaining that the manufacturing costs Team Vienna, Xendex Games would spiral if they had to print two versions of each game’s box art: one for PEGI, one PUBLISHERS WITH A for USK. LOCAL OFFICE However, PEGI remained adamant, Deep Silver, Microsoft, insisting that the Austrian and Swiss Nordic Games, Ubisoft governments were concerned consumers would be confused by dual-rated products, and that this would weaken PEGI’s position as a legally enforceable ratings system. A transitional period was agreed, which expires in 2013. After this, all games will only be rated by PEGI in Austria. ABOUT THE MARKET AUSTRIA is often treated as part of There are very few local publisher a larger European territory: the offices and Austria’s most notable neighbouring nations of Germany, home-grown publisher, JoWooD Austria and Switzerland. As a result, Entertainment, was purchased by much of its games supply comes Nordic Games when it went into from the larger market of Germany. administration last year. There are still a number of local The hypermarts that Most Austrian developers focus distributors such as Sony DADC and tend to dominate on mobile, browser and social Koch Media. Some of these firms Europe have little games, but there are a couple of thrive on their exclusive partnerships “ exceptions. Bongfish is the studio