PlaySpan / Magid Virtual Goods Report

MethodologyFrank N. Magid Associates conducted an online survey in early January that focused on theattitudes and behavior regarding virtual goods among U.S. consumers as well as among abroad range of gamers.Using a highly qualified sample provider, Research Now, Magid surveyed a representativesample by gender, age (13-54 year olds) and ethnic background among consumers.A screening question (Which platforms do you own and use regularly for gaming) was usedto identify current gamers. Those who did not select at least one of the platforms screenedout. PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

TerminologyConsumers: A sample of U.S.citizens (13-54 year olds) withaccess to internet. NonGamers: A subset of consumers Gamerswho own and regularly use various Gamers -platforms for gaming. Buyers GamersBuyers: Gamers who havepurchased a virtual good over thepast year, 2011. PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Virtual Goods Buying AmongstU.S. Consumers Has Dramatically Increased +100% One-in-four U.S. consumers ages 13–54 purchased virtual goods in 2011, which represents a 100% increase over 2009. PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Profile Of Buyers AcrossAll Consumers In 2011 50% Males 65% 50% Females 35% 15% 13-17 18% All Consumers 16% 18-24 Virtual Goods Buyers 21% 23% 25-34 26% 22% 35-44 23% 25% 45-54 13% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Profile Of Gamers AcrossAll Consumers 50% Males 53% 50% Females 48% 15% 13-17 13% All Consumers 16% 18-24 Gamers 18% 23% 25-34 26% 22% 35-44 23% 25% 45-54 21% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Factors Effecting GamesPurchased Among Gamers The price 64% The genre of the game 51% Friends’ recommendations 48% User reviews 33% Whether I can play it with my friends 30% The game franchise 24% Game critics reviews 22% The ease of buying the game 21% The company making the game 18% Advertisements for the game 18% Saw a promotion in a game you already play 11% The virtual goods available 6% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%What do you strongly consider when deciding which game to acquire? PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Factors Effecting Games PlayedAmong Gamers The genre of the game 60% Friends’ recommendations 49% How challenging/difficult the game is 49% The graphic interface of the game 37% Whether I can play it with friends 34% The game franchise 29% User reviews 29% Game critic reviews 22% The company making the game 20% The virtual goods available in the game 11% Ease of buying extras within the game 8% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Thinking about when you are about to play a game, what influences which specific gameyou decide to play? PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Virtual Goods BuyingAmongst U.S. Gamers Total Mention 35% M 13-17 72% M 18-24 57% M 25-34 44% M 35-44 36% M 45-54 18% F 13-17 29% F 18-24 18% F 25-34 23% F 35-44 33% F 45-54 23% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Virtual Good Buying AmongstU.S. Gamers 100% 80% 60% 40% 35% 22% +50% 20% There is a fifty percent increase in virtual goods buying over 2010 among U.S. gamers. 0% 2010 2011 PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Reasons For NOT BuyingVirtual Goods I don’t play games where I need to buy them 35% They seem unnecessary to the overall enjoyment of a… 32% I don’t understand the point 24% I have the money but think online games should be free 24% 69% Price is too high for what I’m getting 16% While 31% say they I don’t have the money to spend on them 14% would never spend money on a virtual item, I have the money but don’t trust Facebook with my credit… 11% that leaves a huge upside among the 69% I have the money but don’t trust entering my credit card… 8% who will. This groups exists equally across all Not sure how to 6% demographics groups. I would never spend money on a virtual item 31% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Why don’t you buy in-game virtual goods? PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Reasons For BuyingVirtual Goods (Among those who have bought virtual goods) To be able to do more in a game 55% To get a better experience playing the game 49% To be able to advance a level or state in a game 35% To decorate or develop my avatar identity in a 32% game/express myself To improve my skills in a game 27% To beat my friends 17% Only because I have to pay to continue progressing 16% / having fun To achieve a common goal with my game friends 14% To show off the things/brands that I like in real life 10% in a game 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Why do you buy in-game virtual goods? PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Where Gamers PurchaseVirtual Goods (Among those who have bought virtual goods) A connected console marketplace (i.e. Xbox Live 48% or PlayStation Store) Directly within the game application 42% I buy pre-paid card at retail stores 40% From an online store (NOT the Game Publisher) 16% From the Game Publishers Website (outside of 13% the Game application) 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%Where do you purchase your virtual currency or virtual goods? PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Purchased Virtual Goods As a GiftAmong those who have bought virtual goods 26% Potential Just 26% of respondents say that Yes they’ve purchased virtual goods for No someone else, leaving 74% of the market untapped. 74% Those more likely to give virtual goods as a gift are: Women 32% 45-54 years old 42%Have you ever bough a digital good or virtual gift for someone else? PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Average Money Spent On VirtualGoods In Last 12 Months (Among those who purchased virtual goods) 12% 10% 21% $0 $1-$25 $64 Gamers have spent an average $26-$50 of $64.13* on virtual goods 38% $51-$100 over the past year. $100+ 19%How much did you spend in total on digital or virtual goods in-games in the last 12 months?* = mean PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Per User Dollars Spent onVirtual Goods $110 $102.80 $100 $91.54 $90 $80 $77.72 $70 $66.00 $60 $53.86 $48.03 $49.55 $50.38 $50 $40 $37.56 $30 $27.70 $20 $10 $0 M 13-17 M 18-24 M 25-34 M 35-44 M 45-54 F 13-17 F 18-24 F 25-34 F 35-44 F 45-54 PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Five Key Points To Remember1. Purchasing virtual goods is becoming more and more mainstream each year. Purchasing is up from 12% in 2009 to 25% in 2011 across consumers.2. Purchasers are more likely to be men and 13-34 year olds. However, it is important to note it is not limited to those demographics.3. Virtual goods expand a gamer’s experience with the game but it does significantly effect the purchase decision.4. Seven in ten gamers who have not purchased virtual goods do not reject the idea so the future is bright. This attitude exists across all demographic groups.5. Gifting virtual goods is unexplored territory. PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

Download LinkKey Contactshttp://slidesha.re/Aa2ZKaMike Vorhaus Eric GonzalezPresident, Magid Advisors VSCpr on behalf of PlaySpanmvorhaus@magid.com eric@vscpr.comRobert M. Crawford, Ph.D. Robb LewisVice President, Research PlaySpanbcrawford@magid.com robblew@visa.com @robblewis PlaySpan 2012 - All Rights Reserved

http://techcrunch.com	5108
http://www.paymentobserver.com	1922
http://cossa.ru	875
http://www.ig.gmodules.com	683
http://feeds.feedburner.com	167
http://www.zoharurian.com	95
http://blog.prosharer.com	74
http://apps4all.ru	74
http://blog.simplelifeforms.com	67
http://www.newsblur.com	48
http://www.cossa.ru	37
http://smashinblog.com	34
http://www.mobile-apps-news.com	27
http://xianguo.com	18
http://www.iieconnect.co.za	15
http://erindani.tumblr.com	14
http://discovrd.com	13
http://technology.automated.it	12
http://www.newcluster.com	12
http://www.hanrss.com	11
http://www.apps4all.ru	10
http://flavors.me	9
http://tech.collected.info	8
http://www.twylah.com	8
http://feedproxy.google.com	8
http://techiefeed.com	7
http://www.oofeeds.com	7
http://techbloggers.collected.info	7
http://www.seowerkt.com	6
http://futureinmotion.collected.info	6
http://jetblk.collected.info	5
http://www-open-opensocial.googleusercontent.com	5
http://www.littlefallslocal.com	4
http://127.0.0.1	4
http://internetaddict.collected.info	4
http://archive.feedblitz.com	4
http://quirktools.com	3
http://bimpr.collected.info	3
http://robpopweb.collected.info	3
http://mobiteach.blogspot.com	3
http://www.ingboo.com	3
http://www.xseo.com.au	3
http://www.gamesnews.org	3
http://ppc.cc	2
http://veletech.com	2
http://internettech.collected.info	2
http://glooffy.collected.info	2
http://www.ardenhillslocal.com	2
http://gamsoc.wordpress.com	2
http://translate.googleusercontent.com	2
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com	2

PlaySpan / Magid Virtual Goods Report

by Robb Lewis

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

85 Embeds 9,488

Statistics

PlaySpan / Magid Virtual Goods Report Presentation Transcript