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Worldwide PC Gaming Hardware Market

"Bigger than thought", according to research firm's report.

For Tuesday, November 18, 2008

For Immediate Release

TIBURON, CA-November 18, 2008-Jon Peddie Research (JPR), the industry's research and consulting firm for graphics and multimedia, today announced estimated worldwide PC gaming hardware shipments and regional market share out to 2012 - the growth is an amazing:

• The Enthusiast segment has a worldwide CAGR of 9%

• The Performance segment will have a CAGR of 19%

• The Mainstream segment CAGR is 21%

Gaming PCs touch all segments of the market, with the most expensive at the high-end, known as the Enthusiast segment where the utilization for gaming is highest, down to the mainstream where the purchase motivation for gaming is about 6 percent.

The total market value for PC gaming hardware in 2008 was just over $20 billion, and that will grow to over $34 billion by 2012 - and those systems pull in an additional $6 billion in software and services sales.

Also, the economic recession may stymie the assumed growth of the console gaming market and shift the balance in the direction of PC gaming. Why? Because the cost of an HDTV for the console is a serious investment, particularly when a console is limited in what it can do, unlike a personal computer.

One size doesn't fit all

However, all countries are not alike in their PC gaming habits. Jon Peddie Research looked at gaming cultures worldwide as an influence on hardware sales in different regions. Hardware suppliers are cautioned: Don't get caught sending the wrong stuff to the wrong place.

The three segments studied in these reports examine and profile thirty-seven countries in seven regions giving the reader the highest granularity in any report on PC gaming hardware ever.

Desktops and notebooks

Gaming PCs are delivered in both desktop and notebook configurations, with notebooks showing strong gains.

DIY and aftermarket

In addition to branded and boutique fully assembled PCs, JPR discovered there is a robust market of do-it-yourselfers and consumers who upgrade their PCs with high-performance gaming graphics boards.

"Don't let the retail numbers fool you," said Ted Pollak, co-author of the report series. "Enthusiast PC gamers often latch onto one or two games that offer multiplayer options and stick to these titles for years. Hardware is where they spend the big bucks. The retail numbers don't capture the casual and digitally distributed games either. Retail software figures are not an accurate barometer for the health of the PC gaming industry."

"The PC Gaming Hardware industry is a worldwide growth phenomenon and there are striking changes to the environment on the horizon," said Dr. Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie research. "Don't get caught surprised - our PC gaming hardware reports will provide virtual binoculars for companies involved in the space so that they are prepared for the approaching shifts. Now, more than ever, suppliers can't afford to make any missteps in their marketing and sales strategies."

Pricing and Availability

The Worldwide PC Gaming Hardware Market report series by Jon Peddie Research comes in three versions: Enthusiast, Performance, and Mainstream versions, with each version selling for $5,000 and the set of three for $12,000. In addition, with the set is a summary report of the Total Hardware PC Market worldwide.

The reports are available now in both electronic and hard copy editions. Please call 415/435-9368 or visit the Jon Peddie Research website at www.jonpeddie.com.

About Jon Peddie Research

Dr. Jon Peddie has been active in the graphics and multimedia fields for more than 30 years. Jon Peddie Research is a technically oriented multimedia and graphics research and consulting firm. Based in Tiburon, California, JPR provides consulting, research, and other specialized services to technology companies in a variety of fields including graphics development, multimedia for professional applications and consumer electronics, high-end computing, and Internet-access product development. Jon Peddie's Market Watch is quarterly reports focused on the market activity of PC graphics controllers for notebook and desktop computing.

Company Contact:

Jon Peddie, Jon Peddie Research

415/435-9368

jon@jonpeddie.com

Robert Dow, Jon Peddie Research

415/435-9368

robert@jonpeddie.com

Agency Contact:

Pat Meier-Johnson, Pat Meier Associates

415/389-1700

patmeier@patmeier.com

View all JPR press releases

http://www.jonpeddie.com/about/press/index.shtml

Contact:

Pat Meier-Johnson

415-389-1700

Pat Meier Associates PR

 

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