U.S. Networked Videogame Device 2005-2009 Forecast

This study presents IDC's forecast of the market for networked home videogame devices in the United States and our view of the development of the forces accelerating and inhibiting this market. The Situation Overview provides a brief description of networking technologies and the videogame hardware market. The Market Drivers section investigates factors from both the networking and gaming industries that will grow this market category over the next several years; it also provides a discussion of survey data querying households about interest levels in using their home networks for gaming applications. The Market Inhibitors section provides a discussion of the converse ? those factors that will be obstacles to networked consoles and handhelds, ultimately limiting market growth over the long term. The Future Outlook section provides a number of assumptions to build the three forecasts presented: total home networked households, shipments of network capable videogame consoles and handhelds, and the installed base of connected consoles and handhelds. All North America forecasts are presented for 2005?2009.