By Erwin Oliva
INQUIRER.net
UPDATE: Editor's note: Added photo.
ONLINE game publisher IP e-Games still sees growth in the online gaming market in the Philippines next year. But at the same time, the company expects more consolidation in 2008.
“There's potential for the market to grow double or triple,” Steve Tsao, IP e-Games president, who also stressed that companies that are not making enough money will eventually need to consolidate with other firms.
IP e-Games is a subsidiary of publicly listed firm IPVG. Tsao was invited to talk during the first Asian Gaming Journalists Association workshop held in Taytay, Rizal, Saturday and Sunday.
Citing industry figures, Tsao said that about 23 to 25 percent of the Internet user base in the Philippines is now playing online games. He stressed that the number could become higher next year since growth is now coming from outside Metro Manila and other key cities in the country.
For IP e-Games, Tsao said it has about 5.5 million subscribers to its online games and about 2.5 million active users. It currently has more than 50,000 concurrent users for its various online games in the Philippines.
In 2007, most of the games that were launched in the Philippines have become free-to-play, which means people could play games for free and pay only if they want to buy items and other in-game requirements to "level up" characters.
Citing a Synovate Research done August 2007, most Filipino Internet users today get their access through Internet cafés, especially among the 15 to 29 year-old and non-working users who belong to the D and E economic classes, Tsao said.
He said that the "willingness to pay for broadband Internet" has been evident in areas outside of Metro Manila and other key cities, but getting a decent Internet connection remains a challenge for consumers and even Internet shop owners.
"Growth of the Internet shops should be encouraged," he said.
Tsao stressed that the growth of online games will also depend a lot on more "compelling" content that would encourage more Filipinos to play games online.
Casual online games are emerging as more popular than hardcore massively multiple online role playing games which require a lot of time to play. Tsao said IP e-Games' Audition, for one, has so far attracted about 8,000 concurrent users a month.
IP e-Games is the Philippine publisher of RAN Online, O2 Jam, Audition, Supreme Destiny, Granado Espada, and soon, Hellgate: London.
The first AGJA workshop was sponsored by INQUIRER.net/hackenslash, Level Up! Inc. and IP e-Games.
Editor's note: Photo by INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania
IP e-Games is a subsidiary of publicly listed firm IPVG. Tsao was invited to talk during the first Asian Gaming Journalists Association workshop held in Taytay, Rizal, Saturday and Sunday.
Citing industry figures, Tsao said that about 23 to 25 percent of the Internet user base in the Philippines is now playing online games. He stressed that the number could become higher next year since growth is now coming from outside Metro Manila and other key cities in the country.
For IP e-Games, Tsao said it has about 5.5 million subscribers to its online games and about 2.5 million active users. It currently has more than 50,000 concurrent users for its various online games in the Philippines.
In 2007, most of the games that were launched in the Philippines have become free-to-play, which means people could play games for free and pay only if they want to buy items and other in-game requirements to "level up" characters.
Citing a Synovate Research done August 2007, most Filipino Internet users today get their access through Internet cafés, especially among the 15 to 29 year-old and non-working users who belong to the D and E economic classes, Tsao said.
He said that the "willingness to pay for broadband Internet" has been evident in areas outside of Metro Manila and other key cities, but getting a decent Internet connection remains a challenge for consumers and even Internet shop owners.
"Growth of the Internet shops should be encouraged," he said.
Tsao stressed that the growth of online games will also depend a lot on more "compelling" content that would encourage more Filipinos to play games online.
Casual online games are emerging as more popular than hardcore massively multiple online role playing games which require a lot of time to play. Tsao said IP e-Games' Audition, for one, has so far attracted about 8,000 concurrent users a month.
IP e-Games is the Philippine publisher of RAN Online, O2 Jam, Audition, Supreme Destiny, Granado Espada, and soon, Hellgate: London.
The first AGJA workshop was sponsored by INQUIRER.net/hackenslash, Level Up! Inc. and IP e-Games.
Editor's note: Photo by INQUIRER.net reporter Alex Villafania
