THE growth of the local online gaming industry will follow the growth of broadband Internet in the country.
Amid an ongoing economic recession, industry executives said the local online gaming industry remains to be small because there are still untapped locations where there could be gamers.
“Broadband Internet penetration is still small. Majority of players are in the Internet cafes. We’re hoping that it becomes affordable for people to play at home when prices of Internet usage go down,” AMDG Vice Chairman Arturo Diago, Jr., said in a recent briefing.
Gaming is seen to be one of the cheapest forms of entertainment, according to iAM Interactive President and CEO Fadzly Yusof.
The company is seeing more growth in the overall local gaming industry as competition intensifies.
In fact, iAM is even looking to launch at least two new games within the year, including a new massively multiplayer online game similar to two of its previously distributed titles, Guild Wars and Lineage II.
The company recently launched its first casual racing game GoGo Racer and an anime-styled shooter game called Exteel.
Both games are on a free-to-play platform, with an in-game item mall, which charges players for certain items purchased.
Yusof said online game publishers are also expanding to other markets. iAM is targeting three countries: the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia. “This allows us to expand our revenue sources.”
August 5th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
The retail industry in the Philippines is so big that it will soon catch up on the online retail economy and the need for the online highway will be apparent.
I remember maybe 15 years ago I read on a newspaper that Hong Kong has the largest SMS text messaging record in the world. I don’t have the facts but I think Philippines now hold the record.
I will predict within a decade the Philippines will have the largest, sikiş fastest and cheapest internet i.e. if GMA let go of the power and Philippines starts living and growing.
July 11th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
^What can you expect from a third world country anyway? We can’t even provide proper classrooms for the youth, let alone have ISP’s offer broadband services with sky-rocketing speeds. I mean, come on. Be rational.
July 10th, 2009 at 10:24 am
@Jose: Did you even read the article?
June 30th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I’m sure it will not be for long when high speed, high bandwidth internet will be available in the Philippines and cheaper even.
The retail industry in the Philippines is so big that it will soon catch up on the online retail economy and the need for the online highway will be apparent.
I remember maybe 15 years ago I read on a newspaper that Hong Kong has the largest SMS text messaging record in the world. I don’t have the facts but I think Philippines now hold the record.
I will predict within a decade the Philippines will have the largest, fastest and cheapest internet i.e. if GMA let go of the power and Philippines starts living and growing.
June 25th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Spot on answer Joes. It just goes to show how local Philippine companies care more about profit rather than us user. Our Asian neighbors have left us behind. Something has to be done.