March 17, 2011

The total number of funding and acquisition deals in gaming swelled to 210 in 2010, presenting 36% growth on 2009's activity. Incidences of acquisition almost doubled, fuelled by two trends that define the fast-shifting waters in gaming's online landscape: the upsurge in activity in social network gaming, and attention on both western and eastern fronts directed toward the potential of a global audience of connected gamers.

The total number of funding and acquisition deals in gaming swelled to 210 in 2010, presenting 36% growth on 2009's activity. Incidences of acquisition almost doubled, fuelled by two trends that define the fast-shifting waters in gaming's online landscape: the upsurge in activity in social network gaming, and attention on both western and eastern fronts directed toward the potential of a global audience of connected gamers.

Declared funding amounted to $1.89bn, up 130% on 2009's total of $819m, powered by Tencent's $300m investment in Mail.ru Group and Zenimax Media's $150m round, the latter of which led to its publishing arm, Bethesda Softworks, to acquire multiple game development studios.

Highlights:

• Proliferation continues apace in the social network gaming sphere, with total declared funding having increased nearly 300% year-on-year.
• Casual gaming on PC holds steady in 2010, including a significant collision of worlds as US specialist retail chain acquires browser-based gaming portal Kongregate.
• Acquisitions are still to be found in the core gaming space, but company closures remain commonplace.

In this report:

• 2010 overview, pt.1
• 2010 overview, pt.2
• Social network gaming
• MMOGs and virtual worlds
• Casual gaming
• Core gaming
• Payment & billing
• Social technology
• Edutainment, lifestyle management & game networks

Tables and charts included:

• Acquisition event summary, 2009 and 2010
• Funding event summary, 2009 and 2010
• Declared funding totals ($m), by quarter, YoY
• Deal quantity by quarter, social network gaming
• Declared funding totals by quarter, social network gaming
• Deal quantity by quarter, MMOGs and virtual worlds
• Declared funding totals by quarter, MMOGs and virtual worlds
• Deal quantity by quarter, casual gaming
• Declared funding totals by quarter, casual gaming
• Company closures in core gaming, 2010
• Acquisitions in core gaming, 2010
• Deal quantity by quarter, payment & billing
• Declared funding totals by quarter, payment & billing
• Deal quantity by quarter, social technology
• Declared funding totals by quarter, social technology
• Deal quantity by quarter, edutainment/lifestyle management
• Declared funding totals by quarter, edutainment/lifestyle management
• 2010 Summary of other funding & acquisition events in gaming

Pages: 11

Tables & charts: 18

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