Game Developer Research Releases 2008 State Of Game Development SurveyReport Reveals What Nearly 2000 Game Professionals Are Developing and HowPRNewswire SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Game Developer Research has published its seventh report, the 2008 State Of Game Development Survey. The in-depth 180-page report was compiled by surveying almost 2,000 video game professionals from North America and beyond who read Gamasutra.com or subscribe to Game Developer magazine. The report includes answers to more than 55 questions about the platforms Western game creators develop for, the market sectors they are working in, the tools they use, and the amount of money they spend on them. Some of the highlights of the report which Game Developer Research is revealing to the public at this time include: -- Overall, 70% of those replying are making games on the PC or Mac, with
43% creating for console and 28% for web platforms -- with just 16%
making games for handheld platforms such as the DS or PSP.
-- Of the surveyed console developers, which represent a notable
cross-section of the entire industry, 73% are creating games for Xbox
360, 58% (including some of the same respondents) for the PlayStation
3, and 42% for the Wii -- with 15% still creating games for the
PlayStation 2. This implies that the greatest amount of Western console
developers by sheer numbers are creating games for Microsoft's console
-- but due to team size differences, this doesn't necessarily imply
that more games will appear on the Xbox 360 than other consoles.
-- Again, of the largely North American and European developers surveyed,
Nintendo DS had the largest amount of creators by numbers, with 75% of
those handheld developers surveyed making games for it -- and with 45%
making games for the PSP.
The report also discusses trends in programming language. Of those responding, 76% are currently using C++ to make games, with 31% using C#, and 19% using Java/J2ME in their programming efforts. In addition, 9% of those replying still use assembly language in some way. The remainder of the survey offers data on the purchasing habits and development choices of the game development industry, with market share information in areas as diverse as AI tools, game engines, 3D art software, compilers, books, motion capture suites, and computer hardware -- covering every submarket of purchases made by game makers. Game Developer Research expects the report to be of interest to technology companies in the game development space, as well as those looking to enter the market or to survey general game industry trends. "Our goal at Game Developer Research is always to arm the industry with the knowledge necessary to continue pushing the boundaries of game development," said Simon Carless, publisher of Game Developer magazine. "We hope that companies already succeeding in or looking to enter the game technology space find the report to be an integral tool for growth." The full '2008 State Of Game Development Survey' is available now via the Game Developer Research website -- http://www.gamedevresearch.com/ -- priced at $2,495. More information is also available by contacting Game Developer Research at research@gdmag.com. About the Think Services Game Group A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the Think Services Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, WorldsInMotion.biz, GameSetWatch.com, GamesOnDeck.com, SeriousGamesSource.com, the Game Developers Conference, the Austin Game Developers Conference, the Paris Game Developers Conference, GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. For more information, please visit http://www.tsgamegroup.com/. About Think Services Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide using innovative media, educational events, consulting, training and certification. Providing comprehensive opportunities for people to learn from, network with, and inspire each other, Think Services builds strong brands and works within communities to foster a unique affinity with its products and services. The division's flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, Game Developer magazine, the International Customer Management Institute, HDI, and Dr. Dobb's Journal. Think Services is a subsidiary of United Business Media, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion. To learn more, visit http://www.think-services.com/. SOURCE: Think Services Game Group CONTACT: Brian Rubin, brian@fortyseven.com, or Sibel Sunar, Web site: http://www.think-services.com/ |