PC game market sales and forecasts

MSNBC reports on the rise of online games at the expense of shrink-wrapped ones. Traditional shrink-wrapped PC games in the US retail market are on the decline, falling to $953 mln in 2005, a 36% drop from $1.5 bln in 2001, according to the NPD Group. Internet-related game revenues in North America, including online purchases, subscriptions and advertising, rose to $1 bln in 2005, more than six times the $160 mln in 2001, according to DFC Intelligence. IDC predicts US sales of PC game downloads will almost double in 2005 to about $500 mln and grow to $763 mln in 2007.