The Master Chief, lead character in video game 'Halo 3'. - Contributed

Anyone who has witnessed a Nintendo Wii being played must have realised that video games are no longer just for kids. It is a big business and it is an indicator of tomorrow's inter-active media products and services.

When the first big video game success, Pong, was invented 35 years ago, it was not apparent that consumer demand would create such a lucrative market. According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers, last year the video game industry made $31.6 billion and it is expected to grow to nearly $50 billion by 2011, surpassing Hollywood box office sales.

According to recent research, a full 72 per cent of United States consumers now play video games. And these games influence, and sometimes set the standard for, the look and feel of more realistic, interactive PC and web application interfaces. Online audiences are gravitating toward the most rea-listic and responsive applications.

The marketing message here is that video games are a rapidly expanding vehicle for product placement, ad campaigns, a fast-growing visual entertainment trend. Persons can now look to video games for the next creative breakthrough. Consumers of all ages love their look, feel, and level of interaction.

Did you know?

1. That in the past two years, the gaming industry has tripled its annual revenue?

2. Burger King is the firstrest-aurantto create a game for it'smascot.

3 Wii has more games that any console in the NexGen War!

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