InterActiveCorp, a multinational Web corporation owning business like Ticketmaster.com and Match.com plans to enter a new venture: InstantAction.com, a new level of gaming by means of using GarageGames.com, which is a game publisher and programmer. Online gaming markets, averaging to about $2 billion dollars a year, are strong, albeit unstable investments. Costing InterActiveCorp approximately $100 million dollars to produce, DFC Intelligence predicts that the ultimate revenue for this online gaming market will swell to over $13 billion in 2011. IAC proposes, via InstantAction.com, a Website of game console quality, involving strategy, action, and advancement. Because additional consoles or hardware is unnecessary, gamers can play through any offhand device, rather than expensive, specialized equipment. Although other companies such as Cartoon Network, Sony’s Plastation 3, and Nintendo’s Wii have attempted to adapt games for online play, InterActiveCorp far exceeds these companies in originality, production, and sound ideas. Although some fees will be charged to play these browser-based games, which do not require downloaded software or instillation, IAC intends to profit directly from advertising. However, many technologically savvy insiders predict the fallback of such an industrious plan. Advanced games via the computer, without installed or downloaded software, will probably lead to glitches and delays, as this field of technology is still unsteady. If this company succeeds, the gaming market will be revolutionized, spreading games to more people and devices, therefore drastically hurting the console market and economies.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2007/tc20070919_759130.htm
