GC Asia 2008 Opens To $25bn Market Prediction

The Asia-Pacific market is set to rise to a value of $25 billion in the next few years, according to claims made by Singapore’s Media Development Authority at the opening of Games Convention Asia 2008 in the country. Seto Lok Yin, assistant CEO of the government agency, put a figure of $15 billion on the market’s current value but claimed that his would increase by $10 billion “in the next few years”. Most of this growth is expected to come from online titles, which, with the exception of Japan, continue to dominate all major markets in the region – particularly China. The second annual three day expo this year features 118 exhibitors from 13 different countries, including Western companies such as Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. Organizers are expecting around 100,000 visitors to the event. "The industry is doing very well and we are happy to be part of it," Jon Niermann, president of EA Asia-Pacific told news agency AFP.