The browser games market

[Goffdahl]

Hi there,

As we are going to meet some venture capital guys who have approached us regarding heavy investment, we are to make a complete business plan. In this plan we need to talk a bit about the market and the competition for persistent browser-based games. I know the basics but I would like to see some exact figures about market share, income and such stuff if it is even available? Please show me some links if you are aware of any.

Please also fill me in on this:

The biggest publishers (anyone else have made several larger games???):
Gameforge
Bigpoint
Travian Games
Red Moon Studios
InnoGames

The biggest games: (please provide me with games and their registered/active users)
Evony (18.000.000 registered/? active)
Hattrick (? Registered/ 900.000 active)
OGame (30.000.000 Registered/ ? active)
Travian (6.000.000 Registered/ ? active)
ImperiaOnline (5.000.000 Registered/ ? active)
Ikariam
Seafight (33.000.000 Registered/ ? active)
The West
Gladiatus (6.000.000 Registered/ ? active)
Urban Dead (1.200.000 Registered/ ? active)
ERepublik (1.100.000 Registered/ ? active)
Dark Orbit (40.000.000 Registered/ ? active)
Bitefight
BattleKnight
Omerta (3.500.000 Registered/ ? active)
Tribal wars
The Wrestling Game
Renaissance Kingdoms (3.200.000 Registered/ ? active)
BattleDawn
Prison Struggle
MonstersGame (15.000.000 registered/? active)
KnightFight
Urban Rivals (8.000.000 registered/? active)
Kingdom of Loathing
Samurai of Legend

[jannesiera]

A few game to check out, from the top of my head:

http://www.urban-rivals.com/
http://www.torpia.com/
http://www.neopets.com/index.phtml
http://www.gaiaonline.com/
http://www.kingsofchaos.com/
http://www.bulfleet.nl/

[Goffdahl]

Thanks, I know of all the games you listed. I don't consider Bulfleet, Kings of Chaos or Torpia to be some of the bigger games in the market and Neopets and Gaia are kind of another market segment. But I will add Urban Rivals for sure.

[bbgames]

You might want to include Zynga on your list of big game publishers - they're the ones running Farmville.

[Goffdahl]

Well, Facebook games are a niche for itself I think... Perhaps I should move Mafia Wars from my list as well.

[bbgames]

If your investors are looking for your competition, Facebook game publishers definitely count - who's to say they aren't going to roll out standalone versions of their games?

[Goffdahl]

Of course.

I will need to specify primary competition, secondary competition as well as all other subsidiary competition. Facebook games like Farmville target another segment and uses another platform, so this is secondary competition.

Right now, I'm mostly interested in the primary competition.

[Chris]

Thanks, I know of all the games you listed. I don't consider Bulfleet, Kings of Chaos or Torpia to be some of the bigger games in the market and Neopets and Gaia are kind of another market segment. But I will add Urban Rivals for sure.

Yes!!! Lords pwned KoC and even KhanWars


Renaissance Kingdoms: 3,183,633 PLAYERS SIGNED UP  1,360 PLAYERS ONLINE (you overvaluated it by at least 1-2 digits )
Hattrick seems correct, they are huge.
Travian seems a bit too low to me.
Evony... I don't know, they did a quick jump for sure, but I don't know it will last in a long term (personally I perceive Travian much bigger a threat)
ERepublik so few users? I thought they would have more...

Relative data:
Samurai of Legend (2.5-3 times bigger than Lords)
The Wrestling Game (at least 3-5 times bigger than Lords)
Kingdom of Loathing (not sure, but at least 10 times bigger than Lords)
Farmersi (almost exact number of visitors that Lords, they are a game promoted/endorsed by one of the biggest Polish portals)

[Goffdahl]

Thanks for the input! I'll correct my first post... And perhaps remove Lords - I guess I had the wrong impresion about them and read some rubbish somewhere