Games and interactive entertainment trade body Ukie has today announced that it is conducting a survey that will provide UK games companies with an essential analysis of the main business models currently in operation in the games industry and where and how each model can be best applied.
The survey will:
- Identify the range of business models that are currently driving the games industry today
- Analyse these business models outlining how they operate, how money is apportioned and return on investment for various interested parties, as well as the benefits and risks attached to each business model
- Analysis of where future growth might be including which business models will grow, be sustainable and which will evolve
- Give real case studies of businesses and products using these models, with insight from industry players
Ukie wants input from as many people as possible who are making and selling games in the UK. All UK games businesses are therefore urged to take part in the ten minute online survey and can do so here. All responses will remain anonymous.
Any business completing the survey has the chance to enter a prize draw to win a free space on the UK stand at GDC San Francisco (worth £800). All participating businesses will receive a free executive summary of the final report and will also be able to join Ukie at a reduced rate. All Ukie members will also receive the final report free of charge.
Ukie is partnering with games research and analysis initiative, Strategy Guide, who will conduct the survey and analysis aided by industry advisors, and GI International to promote the report findings.
Ukie CEO, Dr Jo Twist said: “The games industry leads the way in the number of business models currently in use, from the still-strong, boxed product market to the fast growing microtransaction based and free to play models. Our survey will analyse the benefits and pitfalls of them, to see where they can best be applied to deliver best value to UK games businesses. This information will be invaluable to games companies in helping them to decide which model best suits the needs of their business.”
Strategy Guide’s founder Joost Rietveld said: “I’m delighted to be working with Ukie on the business models project. This is an exciting time for an industry in transition. The bewildering number of business models and platforms to choose from makes that developers and publishers can’t see the wood for the trees. Having the chance to work with some of the country’s top developers and publishers on this project will give a definitive guide to how video game business models work in effectively creating and capturing value. We have worked with top Professors from the London Cass Business School in designing the survey instrument which adds to the robustness and validity of our research.”