Gaming shapes tech world’s state of play

VENTURE capitalist Mary Meeker released her anticipated annual report on internet trends this week. This year’s biggest insights include the sprawling growth of the gaming industry, slowing cellphone shipments and online ad dollars surpassing those from TV.

Meeker considers gaming the most engaging form of social media and suggests early interactive gaming paved the way for much of the contemporary web. She points to how features of gaming – including interactive storytelling, messaging and novel camera angles – have been adopted by other forms of popular media and technology. Mobile messaging apps, car companies, streaming services and sports media have all taken a page from the world of video games. She tallies the global revenue for interactive gaming at $100 billion (R1.29 trillion) globally, with a 9% increase from 2015.

People in her study spend an average of 51 minutes playing console games every day, edging out Facebook (50), Snapchat (30), and Instagram (21), according to her report.

The money spent on US mobile advertising has eclipsed that on the desktop. Online advertising is up 22% from last year, totalling $73bn.

Google and Facebook dominate the US market for internet advertising. And while more of the world is coming online, universal connectivity remains elusive. – Washington Post