3 Trends in the Serious Games Industry

Designing Digitally

12/04/2017

Trends in the Serious Games Industry

The serious game industry is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 16.38% between 2015 and 2020 in several industries like automotive, education, defense, and media. Serious games are different from leisure games. 3D gaming technology is used to simulate scenarios, with the real world feel. The aim of the serious games industry is to enable the learners to experience situations that may not be possible in the real world, due to the safety and cost factors involved. For example, performing surgical techniques or air pilot maneuvers. There are the three emerging trends  taking the serious games industry by storm.

Trend 1: Serious games have been adopted by many sectors

The serious games industry has spread its influence in the following fields.

Education: Schools and universities are openly adopting game based learning methods for their students. They have realized the benefits of gamified learning. Corporations, as well, are finding this method of training their employees more effective, than the traditional methods.

Media: Studios have started incorporating games that require animators and developers from the gaming industry for development purposes.

Defense: NASA and the US Army  adopted serious gaming several years ago and are reaping rich benefits. They have turned to elearning providers for development of high performing games.

Healthcare: Many healthcare organizations have started developing games that support a healthy lifestyle. New diagnostic tools, utilizing gamification, that measure health and fitness levels of patients and employees is resulting in a healthier population.

Trend 2: Social media spurring the growth of serious games industry

The high rate of growth in social media is driving the growth in the serious games industry. Social media networks like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others have grown significantly. In Europe and North America, users prefer using these websites to  connect with people. Organizations are taking advantage of this growth and utilizing gamification techniques to woo customers as well as employees. Gamification plays a pivotal role in creating progressive marketing solutions.

Social gaming is gradually gaining popularity too. Twitch is a website that allows gamers to watch others play. More and more gamers are signing on every month. This reiterates how the social element in gaming should not be ignored.

Trend 3: Gamification is being adopted all over the world

Asia-Pacific is believed to become a major adopter of serious gaming techniques by 2020. It is growing at a far higher rate in comparison to the other regions. Corporations in countries like Japan, Australia, India, and China are adopting gamification solutions in order to improve profits and enhance employee satisfaction.

In the Americas, the serious games industry is expected to exceed  $3 billion USD by 2019. This region will continue to be the market leader, due to the high adoption rate  for games.

In EMEA, the gamification market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 45%. The majority of the revenue will be contributed by Western Europe. This is due to the fact that the online business model’s popularity is highest in this region.

At Designing Digitally, Inc., we use game-based thinking and mechanics to promote learning and resolve problems, based on the needs of our clients. Our engaging training simulations allow the learners to practice in a virtual environment and learn from their mistakes.

Get in touch with us and we will help your business grow through the development and implementation of gamification.