Globally, gaming is a multibillion-dollar industry. Besides the entertainment value, it can be lucrative for some players, and so can offer a broad range of opportunities. However, there is a sense that gaming is not big in the Caribbean region. 

 

Video games. It is an industry to which many of us here in the Caribbean region may not have given a lot of thought. However, globally, the video games industry was estimated to be worth nearly USD 160 billion in 2020, and is projected exceed USD 200 billion by 2023 (Source:  Statista). 

In 2019, there are an around 2.7 billion gamers worldwide, with although almost half of them being located in the Asia Pacific region (48%), followed by North America (19%). However, as at August 2020, that figure had jumped to 3.1 billion (Source:  DFC Intelligence), which is likely to be attributed to COVID-19, and the lockdowns and self-isolation measures that have become the norm, which in turn limited our entertainment and relaxation options. 

To be clear, gaming comprises several segments, some of which overlap with, or can be subsets of each other. However, below are some of the broad categories; 

  • mobile gaming, which would cover the games played on mobile/cellular devices  
  • PC gaming, for games that can be played on desktop and laptop computers 
  • console gaming, which would comprise those for which specific gaming consoles are required, Nintendo, Xbox and PlayStation 
  • online gaming, for games that are designed to be played over the Internet, and frequently with multiple players. 

It is also interesting to note that gaming is not just a pastime for the teen boys. It is estimated that over 70% of video gamers are aged 18 or older, and around 60% of mobile gamers are female. Moreover, the average age of gamers is early-to-mid thirties for both genders (Source:  Review 42).  

 

Gaming in the Caribbean 

As it currently stands, there really are no statistics on the number of gamers in the Caribbean region, or on gaming preferences. However, anecdotally, it is likely that there are a lot of gamers across the region – particularly mobile gamers.  

On platforms that track mobile applications (apps) downloads, invariably, games among tend to be the top most downloaded apps over a three-month period, as reflected in our December 2019 examination of the Top 5 free apple iPhone and Google Android apps in the Caribbean. However, we may be inclined to overlook all of the people who have been playing Candy Crush, Pokemon GO, Words with Friends, and Angry Birds, to name a few, as they only require a smartphone or tablet computer, and may not be as resource-heavy as other gaming segments. 

The likely concentration of Caribbean gamers in the mobile gaming space ought should not be surprising. The high proliferation of mobile/cellular devices across the region, facilitates easy access to, and a ready market for, games. Additionally, it ought to be noted that many mobile games use a freemium business model, which allows users to play the game for free – up to a point. Topically with the freemium version, one tends to find that the app might have limited features and one or more payments will unlock additional features, or the application might be feature advertisements, which will no longer be seen if payments are made, or in order to advance in the game, tokens and other in-game purchases would need to be made. However, people may be able to play and enjoy the free version of the game, without having to make any additional investments. 

It is also interesting to note that many mobile gamers in the Caribbean are likely to be considered casual, or not-serious, gamers. Although they might be avid players of one or more specific mobile games, they may not be willing to, or not able to, invest in their gaming experience. For casual Caribbean gamers, their ability to be considered ‘serious gamers’ might be constrained by the following factors: 

  • Infrastructure constraints.  First, in order to establish an immersive gaming experience requires good equipment, including graphics, sound and processing power, . For online games, Internet access with good transmissions speeds – both upload and download – would be critical.   
  • Here in the Caribbean, fixed-line telecoms services, and consequently fixed-line broadband Internet is not was widely deployed as wireless options. Although most Caribbean countries have 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology available, high bandwidth demand for online gaming may not be practicable for mobile broadband services. Hence, current and prospective gamers might be challenged with regards to acquiring the needed equipment, should they wish to move beyond mobile gaming. 
  • The expense.  Second, the equipment used for gaming, especially by serious console and online gamers, is not cheap. The latest gaming consoles costs around USD 500.00, and a large screen monitor or television can start around USD 200.00. The prices of the games themselves also need to be factored in, along with in-games purchases that might be necessary enhanced enjoyment. Additionally, in the event any extras are desired, such as headphones, virtual reality headsets, etc., these may also have hefty price tags.  
  • Further, and depending on the country, the cost of telecoms and ICT services in the Caribbean can still be prohibitive – especially for higher speed packages that might be needed for gaming purposes.  
  • Publicly available gaming resources not available. In some developing countries, there are Internet cafes and gaming arcades, which (serious) gamers can frequent, if they do not have the requisite equipment or infrastructure at home. Generally, that is not the norm in the Caribbean.; hence, again gamers need to provide all of the resources they need, which may not always be tenable. 

 

In summary, and consistent with what is occurring globally, gaming is alive and well in the Caribbean region. However, the above challenges affect the degree to which individuals can seriously invest in gaming, even as a past-time, or to cultivate it as a career. However, as our telecoms and ICT infrastructure continue to improve, it may be possible for Caribbean gamers to leverage the opportunities available through such an endeavour.

 

 

Image credit: Olya Adamovich (Pixabay)