Analyst firm says Online gaming market will grow 6% in 2010

Screen Digest, a media analyst firm, has concluded that the online games market will grow 6 percent this year, with motion control being a "much-needed" console feature in order for the boxes to compete.

With the increase of social network games as well as mobile app sales, Screen Digest expects the online games market to be worth 24 percent which is up from 18 percent from last year, reports GI.biz.

It also predicts that Natal and Sony's motion control will help Xbox 360 and PS3 maintain dominance in the market by offering a unique device other offerings lack.

"Physical retail still dominates in market share terms, but with heavy growth in games content consumption on alternative devices and platforms, competition for gamers' spend is growing steadily," said Piers Harding-Rolls, head of games for Screen Digest.

"Motion control games offer a unique respite for console platforms. They are as yet unique and can't be replicated by alternative platforms or on-demand solutions and so they represent an important development for both Sony and Microsoft."

The report added that consoles would maintain dominance in living rooms during 2010, and by the end of the year, 20.2 million Xbox 360s, 20.1 million PS3s, and 25.8 million Wiis would be used online.