GMI Launches New Gamer Panel

GMI (Global Market Insite, Inc.), a leading provider of global market intelligence solutions, today announced the launch of a new online Gamer Panel to serve the needs of market researchers in the gaming industry. To help develop this unique panel which is rapidly expanding worldwide, GMI has formed a relationship with anchor partner and leading video game web site GameSpot. In addition, GMI uses other sources and portals to further populate its gamer panel .

The panel provides reach to diverse segments of the gaming market, including gamers who play console and PC games, and online gamers to name just a few. With this panel, market researchers can gain real-time access to the opinions of gamers for future product development, pricing and purchase behavior, or test marketing strategies and ad concepts. The Gamer Panel is one of many GMI specialty panels, which also feature IT professionals, youth and teens, physicians, nurses etc.

"The Entertainment Software Association reports that U.S. computer and video game software sales grew by six percent in 2006 to $7.4 billion. In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates the worldwide video game market will grow to $46.5 billion by 2010," explains Peter Buck, general manager for GMI's panel business unit. "After focusing our panelist recruitment mainly in North America, we are planning to rapidly expand into EMEA and Asia-Pacific to provide our customers with the market feedback they need to leverage all the global opportunities associated with today's gaming industry."

"For 11 years, GameSpot has been 100 percent focused on video games and the people who love to play them. Our industry experience combined with the deep connection we have with our loyal users has provided us with a wealth of indispensable, useful insight into this vocal, influential audience," said Anne Claudio, director, research and sales development, for CNET Networks Entertainment. "We're excited for this opportunity to supply other gaming-market researchers with access to the honest, thoughtful feedback our dedicated community can provide."

GMI's gamer panel ists undergo a rigorous qualification process based on answers to nearly 100 questions, ensuring in-depth and much higher quality profiling than industry standards. Double opted-in panelists are profiled on a wide range of attributes, including to name just a few:

- Consoles owned and played

- Hours per week spent gaming

- Types of games (console, PC, portable/handheld, etc.)

- Genre of games played

- Online gaming services used

- Games owned and purchase behavior

- Sources for learning about new games

- Participation in gaming forums and communities

- Use of third-party voice technology (TeamSpeak, Ventrillo, etc.)

- TV and consumer electronics owned

- Gaming peripherals or components owned

Pricing and availability