INTERNATIONAL FACTFILE Norway
MCV finds out why PS3 releases are leading the way in this Nordic region
In association with Wholesaler and distributor of video games, consoles and accessories
THE FACTS Population: 5,033,675 Currency: Norwegian krone GDP (Per Capita): $97,254 Capital City: Oslo Languages: Norwegian
KEY RETAILERS Coop, Elkjøp, Expert, Spaceworld, Platekompaniet,
CDON.com,
Komplett.no, GAME
MAIN DISTRIBUTORS Bergsala, Game Outlet, Koch Media, Nordic Game Supply, Nordisk Film, Pan Vision
ABOUT THE MARKET
JUST UNDER 2.8m games were sold across all formats in Norway in 2011 (2012 stats are due in a few months), generating more than €115m. While this isn’t as high as its neighbouring territories, MCV Nordiceditor Mats Nylund says these figures are still commendable. “Norway is the second smallest
market of the Nordic countries (or third biggest, if you’re Norwegian),” he said. “It accounted for 22 per cent of Nordic game sales by volume in 2011, 24 per cent by value. “But since Norway has half the population of Sweden, which accounted for 34 per cent of sales by volume, that’s not bad at all. “Perhaps it’s the extremely low Norwegian unemployment rate – a mere 3.5 per cent – that means they simply don’t have time to play games.” Those that do have time mostly spent it with PS3, which took a third of all software sales in 2011. Much like other Western markets, the
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charts were dominated by FIFA, Call of Duty and Battlefield.
“It’s perhaps a bit surprising to see PS3 games selling so much
We expect Nordic- only distributors will find the business more challenging in
the next few years. Martin Sirc, Koch Media
“
better than all other formats,” says Nylund. “But I suspect 2012 will show a small shift towards PC.”
Koch
Media’s Nordic general
manager Martin Sirc adds: “Norway is not much different from the other Nordic countries. The main challenges for retail are the digital transition and the rise of smartphones and tablets. “During the digital transition, publishers that are direct with retail will look for distribution partners when they adapt their structures. We can see a rapidly increasing interest in ‘super distribution companies’ such as Koch Media.” Most publishers are already established in Norway, with some of the biggest operating out of local Nordic officers. However, some firms rely on distribution agreements, either with Nordic or pan-European companies. Sirc says: “Use a distribution partners with a European set-up. We expect ‘Nordic only’ distributors will find the business more challenging in the next
few years.”
TOP DEVELOPERS Artplant, Funcom, Ravn, Rock Pocket Games, Snowcastle, Turbo Tape Games
PUBLISHERS WITH A LOCAL OFFICE
Activision, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Namco Bandai, Ubisoft, Warner Bros
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