Take Advantage of the Growing Gaming Market

Many of us have fond memories of huddling in front of the 19-inch family TV with friends playing games on an early generation video-game console.

What a striking contrast that is to the next-generation consoles of today, which allow me to provide perfectly balanced high-resolution A/V environments to my clients in their home theaters and media rooms.

As integrators, we are increasingly being asked to integrate video-game consoles into our clients' homes with as many as four different locations/media environments within the same home.

Statistics indicate at least 40 percent of U.S. households have a video game console and 30 percent of all home theater owners have a console hooked up to their system. More surprising statistics reveal the average age of gamers is 32-years-old, 40 percent of all gamers are female and 37 percent of all Xbox live subscribers have household incomes of over $75,000 per year.

These numbers tell us that as consumers have grown up with video games, they want to take the experience to the next level and they have the disposable income to hire someone to deliver that experience.

Modern gaming consoles have the ability to act as multimedia hubs for the digital ecosystems that we are now installing. They facilitate activities such as viewing photos, streaming video and music, videoconferencing and accessing control of other home automation systems through extension interfaces.

These machines also have the ability to download television and movies in HD. Multichannel audio has also made these consoles a true entertainment source in a media or theater room. If that's not enough, wait until live IPTV feeds of TV arrives with full DVR functionality to record up to four shows at once while your client is playing their favorite game at the same time.

In the coming months, we will witness the continued growth of online console gaming communities, including Xbox Live, which is now at 6 million subscribers.

New applications that enable 1080p virtual interactive environments to be experienced by our customers, and technologies that allow for the sharing of any content stored on a client's console -- up to 1080p, with up to 16 other invited guests -- will also see growth.

Moreover, another emerging category called "Exertainment," which has been fueled by Nintendo Wii's success, as well as games like "Dance Dance Revolution," will create challenges in terms of the space needed in a room to allow for unencumbered activity.

Enterprising installers can take advantage of this market through the integration of these gaming console features, which can be accessed through a GUI that customers can't change, and one that can be integrated into control systems that are already in the industry.

Andrew Finkel is the regional sales manager for Westminster, Md.-based Diversified Technologies.