This IDC study segments console, PC, and mobile/portable video game players into Hardcore, Enthusiast, and Casual constituencies on the basis of average hours spent per week gaming. These customer bases are then related to their proclivities for buying select aftermarket gaming peripherals and accessories.

Sales volumes and revenue forecast in a game console context include standard gamepads/controllers and headsets. Forecast PC gamer peripheral and accessory categories are: mice, keyboards, standard gamepads/controllers, headsets, headphones, and stereo/surround sound speakers. This study doesn't forecast mobile/portable accessories (partly because IDC surveys suggest that gaming tends to be a fairly low priority at the point of sale among smartphone and media tablet owners in particular). Gamer and aftermarket peripheral and accessory trends are then analyzed based on the forecast results. Gamers and aftermarket peripherals and accessories are additionally segmented into North America, China, and the rest of world regions.

"Understanding competitive dynamics within the population of global gamers is as important as following hardware sales," says Lewis Ward, global research manager of IDC's Gaming service. "It's quite clear that mobile/portable and PC gaming have significant momentum in developing markets in particular and that related demographic trends will affect gaming peripheral and accessory sales in the coming years."