Africas combined population is around 832 million, if 20% of its people can be afford gaming about 160 million that yeah, why not, the middle class is growing (African countries average growth rate is 6%). Like I said in another post the XBOX 360 was officially launched in SA (Google Joystiq+Xbox 360 launches in South Africa, and be sure to read the hillarious comments too). SA, a population of 48 million sells slightly more consoles than New Zealand, and has a decent gaming & Anime (yes Anime, they have Animax on digital satellite tv) expo called rAge (google it, one of the lead devs of Far Cry 2 even attended). Africa will be a viable market in 20 years tops. Like I said its more advanced than most of you think.

I have been pretty long but I have clearly missed something. =D

I am not questioning it's viability as a market.

I am saying it is not going to be anywhere near on the same level of penetration as Japan/America/Europe in just 20 years. There is no way that in 20 years time 1 single console will have managed 160 million in Africa alone,.... perhaps there will be 20% of Africas population that can afford a console by then, I can't dispute that, but Japan now probably has over 95% of it's population able to afford a console, but not all of them want one.

It's taken Europe 20 years, with a population of roughly 700 million, to go from selling hardly any consoles up to PS2 selling 50 million, and you are asking Africa to triple that feat in the same time, with only a slightly higher (albeit increasing faster) population.

So I shall repeat, I am not saying Africa won't be viable in 20 years... I am saying it will still be trailing behind the current major regions in 20 years, especially when population is taken in to account

Could but wont, weak economy mass poverty in SA.

China could/will be the next big one. Europe will continue to grow into the biggest one by far.

Middle east could be a factor depends.

Afrika wont be even a factor 20m years from now.

Don't forget about renting. In the video rental close to where my in-laws live in São Paulo, you can rent a game for 72 hours for 14 Reais. (about 6 dollars). Since a game costs 260-280 Reais or more, this means you can rent the game 20 times, for a total of 60 days, before you have coughed up the full price.

Not a lot of games warrant more play time than that.

So, my in-laws just rent games or buy on the virtual console (since that has the same prices as US), if they are gonna get any more games, we've directed them to videogamesplus.ca for importing.

Buying in a Brazilian store is simply not going to happen.

@ksv - so true. I bought my PS3 and 2 games in the US, but now I rent at this place near my house for about that price. Its the only way I can play this games. Theres no way I can afford buying them here.

The only problem is games like Fallout 3, that are massive and it would take several rentals to get it all. But it would still be cheaper than buying it.

...True...true, oh and I cant believe we forgot about India ('_'). So many new markets, only time will tell who gos where, the entire world is changing, who knows what It'll look like in 2029? (o.0)...@ Twingo, yes it will and always has been, where do you think the copper, coltan and other components in your electrical devices come from? Antarctica? And the year thing is irrelevant, as technology speeds things up. It took Europe about 200 years (and two world wars as well as colonies and mass exploitation) to reach its current level. Its taken China only like 30 to get this far (with a lot less drama)...lets just wait for 20 long years and see what happens.