In the gaming industry, digital distribution and the sale of virtual items will account for 40 percent of the anticipated $13.1 billion global online gaming market by 2012, according to DFC Intelligence, writes Next Generation (via MarketingVox).

In 2006, the global online gaming market was worth an estimated $4.5 billion.

In 2012, half of online-gaming digital distribution and virtual item sales revenues are forecast to come from East Asia; a quarter from North America; 18 percent from Europe; and 7 percent from Japan.

Digital distribution via gaming consoles will surpass $1 billion by 2012.

DFC also forecast that in-game ads on consoles will make up 35 percent of total in-game ad revenue in North America, the largest market for online in-game ads.