3Q Silviu Stroie GM Computer Games and president of the Professional Gamers League

In what state is the e-gaming industry in Romania?
The Romanian e-gaming industry is estimated at EUR 20 million this year. Out of the 7 million people using the internet, about 2 million are active game players and 100,000 are hardcore gamers. Moreover, Romania is a fast growing gaming market due to its high-speed internet access through broadband connection and its PC-based profile: 90 percent of the market is made up of PC games, while consoles amount to 10 percent. The local gaming industry is still under-developed because of piracy: some 90 percent of PC games are acquired illegally.

The amount of money invested in gaming competitions to be held in Romania in 2011 reaches EUR 110,000. Romania is one of two countries in Europe, along with Germany, to have a national championship throughout the year.

What electronic games do Romanians prefer?
Romanians are avid players of DOTA and Counter Strike. There are about 500,000 gamers for each title. As far as sales are concerned, Counter Strike is by far the most popular. Computer Games has sold 30,000 copies CS:GO accounts this year alone. It is all the more impressive as Counter Strike has been on the market for over ten years.

How many performance gamers are there in the local gaming community?
In Romania there are about 20,000 performance gamers. The majority are aged 17-24, students living with their families. Men are the most passionate about PC games; few women are interested.
Top game players can boost their income by entering international or national electronic sports competitions, such as DreamHack Winter. The national and regional qualifiers – DreamHack Balkan – will take place in Constanta, at Forte Games, on November 5 and 6.
The prizes for the finals – DreamHack Winter 2011, to be held in Sweden from November 24-27 – amount to EUR 60,000.