Platforms
Our ability to publish game s across multiple platforms, through multiple distribution channels, and directly to consumers (online and wirelessly) has been, and will continue to be, another cornerstone of our business strategy. Technology advances continue to create new platforms and distribution opportunities for interactive entertainment and these technologies impact the way consumers play video games. We expect that new platforms will continue to grow the consumer base for our products while also providing competition for established video game platforms.
Further, we are investing significantly in our own distribution platform, which consumers are already using to purchase and play games directly from us. Through online portals such as Origin and Play4Free, we are acquiring consumers of our games and game services directly, and establishing on-going relationships with them. Through these relationships, we are engaging them in their favorite brands across a number of devices, allowing them to communicate with their friends, and inviting them to try our other game experiences. We have generated substantial growth in new business models and alternative revenue streams (such as subscription, micro-transactions, and advertising) based on the continued expansion of our online and wireless platforms.
Digital Content Distribution and Services
Consumers are spending an ever-increasing portion of their money and time on interactive entertainment that is accessible online, or through mobile digital devices such as smart phones, or through social networks such as Facebook. We provide a variety of online-delivered products and services including through our Origin platform. Many of our games that are available as packaged goods products are also available through direct online download through the Internet. We also offer online-delivered content and services that are add-ons or related to our packaged goods products such as additional game content or enhancements of multiplayer services. Further, we provide other games, content and services that are available only via electronic delivery, such as Internet-only games and game services, and games for mobile devices.
Advances in mobile technology have resulted in a variety of new and evolving devices that are being used to play games by an ever-broadening base of consumers. We have responded to these advances in technology and consumer acceptance of digital distribution by offering different sales models, such as subscription services, online downloads for a one-time fee, micro-transactions and advertising-supported free-to-play games and game sites. In addition, we offer our consumers the ability to play a game across platforms on multiple devices. We significantly increased the revenues that we derive from wireless, Internet-derived and advertising (digital) products and services from $743 million in fiscal year 2011 to $1,159 million in fiscal year 2012 and we expect this portion of our business to continue to grow in fiscal 2013 and beyond.
Wireless and Other Emerging Platforms
Advances in technology have resulted in a variety of platforms for interactive entertainment.
Examples include wireless technologies, streaming gaming services, and Internet platforms. Our efforts in wireless interactive entertainment are focused in downloadable games for mobile devices. These platforms grow the consumer base for our business while also providing competition to existing established video game platforms. We expect sales of games for wireless and other emerging platforms to continue to be an important part of our business.
Competition
We compete with other video game companies for the leisure time and discretionary spending of consumers, as well as with providers of different forms of entertainment, such as motion pictures, television, social networking, online casual entertainment, and music. Our competitors vary in size from very small companies
