Tag: mobile gaming apps

Games applications are growing in popularity among players with both tablets and smartphones.

When it comes to video games, the mobile gaming apps sector appears to be continuing its path toward a powerful and growing lead over its competition, which has traditionally been from the console category.

Analysts are now predicting that mobile games will surpass consoles before the end of this year.

In fact, recent data has indicate that mobile gaming apps have already become an industry that is worth a tremendous $25 billion. Analysts see this revenue climbing to $40 billion by 2018. As the expectations of gamers for mobile gaming apps continue to rise, companies are often letting some of their older titles drop so that they will be able to focus their attention on new and cutting edge innovations in game applications.

There are certain companies that have been quite successful in their own mobile gaming apps.

Those for which gamers currently have the highest expectations include Electronic Arts (EA), Tapinator, Activision Blizzard, Take-Two Interactive Software and Glu Mobile, among others. These mobile app developers have not only already put out some highly popular titles, but they also have some very promising titles in the pipes that will be released over future months and years.

This is causing a fascinating shift in the key companies within the video game industry and it is showing that many players are looking for a different experience from that of a console. After all, they are playing on their smartphones and tablets, which are devices that they already have, instead of having to purchase a console for hundreds of dollars. Moreover, they are purchasing games for a few dollars, or are playing them for free on their smartphones and tablets, whereas console games are notoriously expensive – particularly when it comes to the popular ones.

While console games are far from being irrelevant, the market for mobile gaming apps is ever expanding as smartphone penetration becomes ever greater in virtually every market around the world. The very nature of these applications has offered them a considerably greater reach among consumers across the globe.

Vungle gives mobile gamers incentive to watch video ads.

While ads keep mobile gaming apps free, one of the main complaints mobile gamers have with regard to these advertisements is that they pop-up while they are playing and this disrupts the game. However, in-app advertising platform Vungle has created a technique that actually gives gamers incentive to watch the ads.

Vungle delivers ads without interrupting the player’s gaming experience.

The ads that Vungle puts inside a mobile game promote other games or smartphone apps. That said, unlike other traditional forms of in-app advertising that disrupts the game, Vungle provides an opt-in approach that also includes a benefit for the player.

Ville Heijari of Vungle explains that “when we do an opt-in approach, people actually want to see the ads.” He also went on to say that “gamers download the other applications that are being advertised, but they also gain some kind of benefit within the game or app.”

Vungle helps game developers make money from free mobile gaming apps and provides advertisers with a new audience.

The in-app video advertising company is helping developers of mobile games earn money from mobile users who, on average, are not interested in paying for apps. It also provides advertisers with a mobile audience for their ads.

For instance, RGB Express is a puzzle game on the Vungle platform. The games developer, Markus Kaikkonen, says that while the game was launched as a paid app for Apple devices, he decided to offer the Android version of the app for free in December 2014. In order to make money from it, Kaikkonene joined Vungle, which places video ads inside his game that rewards players with a game credit or hint, simply for watching a 15-second ad.

Kaikkonen explained that in the Android version, “the player can use hints to watch the solutions for the problems.” He added that the player can purchase more hints if they desire, but if they want to continue enjoying additions to the game for free, they can watch a Vungle video ad and obtain a hint at no cost.

In order to create space to plug in advertisements for consumer brands, Vungle’s strategy is to build up a customer base and boost overall mobile gaming app usage. Half of the ads Vungle puts into mobile games promotes games and smartphone apps, and the other half of the advertisements on the firm’s platform are paid for by companies like Nokia and Unilever.