Tag: tablet games

Screen resolution may have a huge affect on mobile games monetization

| March 25, 2013

High Resolution Key to Mobile Games SuccessHigh resolution devices may be the key to successful mobile games

Mobile games have become something of a phenomenon in the game industry. These games have proven to be rampantly popular with consumers, many of whom are more than willing to participate in in-game advertising and mobile purchases. As such, the mobile games market is considered to be significantly lucrative and home to very promising opportunities for developers. These developers do, of course, have to find ways to encourage consumers to make in-app purchases. A new study from mobile games studio Pocket Gems suggests that this may be a matter of quality in mobile technology rather than mobile games themselves.

Study suggests screen quality influences in-app purchases

The study from Pocket Gems suggests that the quality of a mobile devices screen directly influences whether consumers will make an in-app purchase. Consumers that play mobile games on better quality screens, such as those typically found on tablet devices, are more likely to make in-app purchases than those that play games on lower quality screens. Pocket Gems notes that Android users with high resolution mobile devices are up to 10 times more likely to purchase in-game items or virtual currencies.

Popularity of high resolution devices may be a sign of disposable income

This may be because many consumers consider high resolution screens to be synonymous with processing power for mobile devices, which may lead consumers to believe that some mobile games are better than they actually are. Consumers that have a high opinion of a game or its developer typically tend to support that game or developer more strongly. Pocket Gems notes that consumers with high resolution devices are more likely to have disposable incomes as well, which makes them more likely to conduct in-app purchases.

Android shows greatest potential for mobile games monetization

The study suggests that mobile games developers looking to find major success in the game industry may do well to tailor their games for high resolution devices. The study shows that the correlation between screen resolution and monetization is the highest in Android tablets. Conversely, the study shows that the iPad has no correlation between resolution and monetization whatsoever.

Zynga shifts focus to mobile games

| March 22, 2013

zynga mobile gamesZynga sees a future in mobile games

Zynga, the once-titan of social and mobile games, has been suffering from recent internal turmoil and consumer fallout. Last year, the company saw the exodus of several executives and the shockingly poor performance of its latest games. This poor performance came with feedback from consumers that suggested that the company was blatantly copying other popular games in order to attract more players. Zynga has survived several episodes of shedding employees over the past year and has managed to refocus itself on mobile games, hoping to reclaim its throne in the industry.

Tablets may be Zynga’s ideal platform

Zynga made its name with social games through its tight partnership with Facebook. In 2012, that partnership dissolved. Since then, Zynga has been working to take a new approach to its games in order to win favor with consumers once again. The company has set its sights on mobile games, noting the rising popularity of mobile devices and the willingness of mobile consumers to play such games. Zynga President Steve Chiang believes that tablets, in particular, is where Zynga will reclaim its success.

Tablets considered to be ultimate game platform for Steve Chiang

Zynga suggests that tablets are the ultimate game platform. Tablets are typically equipped with better hardware than smartphones, allowing for better performance in mobile games. Larger, more responsive screens also mean more detail in these games and better controls. Chiang suggests that FarmVille 2, the second rendition of the game that made Zynga a phenomenon, offers a better experience on a tablet device. The game, as well as other titles from Zynga, will make its way to tablet devices as Zynga focuses more on the mobile space.

Mobile games expected to become flagship brand for Zynga

Mobile games currently account for 30% of Zynga’s revenue. Much of the company’s resources are still devoted to social games, as many of its titles are still very popular on social networks like Facebook. By the end of 2013, however, mobile games are expected to become the prominent focus for the company and will begin to overshadow the social games that the developer has been created for several years.