Tag: thq

Deep Silver to take on mobile games

| March 1, 2013

deep silver mobile gamesDeveloper to begin hiring for mobile games push in coming weeks

Deep Silver, a game developer owned by Koch Media, has announced plans to enter into the mobile games space. The developer is looking to expand its development team by hiring additional talent. Deep Silver is one among many game developers that has begun to focus on the development of mobile games due to the growing popularity of mobile devices. The developer plans to announce new positions in the coming weeks across its development, sales, and marketing divisions.

Mobile technology makes gaming possible anywhere

Koch Media CEO Klemens Kundratitz notes that consumers can now play games wherever they are thanks to the proliferation of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Kundratits suggests, therefore, that making the transition toward mobile gaming is a logical business move for Deep Silver. The developer will not focus exclusively on mobile games, of course, as evident in the company’s recent acquisition of intellectual property from defunct game developer THQ.

Deep Silver to focus on cross-platform mobile games

Deep Silver aims to make its mobile games cross platform; available to all mobile operating systems. Some of the company’s console titles are also likely to have some representation in the mobile space, but the developer has yet to announce any plans concerning what games these might be. Menno van der Bil, commercial director for Deep Silver, claims that consumers can expect to see the same innovation and originality that they have come to expect from the developer.

Demand for mobile gaming continues to grow

Mobile games are expected to have a profound impact on the game industry. As consumers become more interested in mobile platforms, their interest in consoles may begin to wane. Indeed, the availability of mobile games and digital distribution has hurt the retail sale of physical game products. Deep Silver does not foresee any significant turbulence in the future of console gaming, but the developer is keen on establishing a formidable presence in the mobile gaming space in order to appeal to the interests of an evolving consumer base.

Kapitall documents the rise of mobile gaming

| December 27, 2012

Mobile Gaming growthKapitall analysis highlights the growth of mobile gaming over the years

Mobile gaming may soon become the dominating force in the game industry. Kapitall, an online investment platform, has been tracking the decline of traditional console gaming and the sale of physical gaming products. As sales continue to drop, they are being replaced by sales made through digital platforms, such a Steam and Gamestop. Game developers that focus solely on mobile gaming, such as Glue Mobile and Zynga, are also seeing significant gains as traditional platforms begin to wane.

Retails sales dropping off for consoles and games

According to Kapitall, retail game sales have dropped by 25% year-to-date, while console sales have plummeted by 30% year over year. A volatile economic climate is to blame to some degree, but so too is the retail price of most video games, which can range from $30 to $60, depending on the publisher of the game. Mobile gaming is faring much better, largely due to the fact that most mobile games are very inexpensive, with many being completely free.

Mobile gaming accounts for only a fraction of the entire market

Despite the strong advent of mobile gaming, however, mobile games account for only a fraction of the overall market. Digital downloads of games developed for consoles and PCs are strong and continue to gain momentum as more consumers show favor for online shopping over traditional forms of commerce. For these people, online shopping is simply more convenient and does not actually mean they are spending less on games, only that they do not have to pick them up from a physical store.

Gamers still willing to shell out money for console and PC games

Kapitall notes that gamers are not likely to abandon consoles in favor of mobile gaming. Mobile games typically offer a very shallow, linear experience that is designed around repetition rather than in-depth gameplay. As such, titles from companies like Electronic Arts, THQ, and Ubisoft are likely to continue selling well, even if those sales are not actually physical.