Category: Apps

Mobile games aren’t being played as much as they once were

Flurry Analytics has reported that people simply aren’t as into the gaming apps they used to play.

Though smartphones are very near to reaching the saturation point, to the level that even babies who can barely talk are perfectly capable of swiping on a touchscreen, mobile games seem to have been sliding in their popularity.

This indicates that the way in which people are using their smartphones and tablets is continuing to evolve.

While mobile games do still remain quite popular and they may have been the driving force behind the popularity of apps back when smartphones were still somewhat of a novelty, it doesn’t appear as though people are spending quite as much of their time with mobile gaming as they previously were. The results of a study that was recently conducted by Flurry Analytics has shown that Americans are now spending only about 15 percent of their total smartphone or tablet usage time by playing with these apps.

When considering that the figure from last year had been 32 percent, that represents a serious plummet.

Mobile Games - Game on SmartphoneFlurry Analytics has explained this downward trend in the amount of time spent playing mobile gaming apps by saying that there has been a reduction in both the strong new hit games over the last year, and the fact that a large number of millennials spend time watching other people playing games through services such as Twitch, instead of actually being the players, themselves.

It was also pointed out by Flurry Analytics that there was a rise in the number of users who were willing to pay for in-app purchases within the games that they play, instead of spending the time waiting to receive the same or similar rewards. They’d rather spend money to speed things up than have to wait to earn the prizes, reducing the amount of playing time that is required to achieve the same goal.

The mobile games report from Flurry explained that “Gamers are buying their way into games versus grinding their way through them,” adding that “Gamers are spending more money than time to effectively beat games or secure better standings rather than working their way to the top. This explains the decline in time spent and the major rise in in-app purchases, as Apple saw a record $1.7 billion in AppStore sales in July.”

PGA Tour event uses mobile payments

The golf event has brought a traditional experience together with some of the latest transaction tech.

Despite the fact that many of the most loved features of golf are based on centuries old traditions, the PGA Tour has invited some of the latest tech into its event by accepting mobile payments through smartphones.

To do this, the PGA Tour has partnered up with MasterCard, particularly in Edison, New Jersey.

The event held at the Barclays will use MasterCard’s mobile payments tech to make it possible for attendees to be able to buy what they want at concession stands using their smartphones. Each one of those stands is equipped with POS terminals that will allow for contactless payments, in addition to Qkr! – MasterPass. To incentivize the use of this tech for paying for these purchases, those who use their smartphones to buy will receive a discount of about 10 percent off the total bill.

Fans can make mobile payments directly using either Android or iOS based smartphones at the event.

Mobile Payments - Golf TournamentBy choosing to pay using Qkr!, fans are able to use mobile technology as a type of replacement for using a credit card. It is meant to boost the convenience level for people who will be attending the event, as people already bring their smartphones with them wherever they go. Moreover, the belief is that it will help to reduce the waiting time for the customers that are purchasing concessions.

According to PGA Tour senior vice president of corporate partnerships, Brian Oliver, “Technology plays such a critical role in enhancing the spectator experience at our golf tournaments, and our long-standing relationship with MasterCard has helped ensure that we are delivering the latest in payment technology.” He went on to point out that MasterCard is continually boosting the safety and convenience of making purchases while at the event course.

He also went on to express that they are quite excited to be using this mobile payments technology at The Barclays. The Qkr! application use is meant to help fans to be able to keep their attention on the main event so that they won’t ever miss a single thing.