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Mobile games could be powerful marketing tools

Dan Gendro | March 10, 2013

Report highlights the marketing potential of mobile games

Mobile games are beloved by many due to the entertainment they can provide. They may have largely untapped marketing potential, however, according to a new report from ForeSights, a leading market research firm. The report highlights mobile games as marketing tools, suggesting that they can be used to promote products and services to a wide range of consumers. Consumers have shown that they are willing to participate in marketing that they find in mobile games, which has turned many of these games into effective marketing tools for those that know how to appeal to gamers.

Report identifies trends in mobile gaming

The report from ForeSights touches upon new opportunities emerging in mobile marketing, focusing on trends that are bringing marketing more in line with mobile gaming. These trends include willingness among consumers in engaging mobile advertisements that offer an interactive experience, rather than just directing them to a product website. Gamification of mobile advertisements has proven popular among consumers, especially those that have a strong love for mobile games.

Challenges exist that could make marketing difficult

There are some challenges in using mobile games as a marketing tool. A large portion of mobile gamers are young, between the ages of 12 and 17. Many of these people make use of their parent’s mobile devices in order to play mobile games. In recent years, collecting data from these consumers have become very controversial and it is becoming more common for young consumers to “mis-click” advertisements, constituting their unwilling participating in a marketing campaign. This can be particularly problematic if advertisements link directly to an e-commerce site, where it is easy to purchase products without actually intending to do so.

Developers show willingness to cater to advertisers

In-game advertisements are the primary way for developers of mobile games to generate revenue. Many developers design their games specifically with the concept of advertising in mind, but many of these games see little interest from advertisers that could see major benefits from engaging gamers. Mobile games have the ability to capture the attention of consumers and keep them focused on participating in gaming elements, if advertisers can find a way to do the same, mobile games may become the next major marketing tool.

NASA sets sights on mobile games

Dan Gendro | March 8, 2013

NASA looks to mobile games to promote space exploration

The game industry has long been considered a field of entertainment. Games offer people an escape from boredom and a chance to enjoy a virtual world that they would not get to experience normally. Mobile games have become very popular, as they can be played anywhere and at any time. They are also becoming increasingly important in the world of science, where the concept of gaming is having a profound impact on research.

Developers called upon by NASA

NASA has issued a call to hundreds of game developers, many of whom specialize in mobile games. These developers are being summoned to the agency’s Ames Research Center in California, where they will participate in an initiative designed to combine games with science. Developers answering the call will be asked to create games that are designed to make real science and technology appeal to the general public. These games will highlight the advancements being made in aerospace exploration.

Mobile games may encourage people to get involved in exploration

NASA is eager to find new people that are interested in exploring space, and believes that gamers may be the ideal candidates. Mobile games will be used to reach out to these people, encouraging them to examine the prospects of space exploration and discovering the secrets of the universe. The games that will be developed at the Ames Research Center will touch upon a wide array of scientific theories, all of which are firmly rooted in actual science and not science-fiction.

NASA has a history with games

This is not the first time NASA has shown interest in mobile games. The agency is responsible for Moonbase Alpha, a lunar exploration game, and Mars Rover Landing, which mimicked the Curiosity’s recent arrival to Mars. Whether mobile games will make space exploration more appealing to gamers has yet to be seen, as many of these people have been steeped in games that depict a somewhat scientifically inaccurate representation of space for the sake of entertainment.