Windows Phone gets mobile payments thanks to Fortumo
Mobile payments have been growing very popular with consumers around the world. For those without Android or iOS devices, however, mobile payments are little more than a fancy idea. That is about to change thanks to Fortumo, an international mobile payments provider. This week, the company announced the launch of a new mobile payments application for Windows Phone. This makes Fortumo the first third-party provider of mobile commerce services on Microsoft platforms.
New platform makes mobile payments possible on Windows 8 and Windows Phone devices
The new application features cross-platform capabilities, making it available for the Windows 8 operating system, Windows RT, and Windows Phone. The application allows for mobile payments to be made through other applications, such as mobile games. Payments can also be facilitated through applications on laptops and desktops that run any version of Windows 8. Notably, the platform is designed with game developers in mind.
Mobile games may benefit from new platform
Mobile games have become a very powerful force in the game industry. Many developers have made their fortunes through a strong focus on mobile games. The reason these games have so much financial potential is because of
advertising and their ability to foster in-app purchases. Most mobile games offer some form of virtual currency or the opportunity to unlock additional content for a modest price. Consumers have a proclivity for these mobile payments because they offer some form of measurable game, at least in an entertainment capacity.
Fortumo aims to bring more developers to Windows Phone
Fortumo suggests that its new application can help game developers engage mobile consumers more effectively. Mobile games that allow for mobile payments are more likely to find success in the gaming market due to factors such as convenience and access to additional content. Fortumo aims to help developers become more accepting of the Windows Phone platform, on which it has been difficult to monetize mobile games in the past.
Havok considers mobile games part of gaming’s future
Mobile devices have begun to play a major role in the game industry. Mobile games have become one of the most lucrative sectors of the industry, even cutting into console sales and other hardware. Game developers are beginning to take the mobile space more seriously as a result, with many studios that had once been devoted exclusively to consoles have begun creating games for mobile platforms. Havok, creators of the most widely used graphics engine in the game industry, is one among several in its industry that is beginning to consider mobile as the future of gaming.
Company aims to sidestep technological constraints of mobile platforms
The Havok Engine is used in most of today’s most popular games, whether they are on a console or on a PC. Havok is not used for mobile games, however, due to the fact that it is not designed for mobile platforms. Smartphones and tablets are very different from consoles. While the technology that separates these platforms from one another is very similar, mobile devices are typically less capable of handling games and high-demand software than consoles are. Thus, mobile devices are simply incompatible with the Havok Engine. That does not stop Havok from making an entry into the mobile space, of course.
Project Anarchy to bring 3D to mobile games
This week, Havok has announced its Project Anarchy initiative. Project Anarchy is a 3D graphics engine designed specifically for mobile games. The engine will allow developers to create high fidelity 3D mobile games, which are currently a rarity in the game industry. The vast majority of mobile games are 2D, leveraging a cartoonish style to appeal to young consumers and be more accessible to various mobile platforms. While 2D styles have been well received among consumers, Havok believes that mobile technology has reached a point where mobile games can enter into a new generation.
Project Anarchy will be available for free
Project Anarchy boasts of a wide range of features that can help make a visually impressive game, but the most notable aspect of the engine is that it is free. Havok has no intention of charging developers to use the Project Anarchy engine. This immediately makes it accessible to independent developers that are not backed by a large budget, as typical graphics engines are excessively expensive.
