Category: Mobile Gaming

Though it is probably coming, it is still likely another five to ten years away.

Having first debuted at CES in 2013,  is the latest Microsoft experiment that brings augmented reality into the living room of a home using a combination of a projector and a Kinect camera.

The purpose would be to enhance the environment in which consumers live every day.

The introduction of the augmented reality technology explained that it was meant to “blur the lines between on-screen content and the environment we live in.” There were a series of different proposed applications for this type of technology and experience. However, the most commonly noted was its potential for integration with gaming in order to generate an exceptionally exciting playing experience.

Augmented reality would allow imagery to be projected around the entire space, not just on the screen.

The result of this augmented reality gaming projection would be an expansion of its boundaries, for an added layer of game playing immersion. This would allow features to be seen all around the individual, not just straight ahead. In theory, this could mean everything from wildlife to projected weather effects.

Microsoft explained that the augmented reality tech would be made possible through one of its “next-generation gaming console” devices. That hints that it could potentially be present in one of the next versions of the Xbox. At the same time, Microsoft has been repeatedly saying that “it’s purely a research project,” so consumers might not want to get their hopes up, quite yet.

Hrvoje Benko, from Microsoft Research, explained that IntelliRoom and the related reference to next generation consoles are not necessarily an “explicit reference” to the company’s Xbox. However, it is more likely to be a statement regarding augmented reality technology that could come available in “five or ten years.”

At the same time, Benko did say that Kinect and Xbox teams have been partnered in a number of different IllumiRoom related projects. He did state that “there’s a dialogue going on continuously there.” Equally, though, he also pointed out that the augmented reality experience still has many issues that need to be resolved before it would come close to being ready for sale to consumers.

Game industry continues to shift to accommodate mobile games

It is no secret that mobile games have become much more than a simple novelty or passing fad. With the number of consumers with mobile devices growing, these games have become an integral part to the entertainment that many people experience all over the world. Mobile games now represent one of the most lucrative sectors of the game industry, and the allure of these games have caused even decades old development companies, many of whom have long been devoted to consoles, to embrace the mobile space eagerly. The growth of mobile games has yet to show any serious signs of slowing down, which may make mobile the most popular gaming platform in the near future.

Report predicts the future of mobile gaming

Juniper Research, a leading market research firm, has released a new report concerning the emerging trends being seeing in mobile games. According to the firm, consumers will spend more than $3 billion on mobile games in 2016 worldwide. The firm notes that $301 million was spent on these games in 2012, showing that mobile games are growing at a very rapid pace. Juniper Research suggests that the mobile platform will grow ten times larger in terms of sales by the end of 2016.

Tablets expected to be device of choice for gamers

The report notes that the Far East, China, and North American markets will account for 86% of all mobile games spending in 2016. Tablets will be the preferred platform that consumers use to play games as they are beginning to be built with hardware dedicated to gaming. More games are also being designed with tablets in mind, especially those of the free-to-play model, which have already proven significantly popular among consumers.

Firm anticipates mobile to dominate gaming

Juniper Research claims that mobile will be the primary form of gaming in the future. The firm anticipates that consumers will begin moving away from traditional consoles in droves due to the entertainment that can be had through mobile games. There is, however, a new generation of consoles expected to be launched this year, which may be able to ensnare the interests of gamers once again.