Mind Commerce publishes new study concerning SoLoMo in the mobile space
Mind Commerce, a leading mobile research firm, has been releasing numerous studies concerning the mobile space recently. One of the latest studies coming from Mind Commerce is the “Social Local Mobile (SoLoMo) Game-Play Behavior in Free2Play, Virtual Goods & Hybrid Ecosystem” report. The 46-page report documents the emerging trends of the Social, Local, and Mobile (SoLoMo) aspect of the mobile world. According to Mind Commerce, SoLoMo is becoming something that businesses and application developers may need to pay more attention to.
Demand for social games and location-based services on the rise
SoLoMo refers to a wide variety of applications that incorporate gaming with social aspects and location-based services. Social games, such as those found on Facebook, that offer content relating to a player’s physical location are a prime example of this concept. Many consumers have become enthralled by such games, largely because of the fact that these games are free-to-play. Mind Commerce suggests that SoLoMo is beginning to approach a place where it can revitalize the mobile gaming ecosystem.
Small companies may establish a strong competitive edge with SoLoMo
As more developers begin to embrace SoLoMo, they may be establishing a strong competitive edge against larger and more established companies. Larger companies may have a wider reach than independent developers, but they are also more likely to conform to traditional forms of engagement and development. Large development studios tends to produce games that do not have social aspects or those that do not include location-based services. While these companies are expected to begin adapting to meet the demands of consumers, smaller companies may have already established a significant head start.
Game industry expected to put focus on SoLoMo in 2013
The SoLoMo study from Mind Commerce is geared for social media companies, location-based service developers, and the game industry in general. These parties are likely to find some benefit in the information they can attain through the SoLoMo study. Focus on SoLoMo is expected to become much more common throughout the game industry in 2013.
The past year has seen many highs and lows for the game industry and its various companies
The advent of mobile gaming has had a significant impact on the industry as a whole and has helped spawn trends that are likely to dictate the course of the game industry into the future. With more consumers showing favor for mobile gaming over traditional channels, encouraging developers to focus more on mobile platforms and incorporate new business methods that defy tradition.
Research highlights the prospects of mobile gaming
According to research from Gartner, more than 821 million smart phones and tablets were sold in the U.S. throughout 2012. As the penetration of mobile devices increased, so too did the focus on mobile games. Rovio, developers of the popular Angry Birds franchise, is one of the prime examples of the success that can be found in the mobile gaming space. The developer’s success has encouraged several other development studios to enter into the mobile space. Gartner research suggests that 44% of mobile consumers participate in mobile gaming, creating a significant incentive for game developers to target this audience.
Developers turning to corwdfunding
Crowdfunding is also becoming a popular trend in the game industry, especially where mobile gaming is concerned. Platforms like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo have paved the way for game development studios to tap directly into consumers for financial support. Several developers have used this to great success. Crowdfunding is expected to help provide the mobile gaming space with more momentum into 2013, especially as larger development studios begin making use of such platforms to fund ambitious mobile games.
Problems persist for game industry as a whole
Though the mobile gaming market represents significant opportunities, economic turmoil continues to cause problems throughout the game industry. Recently, major developer THQ filed for bankruptcy after a long period of financial trouble. Larger companies, such as Blizzard Entertainment, Sega, and Electronic Arts, have also reported layoffs in recent months. While many of these setbacks are expected to be rectified in the coming year, the industry is still likely to experience turmoil to some degree in 2013.
