Report shows that UK consumers are flocking to mobile games
Leading market research firm comScore has released a new report concerning mobile games and their popularity among consumers in the United Kingdom. The report shows that the number of people that play mobile games on a daily basis has almost doubled since January 2011. Mobile games are becoming quite popular among consumers as the ownership of smartphones and tablets grows and many people are playing these games while commuting or while waiting in lines or for appointments.
Majority of gamers play from home
The report shows that gaming is quickly becoming the most popular pastime among UK consumers with smartphones. While the portability of mobile games has been an attractive feature to many consumers, the report shows that 64% of consumers play these games from their homes, with only 33% of consumers play mobile games while commuting. Not only are mobile games establishing a strong presence among consumers, people have shown a strong interest in spending money on these games.
In-game purchases are growing
The comScore report shows that 2.2 million consumers have made in-game purchases. The majority of these purchases came from iOS devices, with 28% of purchases coming from Android devices. Free mobile games are the most popular among consumers, but these games typically include in-game purchases that can unlock additional content or make the game somewhat easier to play.
Consumers becoming more comfortable with spending money on mobile games
While free mobile games are currently very popular among consumers, this may not be the case in the future. Collectively, UK consumers have spent more than $400 million on mobile games. This amount is expected to increase over the coming years. This may be due to a prevailing concept among consumers that free games are lower quality than those that are associated with a fee. More consumers are showing willingness to play for mobile games
Facebook unveils new publishing service for mobile games
Facebook has taken a bold step and has launched its own publishing venture for mobile games. Facebook Mobile Games Publishing is designed to cater to small and medium-sized developers and will provide them with a platform to release and promote their games. Mobile games have become a very attractive sector of the game industry and embracing these games could be a very lucrative move for Facebook. The social network already boasts of a strong presence in the social gaming sector, wherein it has enjoyed a great deal of success over the past several years.
Small and medium-sized developers will have access to Facebook publishing
Through its new publishing platform, Facebook will be able to select game developers and offer a variety of publishing and promotional services. Facebook expects that the platform will attract high-quality mobile games to the social network, which will be used to engage millions of users around the world. Much of Facebook’s interest in mobile games has to do with advertising, as these games typically thrive through in-app marketing.
Social network will not fund the development of mobile games
Despite the name of the social network’s new venture, Facebook will not be fulfilling the traditional role of a publisher in the game industry. The social network will not be funding the development of mobile games and will only be promoting these games through various channels based on its marketing and analytic data. Developers will have access to this data, which Facebook will encourage them to use in order to develop mobile games that are attractive to specific demographics.
Publishing platform still in its pilot phase
Facebook is currently working with a small number of developers for the first stages of its publishing venture. Developers are free to sign up for Facebook Mobile Games Publishing, but the social network is not likely to expand its operations until later this year. There are many aspects of publishing and promotion that Facebook has yet to become comfortable with and the social network is keen to ensure that its latest mobile games venture goes off without a hitch.
