Mobile games generate more revenue than portable consoles

Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets have come to play a major role in the game industry. The advent of smartphones birthed the popularity of applications, relatively light pieces of software that provide services and entertainment for people all over the world. As smartphones became more advanced, so too did their applications. Mobile games have become the most popular of these applications, and they have benefitted tremendously from the advances made in mobile technology. Now, these mobile games are generating revenue that is dwarfing that produced through the game industry’s much touted portable consoles.

Consoles not living up to expectations

Nintendo and Sony are the biggest names in the portable console market. Both companies recently released portable consoles that were highly anticipated among consumers. Despite this anticipation, however, these consoles did not sell as well as the companies had hopes. Both the Nintendo 3DS and Sony Playstation Vita have seen lackluster sales globally and because these consoles are not universally favored by consumers, the games they support have generated less revenue than Sony and Nintendo would have liked.

Data highlights popularity of mobile games

Research firms IDC and App Annie have release data concerning the disparity in the revenues generated through mobile games and portable consoles. The data shows that portable consoles see high sales during holiday seasons, but mobile games account for year-round spending. Approximately 60% of all app spending in Apple’s App Store, and 80% in Google Play, was directed to mobile games. Most of these games include in-game transactions, which entice gamers to purchase power-ups or virtual currencies in order to gain an edge.

Game industry continues to adjust to the clout of mobile devices

The mobile games market has become extremely influential in the overall game industry. Large developers that had, in the past, been focused exclusively on consoles are beginning to set their sights on mobile devices in order to tap into a new generation of consumers. Publishers like Electronic Arts and Activision are also taking a strong position on mobile gaming, expecting to see major success in this market that they have not seen in portable consoles.

A Turkish small business has used the barcodes to filter out applicants who aren’t accurate enough.

An upscale tattoo business in Istanbul has launched a hiring campaign that uses QR codes to help to test an individual’s accuracy, even before he or she is allowed to actually apply for the job.

The print ad barcodes were used as a unique and innovative strategy to stop sloppy artists from applying.

The typical application process for a tattoo artist would involve filling in the form, having an interview, and performing a test to make sure that he or she is adequately skilled. However, this can lead to a lengthy, uncomfortable, or even angry process as there are far more people who apply for the job than are actually up to the standards of the business. Some of this struggle has been overcome through the use of QR codes.

The tattoo artists who wanted to apply were required to fill out blank QR codes in the print advertisements.

The tattoo business, Berrge Tattoo, hired Istanbul based marketing agency, BÜRO, in order to help to create the smartphone friendly campaign. It integrated the use of a print ad, QR codes, and the innovative website to add an additional important step to its hiring process. The result was highly creative and completely unique.

The QR codes within the ad, itself, became a central part of the hiring process. There were blank barcodes printed in flesh color in the ad, which were required to be completed in order to make it possible to scan them with a smartphone using a scanner app. Scanning a properly completed barcode directed the individual to the application form for the position. However, if the task was not completed with enough accuracy, the code would not resolve and the individual would not be able to apply.

This use of the QR codes was very helpful in weeding out those applicants that paid the least attention to detail and accuracy, before the company was even required to receive their application forms or meet them for an interview. As the majority of scanners allow for a 30 percent margin of error, there was still some room to make mistakes, but those applicants would have the opportunity to prove themselves in their interviews and actual tests.