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Mobile gaming thrives in China amidst ban on consoles

| January 30, 2013

Mobile Gaming ChinaConsole ban may soon be lifted due to performance of mobile gaming

For over a decade, China has been a very poor market for the game industry. Ten years ago, the Central Government issues a ban on the manufacture, sale, and import of game consoles. While this has not stopped gaming from being an influential force in China, the market has been relatively stagnate since the ban was introduced. This ban may soon be abolished, however, due in no small part to the influence China has had on the mobile gaming space.

Mobile gaming unabashed by console ban

While consoles have been banned in China for several years, mobile gaming is not restricted to traditional systems. Instead, mobile games are entirely based on devices like smart phones and tablets. Because these devices cannot be considered gaming consoles, they are not susceptible to the ban instituted by the Central Government. The clout that the country holds in the mobile gaming market has become massive, accounting for some $6.38 billion during the fourth quarter of 2012. Apple held the majority of the Chinese market in thrall during this period.

China may become a very promising market for game industry

If China decides to rescind its ban on consoles, the game industry may be in for a major shift. Game developers and publishers have been itching for an opportunity to enter into the market, which is considered an untapped field of massive promise. The world’s largest console makers, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, are eager to enter into the market for t he same reasons. While lifting the ban could be good news for the game industry, it may also open the way for a new force to emerge therein.

Lifting the ban could allow Chinese companies to reshape the industry

If the Central Government does lift the ban, Chinese companies will be able to develop and produce their own consoles. Given the fact that two of China’s largest smart phone developers have produced devices that rivaled the iPhone and Android devices in the fourth quarter of 2012, such companies may be able to introduce a console that could dethrone the industry’s traditional heavyweights. A more accommodating atmosphere for gaming could also attribute a major amount of momentum to the country’s mobile gaming market.

 

Mobile marketing nets Facebook more attention from investors

| January 30, 2013

Facebook mobile marketingFacebook generates hype with focus on mobile marketing

Facebook is expected to report in full 2012 earnings by the end of January, which is likely to have investors paying close attention to the social networking company. Facebook went public in 2012, but experienced lackluster participation from investors, who were unwilling to meet the company’s own predictions of its share price. Investors are likely to be interested in the mobile advertising efforts that Facebook has been making in recent months. The company’s focus on mobile marketing may help rekindle the interest investors had in Facebook once upon a time.

Facebook adopts more aggressive stance in mobile space

Facebook has been introducing a multitude of new features in recent months. Many of these features are designed to make the social network easier to use by consumers. A significant portion of features have been added to benefit companies and advertisers looking to connect with these consumers. Mobile marketing has been one of the key focuses of Facebook in this endeavor, and the social network has been providing advertisers with better tools to engage their audiences.

Graph Search may be a major victory for Facebook

Earlier this month, Facebook introduced a new search function that opened the gateway for location-based services and better targeting of consumers for advertisers. The Facebook Graph Search, as it is called, allows marketers to make use of keywords to find promising demographics on the social network. These advertisers can then find out where these consumers live, what they like, and make use of other information that could be vital to the development of an engaging mobile marketing campaign.

Third quarter reports show that mobile focus has benefitted Facebook

Mobile marketing is expected to help Facebook see some growth. Thus far, Facebook’s focus on the mobile space has yielded significant benefits, with the company’s shares registering an increase of 35% in the third quarter of 2012. Whether the fourth quarter will produce similar results has yet to be seen, but investors are likely to pay close attention to the company’s future mobile marketing efforts, as long as Facebook can continue seeing progress therein.