Tag: idc

Mobile games may herald the demise of handheld devices

| September 30, 2013

Sony and Nintendo show concern over mobile games

The growing popularity of mobile games has been a good trend for developers around the world, many of whom had struggled for years to turn their passion into a lucrative career. While these games have become one of the most promising sectors of the global game industry, the popularity of mobile games may be causing some problems for two of the industry’s titans. Both Sony and Nintendo are beginning to show concern that games for iOS and Android devices are becoming more successful than those for handheld devices, such as the Playstation Vita and Nintento 3DS.

Mobile games are making four times the revenue as games for handheld devices

A recent report from research firms IDC and App Annie shows that games for iOS and Android platforms make four times the revenue when compared to games for Sony and Nintendo handheld devices. The vast majority of these mobile games encourage consumers to spend money by offering additional content, some of which can only be unlocked through the use of digital currencies, which can be bought at any time. Typically, games for Sony and Nintendo devices do not focus on micro-transactions and in-game purchases, which may be a missed opportunity considering the lucrative nature of mobile gaming.

Mobile Games - Handheld games lose groundUK consumers show a strong love for mobile gaming

A similar study from research firm comScore shows that more than 20 million consumers in the United Kingdom alone play mobile games every month. It is estimated that British consumers have spent an average of $400 million on mobile gaming this year alone. Many people are beginning to favor their smartphones and tablets for gaming, abandoning other handheld gaming devices that had once held their attention. This could be a problematic issue for both Sony and Nintendo, as both companies have a strong focus on promoting their handheld devices.

Publishers are flocking to the mobile sector

A growing number of influential publishers are beginning to take the mobile space more seriously. Companies like Electronic Arts and Activision are looking to take advantage of the growing popularity of mobile games, publishing a wide variety of titles that are exclusive to smartphones and tablets. Both Sony and Nintendo have expressed interest in the mobile sector, but the companies may soon be forced to embrace mobile gaming lest they be left behind by the changing interests of consumers.

Advertisers set sights on mobile games

| June 21, 2013

Mobile games are getting more attention in the marketing sector

Mobile games have come to represent some of the highest rates of consumer engagement within the mobile sector. Consumers throughout the world have proven that they have an insatiable appetite for mobile games and the popularity of these games continues to grow rapidly. Mobile games are not only growing more popular with consumers, of course, and advertisers are beginning to look at these games as ideal platforms through which to connect with consumers.

Report shows that advertisers are beginning to favor mobile platforms

Advertisers are beginning to focus on mobile games more heavily around the world. A new report from App Annie and IDC notes that as mobile games grow among consumers, so too does the amount of money that advertisers are spending on such games. Advertisers do not typically invest in the development of games, but they do purchase marketing space within that game. Marketing in console games has been tricky due to the fact that consumers can rarely engage typical in-game marketing. This is where mobile games shine for advertisers.

advertisers set sights on mobile gamesMobile games could be ideal marketing tools

Mobile games are, essentially, nothing more than applications for mobile devices. These applications are lightweight programs that are somewhat fluid when it comes to the features that they offer. This means that it is relatively simple to include some kind of advertisement into these applications. Moreover, these advertisements can actually be interacted with by consumers, making them quite effective when it comes to consumer engagement. Mobile games, which already involve consumer participation, have proven to be effective marketing platforms due to the fact that consumers will often interact with ads they see in their mobile games.

Advertising revenue in the mobile games sector to reach $12 billion this year

According to the report from App Annie and IDC, the total advertising revenue coming from the mobile games space is expected to reach $12 billion this year. Advertisers are likely to continue focusing more heavily on mobile games in the future in order to engage a new generation of consumers. Consumers have, thus far, been relatively welcoming to the advertisements that they see in mobile games, though some argue that these ads detract from the gaming experience.