China is quickly becoming a leader in the gaming market
China is well on its way to establishing itself as the most lucrative mobile games market in the world. The country has become a hub of activity when it comes to mobile gaming. Many consumers throughout the country are tethered to their mobile devices, which they use in just about every aspect of their daily lives, including gaming. Games are particular popular among those that commute to work and the majority of consumers have shown that they are quite willing to pay for the games that they enjoy.
Chinese consumers spend $13 billion on mobile games
According to data from the 2013 China Game Industry Annual Conference, Chinese consumers have paid more than $13 billion on mobile games in 2013. The majority of this money came through microtransactions. These transactions have become popular throughout the game industry and are used to provide consumers with access to new digital content. Microtransactions have become a very lucrative business model for developers and publishers alike and have begun to find their way into traditional games, expanding beyond the mobile space.
Gaming is becoming more convenient
Standalone mobile games currently account for 64% of the market in China. These games can be played on their own without having to be launched through a social media site or through a third party platform. Browser games, such as those played on social media sites, are also quite popular. Consumers appear to favor mobile games because of their convenience and the fact that they can be played anywhere and at any time. These games do not require any significant time investment, making them less stressful to play.
Developers move to take advantage of growing popularity
Growing sales of mobile devices is expected to impact the Chinese gaming market. As more consumers gain access to smartphones and tablets, more people are expected to be exposed to mobile gaming. Developers in China have been producing mobile games at a rapid rate in order to accommodate with consumer demand.
China sees strong growth in mobile games market
Mobile games are popular all over the world, but in China, the game market has boomed in the first quarter. Gaming in China has been a somewhat tricky situation for the past several years. The Central Government imposed a ban on gaming consoles in 2000 that has all but stymied the country’s market for console games. Despite the ban, many Chinese consumers consider themselves to be avid gamers and, in the past, have turned to PC gaming over other forms. With the advent of mobile technology, however, these consumers have been showing a great deal of interest in mobile games.
Games market grows as mobile technology thrives
China’s mobile games market has been experiencing strong growth over the past several months. Consumers have proven themselves to be heavily reliant on their mobile devices, which also means that they turn to these devices for entertainment when necessary. Mobile games have become an ideal form of entertainment for commuters and for students spending time between classes. These people are not only willing to spend their time on mobile games, of course, as they are also eager to spend money on these games as well.
Market exceeds $350 million in first quarter
The country’s market for mobile games has breached the $350 million mark for the first quarter of this year, a 30% increase over what it had been during the same quarter of 2012. The boom is being attributed to the growing popularity of so called mobile network games — games that require an Internet connection to play. These mobile games typically offer strong social elements that allow consumers to connect with one another and play together.
Console ban may be good for the mobile games sector
China’s ban on consoles may be a powerful boon for mobile games. The lack of competition in this given market has allowed mobile games to flourish and reach a large portion of the population. Most of the mobile games enjoyed by consumers are free to obtain, but also offer content for a modest fee. Consumers have proven that they are happy to pay for additional content, as long as the game can hold their attention.
