Tag: mobile games news

Mobile games may dethrone handheld games by the end of 2013

| April 30, 2013

Mobile Games - Handheld games lose groundMobile games establishing a formidable presence

Consumers are expected to spend more money on mobile games than those on traditional handheld systems by the end of 2013, according to forecasts from the International Data Corporation (IDC). The research firm has tracked the sales of handheld games for some time, finding the market somewhat volatile and relatively devoid of consumer interest. Even Nintendo, which has long reigned in the realm of handheld gaming, has been seeing lackluster sales for its 3DS platform. Mobile games seem to be replacing traditional handheld gaming as smartphones and tablets become more technologically advanced.

IDC predicts decline in handheld sales through 2017

The IDC anticipates that sales for the Nintendo 3DS and the Sony PS Vita will fall by 7% year-on-year through 2017. Mobile games are expected to pick up the slack due to their rampant popularity and the widespread availability of free-to-play titles. The IDC notes that handheld games will still be able to produce higher levels of revenue, however, due to the fact that many mobile games are either free or available at a very low price. This advantage is considered modest due to the fact that most mobile games have in-app purchases and advertisements, which account for the majority of the revenue generated by these games.

Android expected to become ideal platform for mobile games

Android is considered to be the most promising platform in the mobile games sector, according to the IDC. The firm notes that the Android platform is somewhat fragmented, making it difficult for game developers to find traction through the platform the same way they can find success with the iOS platform. Nonetheless, Android has been growing to become more intuitive and accommodating to the gaming environment. So much so that the IDC expects Android to beat out all other platforms in the mobile games field in the near future.

Free-to-play model continues to grow

Free-to-play mobile games will likely be the key to dominance over handheld games. The IDC predicts that the game industry will become more adept in fashioning free-to-play business models that allow consumers to enjoy mobile games for free while also offering valuable services for a fee. Consumers remain somewhat dubious concerning in-app purchases, often called microtransactions, but the IDC anticipates that consumers will grow more accommodating as this business model becomes the norm for the game industry.

Mobile games continue to grow in popularity

| April 29, 2013

Mobile Games PopularityJuniper Research study highlights growth of mobile games

Juniper Research, a leading market research firm, has released a new study on the state of mobile games. As with other studies in the same vein, Juniper’s notes that mobile games are gaining strong momentum among consumers as smartphones and tablets become more availability. Mobile games are helping many fulfill their need for entertainment throughout the day, while also providing sufficient distraction for those at work or traveling. The report paints a promising future for the mobile games sector as more people become involved in gaming on their mobile devices.

64 billion mobile games to be downloaded by 2017

The study from Juniper Research predicts that more than 64 billion mobile games will be downloaded by consumers by 2017, more than triple the number of downloads that were reported in 2012. While many mobile games are specifically designed to be addicting, Juniper Research claims that the most significant contributing factor to this growth is the increasing number of free-to-play mobile games. These games require no purchase and are available to all consumers, immediately making them more attractive than games that are associated with a fee.

Games prove most popular with tablet owners

The study shows that tablet owners are particularly fond of mobile games. Juniper Research suspects that the reason mobile games are so popular among tablet owners is due to the better controls, larger screens, and higher fidelity visuals that can be achieved through these devices. As such, tablet games are considered slightly better than their smartphone counterparts among consumers. The study suggests that there are twice as many downloads for mobile games among tablet owners than among smartphone owners.

Mobile games expected to continue growing beyond 2017

Juniper Research does not predict the growth of mobile games to slow down beyond 2017. These games have established themselves as a cornerstone of the game industry and many developers and publishers therein are beginning to consider mobile games an ideal medium to consumer engagement. These games have also become one of the most lucrative sectors of the game industry.