Mobile games are picking up steam in China
When it comes to online gaming, China is a thriving market. China has been closed off to console gaming for several years, but this has allowed the PC gaming sector to thrive. While laws exist in the country that limit the amount of time a person can spend on online games, the PC game market has managed to grow exponentially over the past few years. According to a new report from Niko Partners, the PC online game market in China is expected to hit $11.9 billion in revenue by the end of this year. Mobile games, however, may derail these forecasts.
Online games continue to prove very successful among consumers
One of the most popular online games in China currently is World of Warcraft. This game has helped the PC gaming market thrive due to its addicting nature and the hours upon hours of content it offers to players. Less popular online games have also helped the growth of the market, but the grip that these games have on the Chinese market may be loosened by a major shift in focus toward mobile games and other, less casual titles.
Mobile games offer consumers more freedom
The Chinese market is beginning to grow more interested in mobile games. Part of the reason behind this is because these games are often more social and much more casual than other online games. China also does not restrict the time consumers can spend on mobile games, and these games are not required to be played in Internet cafes, making them immediately more accommodating to those that are not interested in spending a few hours in a particular space.
Online games expected to continue showing strong progress
While online games may be losing their luster with Chinese consumers to some degree, the market is still responsible for strong revenue. Niko Partners predicts that the online PC gaming market will continue to grow despite the impact of mobile games and that this growth will remain steady for the next five years.
Forced feedback may make mobile games more engaging
Researchers from Germany’s Hasso Plattner Institute are working to bring forced feedback to mobile games. Forced feedback refers to textile stimulation that people can experience while playing games. In the past, this was accomplished through controllers equipped with technology that would send a vibration through a gamer’s hands. In the advent of mobile games, forced feedback has lost much of its popularity, but researchers believe they can bring forced feedback back to the limelight.
Mobile games lack features of bygone generations
Forced feedback is often considered a way to foster immersion into particular games. This feature was common in the arcade era of racing games, where steering wheels would react to in-game events. Mobile games lack this feature mainly because most mobile devices are not large enough to accommodate the technology involved and the general disinterest that comes from device makers concerning how consumers experience mobile games.
Researchers envision future where forced feedback matters
Researchers from the Hasso Plattner Institute have been working on a method to recreate this experience by delivering a small electrical current through a mobile device. This current stimulates the muscles in a noticeable fashion, but is not dangerous as it complies with medical standards. Researchers are currently working on a bracelet-like system that could be connected to a mobile device, allowing gamers to experience forced feedback in the mobile games that they play.
Interactive technologies may be a better fit for current gamers
The concept of forced feedback has only received modest attention in the modern game industry. Many consumers are calling for more immersive games, but forced feedback may not be the best way to meet the needs of consumers. Augmented reality, which is already widely used in entertainment and marketing, may be a more appropriate pursuit for the gaming world as it allows for more dynamic sensory stimulus than conventional forced feedback products.
