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.
Denny |
December 22, 2012
Mobile gaming appeals to a wide range of consumers
High-tech mobile devices are becoming increasingly common among consumers. Smart phones and tablets are some of the most famous consumer electronics available today, and these products are becoming more advanced as time goes on. As mobile technology advances, smart devices become more capable of astonishing visuals and can support applications that have high CPU requirements. Thus, mobile devices are beginning to reach a point where they may soon replace traditional computers, in the sense of mobile gaming.
Mobility proves to win the favor of gamers
Mobile gaming is a very popular pastime for a wide range of people. There are, quite literally, millions of mobile game applications available for mobile devices of all kinds. These games include Angry Birds and Plants vs. Zombies, some of the most popular games of the modern gaming era. Furthermore, mobile games are considerably less expensive that traditional games, with many console games costing $60 and PC games ranging between $40 and $80, depending on the publisher.
Spending on mobile gaming is increasing
IHS, a global research and analytics firm, suggests that spending on console gaming has declined by 20% over the past two years, while mobile gaming has taken up a significant amount of the slack. The appeal of mobile gaming largely resides in the fact that mobile devices can be used anywhere, thus giving users an opportunity to play the games they love while on the go. This versatility, coupled with the rapidly increasing capabilities of mobile devices, has been well received by a rather large demographic of consumers.
Mobile games may soon become a serious topic within the game industry
Mobile gaming may not be able to wholly replace other forms of gaming, especially as PC technology becomes more advanced and versatile, but it is certainly beginning to play a very big role in the game industry. Many gamers are eager to compare one console to another, constantly arguing for the superiority of their favored platform. Mobile gaming may soon be entered into this ongoing battle among gamers.
