Tag: social mobile games

Google aims to make mobile games more social

| May 18, 2013

Google - Social Mobile GamesMobile games may benefit from strong social elements

Mobile games continue to pick up momentum around the world and Google is eager to ensure that it can keep consumers as engaged as possible. The famed technology company is not a game developer or publisher itself, but it is responsible for one of the most popular mobile operating systems in the world: Android. Google also operates the digital distribution system for Android applications and mobile games. While mobile games have become very popular with consumers, Google believes that there could be more variety in the current market. As such, the company has begun focusing on social games.

Social games continue to be popular with consumers

Social games were first made popular on Facebook. Users of the social network often spend much of their time playing these games while connecting with their friends. Companies like Zynga have made their names with Facebook social games, but there has been a marked decline in variety in these titles in recent years. Google believes that social games could be well received among the mobile crowd and has announced plans to introduce a new service that focuses specifically on social mobile games.

Google announces new service

Google Play Games, as it is called, is being built to bring a variety of social elements into Android gaming. The service will include multiplayer functionality, achievements, cloud-based save features, as well as other social options that are meant to help people connect and communicate with one another. The service is expected to make the mobile games available through the Google Play marketplace more attractive to a wider range of consumers. These games could benefit from the exposure they could see through the various social elements of Google’s new service.

Consumers continue to be open to mobile games

Consumers have, thus far, been very accommodating of mobile games. The market is awash with thousands upon thousands of mobile games, many of which have not received the favor of consumers. Despite the fact that many of these games go not live up to the standards of consumers, the market continues to be very open to new titles.

Financial woes for Zynga mount as shift toward mobile games continues

| April 28, 2013

zynga mobile gamesZynga’s future in mobile games may be turbulent

Zynga is in the midst of transitioning from social games to mobile games, but this shift has proven somewhat turbulent for the once popular developer. The company has targeted the mobile space as the ideal environment, wherein it can once again establish dominance in the gaming field. This comes after its fall from grace with Facebook and the subsequent crash of its status in the social gaming field. Mobile games do hold strong potential for the developer, but mounting financial problems could derail Zynga’s plans for the future.

Zynga posts decline in revenue

Zynga’s revenues for the first quarter of this year have declined by 18% year-over-year. During the first quarter, the company pulled in $264 million in revenue, but managed to report net income gains due to the continued performance of FarmVille 2, one of Zynga’s most played social games. Nonetheless, declining revenue presents a problem for Zynga, especially as some analysts suggests that the company will continue to report declines in revenue through the remainder of the year. Falling revenues could have an impact on Zynga’s ability to enter into the realm of mobile games.

Developer not likely to see gains through 2013

According to Zynga CEO Mark Pincus, 2013 is a transition year for the company. Pincus does not predict that Zynga will post promising results throughout 2013 until the company can establish a strong presence on the mobile gaming front. Currently, the developer does not anticipate any significant problems entering into mobile games, but development is rarely an inexpensive venture and producing games that do not end up a hit with consumers could lead the company into troubled financial waters.

Consumers wary of mobile games produced by Zynga

Zynga has the long term in mind when it comes to mobile games. The company is currently developing several titles for various mobile platforms, hoping to find the same success with mobile consumers that it had seen through social networks. Consumers remain wary of Zynga, however, as the developer has often been accused of blatantly copying other, more popular games in order to appeal to the interests of gamers.