Tag: united kingdom

Mobile games help UK industry find success

| April 4, 2013

Mobile Games UK ReportReport highlights importance of mobile games in UK game industry

The United Kingdom may soon serve as a strong example of what the future of the game industry will look like in the coming years. TIGA, a UK trade association representing the game industry, has released a new report highlighting the various aspects of the UK game sector. The report shows that much of the market is comprised of independent developers that have a strong focus on mobile games rather than traditional console games. Many of these developers believe that mobile games are undoubtedly the future of gaming.

A focus on mobile helps several studios find success

The report, which is titled “Making Games in the UK Today: A Census of the UK Developer and Digital Publishing Sector,” shows that more than half of the development studios in the country were founded only four years ago. Despite the relative youth that these companies have when compared to others in the game industry, they now account for 60% of the UK market. These independent studios account for 83% of the independent games that were released in the UK between 2011 and 2012, many of which were mobile games.

Mobile games are gaining traction throughout the market

The report shows that approximately 37% of all studios in the United Kingdom are making mobile games currently, this is up from the 19% that were focused on mobile development in 2010. Several of these development studios are focused exclusively on mobile games, forsaking console games entirely. This may be due to the fact that mobile games are typically less expensive to develop than their console counterparts. Mobile games also offer promising profit opportunities for developers that are not generally seen on other platforms.

Independent developers still face significant challenges

TIGA notes that the UK game sector is young, independent, and highly focused on the mobile space. Strong smartphone and tablet sales have helped encourage developers to focus more heavily on mobile games. Despite the strong performance these studios have seen over the years, TIGA notes that many face significant financial challenges. The report shows that approximately 21% of the studios that were founded between 2010 and 2012 have closed their doors due to lack of finances.

Mobile payments competition heats up as commerce revolution takes hold

| April 3, 2013

Mobile Payments competitionWho will emerge as a leader in mobile payments is not clear

Mobile payments are beginning to disrupt traditional forms of commerce as more consumers begin to rely more heavily on the smartphones and tablets. These devices have made it exceedingly convenient for consumers to purchase products and services either online or in-store. As mobile payments become more prolific, the mobile commerce market is beginning to brim with competition. Several countries and companies have invested heavily in this market, but it is not entirely certain who will emerge as the dominant force within this industry.

Report shows that consumers are eager for new mobile commerce services

BI Intelligence, a market research and analysis firm, has released a new report that offers insight on mobile payments and those that are leading the way in the current market. According to the report, much of the mobile commerce world is driven by what consumers want. Consumer demand, for instance, has lead to the development of mobile payments platforms that can be used both online and at physical stores. Approximately 52% of consumers wanted such platforms, which are likely to become significantly more available in the coming years.

Singapore among the top countries ready to embrace mobile payments

The report suggests that companies like Square and PayPal are likely to thrive in the coming years, largely due to their very early adoption of mobile payments. Both Square and PayPal have a heavy focus on the mobile space, making them more attuned to the demands coming from consumers than their competitors. In terms of countries, Singapore is considered to have the most mobile commerce “readiness,” with the U.S. and the United Kingdom boasting of average readiness.

US and European consumers are not fully accepting of mobile commerce

While companies could see significant progress in the realm of mobile commerce in the coming years, consumers have yet to be fully won over by mobile payments. BI Intelligence notes that only 10% of consumers in the U.S. and Europe participate in mobile payments.  Many are willing, but concerns regarding security are keeping most consumers tethered to traditional forms of commerce.