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Is Mobile Gaming Changing the Gaming World?

by on August 9, 2017
 

When people think of gaming, they usually have the image of teenagers and kids glued to television and computer screens. In some respects they aren’t wrong, console and PC games still remain incredibly popular with the young audience. The gaming industry is hugely successfully, and is currently worth around $108 billion. New games are constantly being released, with better gameplay and graphics to keep audiences excited. But next time you are on a train to work or school, have a look at the people around you. The chances are there are they are all glued to their phones, playing the latest addictive mobile games. The audience for popular mobile games is much older; usually commuters on their way to or from work. Cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, are becoming more frequently used in online games and mobile casinos, allowing players the opportunity to make quick and easy transactions using the online currency. Many players are beginning to use the new technology when playing mobile casino games. But is the increasing popularity of the mobile game changing the gaming world as a whole?

A Wider Audience

One way in which mobile gaming is having an impact on the gaming industry is increasing the audience for games across a broad range of platforms. As previously mentioned, mobile games attract a wide audience. The huge number of games available on application stores for Android and Apple devices means there is something for everyone. There are educational apps for children, addictive games to fill the time when you are waiting for the bus and even apps which work as tools to help you throughout your day-to-day life. As a result of mobile games attracting a wide audience, console and PC games become more appealing as people release that gaming is an enjoyable pastime. On the other hand, a lot of popular console game producers, like Nintendo, feel threatened by the ever-popular mobile gaming industry and are planning to release mobile games to keep up with the latest market trends and demands.

Better Value for Money

The main reason many casual gamers choose mobile games over consoles, is the cost. Not only are consoles expensive to buy, newly released games also retail for an average price of around $50-$60. There are hundreds of good quality, enjoyable mobile games available to download completely free. Some mobile games do come at a price, but this is usually around $2-$3, they provide hours of entertainment for very little cost. The added bonus is mobile games can be played anywhere at any time.

If mobile games continue to improve in quality, in terms of both their graphics and their gameplay which is often simplistic, they could pose a threat to console and PC games. Mobile games are definitely putting pressure on developers to make their games more affordable, with many developers releasing series style games, where each ‘episode’ is available to purchase and download instead of buying the whole game. This gives players the chance to try a game before they commit to buying it and these games usually come at a much lower price.

An Increase In-Game Purchases

Free mobile games still need to make money, so they usually include a range of in-game purchases. All the leading mobile phone providers are on board with monetizing mobile games, with Samsung leading the way at the moment. These usually appear in the form of bonus content which players need to complete the game. Some game developers go as far as making it impossible to unlock the next level without making a purchase. Developers know that players are usually willing to make the payment if they have already become hooked on the game. Again, these in-game purchase costs are usually much lower than the cost of buying a console game which is why players continue to agree to them. This trend could impact the wider gaming community as the industry begins to rethink their business model. It is becoming increasingly common for new console and PC games to be released as limited versions, with upgrades or bonus content available for purchase. Players can choose to buy an ‘all access season pass’ which will give them access to a bundle of full games and bonus content.

More Successful Independent Studios

Arguably the most positive impact mobile gaming has had on the industry is the increasing number of successes coming from independent studios. In the past, Indie games rarely shot to mainstream popularity. Instead, it was all too common for independent studios to put a lot of time, effort and money into coming up with a game which barely made a dent in the huge market. However, it has now become so easy to design and upload a quality mobile game to application stores. As a result, it’s easier than ever for a small team to produce a game which gets noticed, particularly once a game reaches the charts of app stores which are used by thousands of people every day.

Socialisation

Many mobile games include the option to meet other players and socialise with them online, through chat facilities, forums or competitive gameplay. This is nothing new in the gaming world. A lot of console and PC games already have options for more sociable gameplay; players are able to talk to each other and create teams to compete against one and other. However, in the future new developments could be made to help make both mobile and console gaming far more collaborative. As well as increasing the number of games where players are able to interact with others in the same world, known as Massively Multiplayer Online Games or MMOG for short, there could be a rise in the use of Virtual Reality which will allow players to physically cooperate with each other.

The Future

The future of the gaming world is looking to be largely mobile. It has a promising future, with smartphones increasing capacity to run higher quality games wherever you are. The portability and low cost of mobile games is part of the appeal, as is the huge variety of new games being released every single day. In the future, PC and console gaming may have to rethink their businesses models in order to remain attractive to gamers and continue to make money. One area which we will definitely see transfer from mobile games to consoles, is the use of in-game purchases. For now, these platforms are still offering a much higher quality gaming experience than mobile games so it is not likely that significant impacts will be felt any time soon.