| Playing games has always been a favorite pastime | | | | makes them easiest to play on hand-held devices. |
| for kids and adults alike, and online games are right up | | | | However, game creators are working to change that. |
| there with the best of America's passions. With the | | | | As mobile devices become more sophisticated, the |
| advent of mobile gaming, we are no longer tied to the | | | | door will open for more advanced game play. |
| computer, but are free to roam and play at will. Simple | | | | The push for open platforms, such as Google's |
| pre-programmed games used to be the standard, but | | | | Android, and unlimited access to the real power of the |
| with more sophisticated devices on the market like | | | | Internet has created quite a stir in the mobile device |
| Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and the Apple iPhone, the | | | | and entertainment industry. Wireless providers must |
| window of opportunity for online mobile gaming has | | | | make the choice to create their own games or open |
| been flung wide open. | | | | their networks to a variety of mobile applications. With |
| Mobile gaming is big business for the game industry | | | | more than 13.5 million mobile subscribers downloading |
| and big fun for mobile device users. The freedom to | | | | games, a shift to a different wireless provider because |
| play games when and where we want makes mobile | | | | of game availability could be devastating. |
| game downloads highly popular with consumers and | | | | The Future of the Mobile Gaming Market |
| the market reflects this as sales are expected to | | | | With the introduction of the iPhone and other mobile |
| grow to 11.1 billion by 2010, up from 1.5 billion in 2007. As | | | | devices with easy-to-use interfaces, game developers |
| demand grows, so will mobile game titles and mobile | | | | are getting even more creative in how they address |
| device abilities. | | | | current drawbacks such as pay-before-play, limited |
| Who plays games on their phone? | | | | functionality, soundless system browsers and |
| The ability to play games while riding in the car, | | | | accuracy issues. More and more companies are |
| standing in line, and between activities makes mobile | | | | getting around these issues by building games |
| games highly enticing to both teens and adults. | | | | specifically for mobile devices. |
| Although stereotypes maintain that men have the | | | | How the games are delivered to the mobile user will |
| greatest interest in digital entertainment, the | | | | change also. It used to be that wireless carriers |
| convenience of playing online games via mobile | | | | dictated the size and sophistication of mobile games, |
| devices may open up an even broader game playing | | | | but companies such as Apple will bypass this obstacle |
| audience. | | | | by offering games through an iTunes type of service |
| Research has shown that more than half of the | | | | and through over-the-air stores available from the |
| 117-million active game players in the US play online | | | | iPhone home screen. This will allow developers to |
| games and nearly 64% of these online game players | | | | create bigger and better games that users may be |
| are women. As online games already appeal strongly | | | | able to control through touch, tilt, and shaking, instead of |
| to women of all ages, it is likely that mobile game play | | | | the current push-button approach. |
| will find a strong foothold with this demographic in | | | | With the mobile entertainment industry having the |
| addition to reaching adult men and teens of both | | | | potential to reach millions of buyers, game developers |
| genders. By enhancing games with social networking | | | | are working on mixing mobile and social media |
| technologies, developers also have the ability to appeal | | | | applications by creating social game networks where |
| to audiences who enjoy the more social and | | | | people can play games against each other in |
| challenging aspects of online game play. | | | | tournaments and place on leader boards. Realizing the |
| Mobile Game Design | | | | power of social play combined with the advancements |
| So what qualities make a mobile game a hit? The | | | | in mobile technology platforms sets up an almost |
| most popular mobile games in the US are puzzle, | | | | limitless potential of possibilities in the made-for-mobile |
| strategy and trivia games because their simple design | | | | service arena. |