In 2007, Apple Inc. gave a whole new meaning to mobile technology by launching its flagship device: the first-generation iPhone. The device acted as a boon to an otherwise growing mobile game development sector with a “snail speed“Later, in 2008, the Internet giant Google also released”Android OS“and this eventually started an application war, and the two became fierce competitors. However, this proved fruitful for smartphone users as the competition resulted in the development of better mobile game applications with excellent graphics, games fascinating and excellent sound systems.
Statistics and predictions –
Over time, companies brought advanced tools and technologies to develop more sophisticated gaming applications, to appeal to a larger portion of the mobile enthusiast population. According to recent statistics, in the year 2010, the sales of gaming applications for smartphones and tablets reached $ 898 million, and it is expected to generate a revenue figure of $ 1.6 billion by the year 2015.
The overwhelming response experienced by mobile gaming applications can be seen in the following facts:
- 53% of smartphone owners play mobile games on a daily basis
- Smartphone users spend 14.7 hours a month playing mobile games
- 93% of people pay for gaming apps
- 100 million mobile gamers in the US alone
- 700 million Angry Birds app downloads
- Tiny Tower generated $ 3 million of in-app purchases
- The biggest revenue generation is done through ads.
It is worth mentioning that the above figures show only a small idea of the entire mobile game industry. However, with the evolution of technology with each passing day, the popularity of mobile games is expected to break all previous records.
Freemium model or paid model: game changers
The task of selecting the right medium for income generation has always been a game changer. There are three main revenue models in the mobile app development industry:
- Free apps – Apps were ad-supported, to support revenue generation.
- Freemium Applications (Free + Premium) – Free to download apps, but with in-app purchase options.
- Paid apps – Single payment for all functions.
To be sure, the freemium model has proven fruitful many times, but paid game apps continue to generate higher revenue. In addition, experts’ predictions state that, by 2014, revenue from ad-supported free games is expected to grow by 12.3%. Therefore, free applications are missing the “Spark – spark“, and freemium applications show better potential, the prospects for being innovative and effective are greater in the latter. As a result, a balance in revenue generation between paid and freemium applications can be seen in the coming years.
Word of mouth: the main reason for downloads
Whatever the medium, physical or virtual, “word of mouth” always serves as an effective form of promotion. Despite the fact that companies are spending a lot to promote their gaming applications, statistics suggest that “word of mouth” advertising medium still ranks number one in effectiveness. According to a recent survey:
- About 50% of adults learn about new game apps from friends and family.
- About 40% of adults learn from app stores, after reading user reviews and favorites.
- About 25% of adults learn from social networking sites.
However, there is also a long list of mobile gaming websites with a large influx of web traffic, present on the Internet that provides game reviews, upcoming applications, tips and tricks. Therefore, companies should focus on using all kinds of efficient media channels to acquire maximum coverage and guarantee 100% promotion of their applications.
With the mobile gaming apps available for free, it’s easy to fall for it and get engrossed in them. Also, from the above statistics, one can easily feel the increasing popularity, the highest growth rate and the potential in the mobile game development industry.