Mobile gaming has come a long way in a short while. And if new reports are any indication, the boom is just the beginning.
A month-long study by The NPD Group found that nearly half of all complete digital video game purchases are made via mobile devices such as smart phones - even among respondents who have access to other game-playing hardware, such as video game consoles and personal computers.
Combined with the potential for such downloadable titles to also offer cheap additional bonus content, and it's not all that shocking to hear that more and more developers and publishers are putting their trust (in the form of copious amounts of money) into the digital video game space.
Just this week video game powerhouse Electronic Arts announced it had acquired Australian iOS developer Firemint. Last year, the company spent nearly $20 million to snap up "Angry Birds" publisher Chillingo.
The title has been downloaded over 100 million times according to developer Rovio.
"Mobile gaming represents one of the fastest growing segments of the digital games market, and potential for future growth remains strong as more consumers are using smartphones for games of all types, including the increasingly popular mobile game apps," said Anita Frazier, an analyst with the firm.
Frazier is quick to point out, however, that the gulf between the costs of mobile device titles and the often more feature-rich console and handheld alternatives means it's difficult to accurately compare consumer spending levels.
Based on The NPDs findings, physical copies of video games are still preferred (3-to-1) over digital facsimiles - so long as the price and release dates are similar.
The main reason cited? "They simply like owning a 'real' copy." (Via The NPD Group)
How often do you purchase mobile video games compared to retail titles? Let us know in the comments.
