Mobile games thrive, even when the virus keeps gamers at home



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San Francisco: Mobile games are thriving as gamers turn to them for fun and friendship during the pandemic, with an increasing number of women joining the trend. “Being stuck at home hasn’t stopped people from playing games on their phones,” said SensorTower mobile information strategist Craig Chapple. “By contrast, mobile games are more popular than ever.” Smartphone games involve tapping on touch screens with only a few moments of play at a time, often while sipping coffee or waiting for traffic, in contrast to console games with immersive worlds that can last for hours. Mobile games appeal to a broader demographic than shooter games and other popular genres for console or PC gamers. More than 40 percent of mobile gamers are women, according to research firms Newzoo and Statista. That differs from gamers who use consoles or personal computers, who are more likely to be men between the ages of 12 and 35, according to analysts. “We’ve had a lot of people forced in during closed shutdowns who need entertainment,” said Morris Garrard, research analyst for games and mobile technology at Futuresource. “Games, which are one of the most interactive and engaging forms of entertainment, have seen a significant boost.” According to mobile consultancy App Annie, spending on mobile games is expected to see strong growth this year and exceed $ 100 billion. Popular titles include Candy Crush Saga, Honor of Kings, Pokemon Go, and Gardenscapes. Many mobile games are free to download and rely on large numbers of people spending a little on things like extra lives, virtual outfits, or skill-enhancing items in the game. And, some see it as a bargain to pay a dollar or so to upgrade to an ad-free version of a mobile game. Mobile gamers who spend little or nothing are known in the industry as “minnows,” while those most willing to pay are “dolphins” or “whales,” depending on how deep their wallets reach. Casual games that rely on short play times, such as puzzle and arcade-style games, are among the most downloaded mobile titles. A major innovation in recent years has been a “battle pass” system popularized by Epic Games’ Fortnite, in which players pay for tickets for each “season,” according to Chapple.

Addictive fun?

Mobile game creators, like their console-focused peers, manipulate psychological levers that emotionally reward gamers and keep them engaged in ways that some say can be addictive. The World Health Organization has classified “gambling disorder” as a disease characterized by “poor control over gambling, which increases the priority given to gambling over other activities”, even if it is harmful to life. But, in a stressful world, mobile gaming can be a relaxing escape while queuing, waiting for food orders, or just hanging out, depending on the players. Playing mobile games can improve your mood; boost brain power and provide a sense of community, according to proponents. “Taking a little time to play games can improve your mental health in so many amazing ways,” Lifehack digital marketer Zuhair Sharif said in a blog. “This has led many to incorporate video games into their daily lives.” Mobile game lovers are quick to point out that playing console or computer games on airplanes, buses, or cars is not an option, while smartphones can be pulled out anywhere to make a few moves.

Mobile Millennials

Worldwide, an estimated 72 percent of active mobile game players are “millennials” between the ages of 23 and 38. The broadest audience for mobile games includes those in parts of the world where smartphones are the main, if not the only, way that people connect to the internet. “In emerging regions, particularly China and India, it is absolutely huge,” Garrard said. Mobile gaming revenue is based on the fact that it is readily available to more than four billion people in the world with smartphones, according to Garrard. “They may not be spending a lot, but there are a lot of people who spend a little on mobile games and it really adds up,” Garrard said. A trend toward cloud streaming services is likely to drive mobile gaming as titles that were once limited to consoles will be able to offer more games on smartphones or tablets as the action is driven by data centers. Ultra-fast, high-capacity 5G telecommunications networks could enable game creators to bring console-quality graphics and action to mobile devices, attracting the most expert gamers. “The concept of gaming on the go will be increasingly present, supported by improvements in mobile infrastructure,” said Garrard. “Not only will the gaming platform benefit, but also companies like Google and Apple.” Apple and Google are behind mobile operating systems, iOS and Android respectively, which power almost every smartphone in the world. The US tech titans also have online stores for mobile apps, charging a 30 percent commission on transactions in what has become a controversial toll given their dominance in the market.

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