Mobile Gaming to Soar as New Players Join In

A new report on the future of mobile gaming has put the total global value of this market at US$6 billion by 2011. The findings, from research undertaken by electronic entertainment analyst company Understanding & Solutions, indicate that spending on mobile gaming will grow faster than spending on handheld and console games over the next four years.

Understanding & Solutions said it found that emerging markets like India and China are seeing fast take-up of mobile games. However, it warned that comparatively cheap prices for games in these markets will mean that the Asian market, outside of the powerhouses of Korea of Japan, will account for less than 10% of total global revenues by 2011.

The electronic entertainment analyst outfit also said it noted that an increasing number of traditional content owners are moving into the mobile games space. Among those jumping on the mobile bandwagon are developers such as EA mobile, Konami and THQ wireless, and content licence owners such as Sega, MGM, Universal and Warner. Conversely, Understanding & Solutions said that existing players in the market are consolidating through mergers and acquisitions.

As company analyst, David Rouse put it "Subscription-based and ad-funded models are on the rise, and micro-transactions - the acquisition of additional levels or virtual goods during game play - are also beginning to play a part. However, pay per download is still the most significant revenue generator across all regions."