Tag: social games

SponsorPay sheds some insight on mobile games

| February 15, 2013

SponsorPay mobile games insightNew information from SponsorPay highlights trends in mobile games

SponsorPay, a leading engagement marketing firm, has released new information concerning the rise of mobile games. Gaming has long been a source of entertainment for a wide range of people. In the advent of mobile technology, games became more mobile, allowing people to play them wherever they may be. As gaming became more popular, social networks, like Facebook, began offering games to users. These social games continue to be a major phenomenon within the game industry.

Women outnumber men when it comes to mobile and social games

According to SponsorPay, the majority of people — approximately 31% of mobile consumers — play mobile games while they are in bed. Another 16% play games on their smart phones and tablets while traveling. SponsorPay also notes that more women play mobile games than men, bucking a long standing trend in the game industry of men outnumbering women. The difference is not staggering, however, with women representing 54% of mobile gamers where men represent the remaining 53%.

Younger consumers show more engagement in mobile gaming

The majority of people that play mobile games, according to SponsorPay, are between the ages of 25 and 34. Games that are exclusive to social networking sites boast of an older fan base. Younger consumers seem to prefer their mobile devices for gaming rather than other platforms. These consumers are also likely to pay for in-game items and respond to in-game marketing efforts. The most popular mobile games among all consumers are those that have strong social elements.

Game industry continues to show interest in the mobile space

Mobile games have become a very prominent focus for the game industry lately. Most consumers that have an interest in gaming own some kind of mobile device, whether it be a smart phone or tablet. The game industry has been gearing up for a new generation of gaming with the launch of new consoles, all of which are expected to have strong mobile elements that make them appealing to those that favor mobile devices.

Mobile games take priority with Zynga

| February 9, 2013

Zynga Mobile GamesZynga shifts focus to mobile games

Zynga has been experiencing a significant amount of turbulence in the social gaming space recently. The company made its fortune through Facebook with its vast portfolio of social games. Last year, however, Zynga suffered a proverbial fall from grace as consumers abandoned the company’s games and Facebook stopped showing exclusive favor to the developer. Zynga has adopted a new approach to gaming in an effort to reclaim its throne and has shifted focus to mobile games.

Social gaming takes a back seat

According to the company’s latest financial earnings report, Zynga saw revenues of $311 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. The company experienced a net loss of $48.6 million during the same period. Revenues have been stagnant for the company for several years, but in-game sales have dropped by 15% throughout 2012. For the company to reclaim its place in the game industry, it will have to make a big splash in the mobile games sector.

Zynga working to break into the mobile space

Zynga has already aligned itself with a mobile-centric focus. The company has a workforce of approximately 20 developers working exclusively on mobile games. The rest of the company is focusing on the business aspects of entering into the mobile space, such as marketing, developing better in-game monetization schemes, and working to build new mobile deployment platforms for its upcoming games. Though the company has adopted a very strong focus on mobile games, it is unlikely that Zynga will abandon its social games any time soon.

Social games not likely to be abandoned by the company

Though Zynga may have lost a great deal of favor with consumers over the past year, the company still boasts of more than 298 million monthly active users for its games. Most of these users come from Facebook, where the company’s most popular games are still featured. For its mobile games, Zynga will have to find a new publisher, as Facebook has shown wariness of supporting the company’s titles and the fact that the social network has a very limited presence in the mobile gaming sector.