Mobile gaming application may either run directly on the phone’s software or they may leverage other technologies such as SMS, MMS and GPS. Some game apps are embedded into the phone and some are available for download (some are free and some are paid) on online app stores or portals.
Thanks to the rapid advancement in the mobile technology and hardware, today mobile game developers are able to deliver same level of user experience as found with latest gaming consoles. Some mobile manufacturers have also started manufacturing phones with in-built features of a gaming console, and believe me such phones are in rage amongst young generation.
The run-after trends in the global world of mobile gaming
• Location based games : These games offer location specific services targeting local users. Example – treasure hunt, adventure games, etc.
• Cross platform games: such games can run on multiple platforms; one can play it on a mobile phone or as a console game.
• Online games : Such games let multiple game users come and play together using a mobile internet service. Example – strategy games
• Community games : These games are often played through social networking platforms, where gamers can relish into the delights of social communications as well.
• Serious games: Well don’t get too serious first! These category includes mobile games built with purpose of education and learning. Example – health and nutrition based games.
• Gambling games: As its name suggests, users can play gambling games in their mobile phones.
• Advergaming apps : Such games are mainly developed for marketing and advertising purposes. So, here games are customized for a particular brand, product or service.
Am I not missing on any category?
Key challenges for mobile game developers
• Ease of access : It is challenging for developers to make their gaming apps easy to access for a global audience. However, this concern is address by the ‘download’ feature of the app stores.
• Piracy : Gaming app owners need to explore different ways of making users pay for the content they use without compromising on the accessibility of the app.
• Technical hurdles: Game developers have many technical challenges such as restricted phone resources, latency problems, data traffic pricing and portability.
• Non-technical hurdles: Tracing the fast changing and diverse needs of end users, and meeting the needs of many stakeholders are a tedious job.
The fast increasing mobile users all across the world are fueling the mobile game development industry and so as the demand of game developers in India.