Data & Research

Almost half of all game time spent on mobile titles

PopCap survey gives consoles a kicking

Almost half of all game time spent on mobile titles
More than four in ten people across the US and UK have played in mobile game during the last month, with almost half of all game time spent on a mobile device.

They're the two main conclusions drawn from a report published by PopCap looking at consumers' changing gaming habits, with smartphones easing ahead of consoles when it comes to drawing players' attention.

Time for tablets

The survey, conducted by Information Solutions Group, also concludes that the ratio of new mobile gamers has doubled during the last three years – up from 22 percent new players in 2009 to 44 percent today.

Tablets too are making there mark. Nearly one in ten gamers became a new mobile gamer after playing one or more games on a tablet during the last year. That means tablets have amassed 11 million new mobile gamers across the last 12 months.

"Mobile games continue to vie with social games as the hottest sector of the video game industry and that trend shows no sign of waning," said PopCap's VP of worldwide publishing Dennis Ryan of the report.

"Smartphone adoption continues apace and tablet adoption has added considerable fuel to the fire.

"Even more important, consumers are embracing the shift toward freemium games and other add-on game content purchases, driving the dramatic and rapid shift in the forms of monetisation being used by developers and publishers."

Free fun

In comparison, while mobile devices make up 46 percent of all game time, dedicated consoles account for just 18 percent.

According to PopCap, much of this growth comes from a combination of better hardware and more efficiently priced software.

Seven in ten of those surveyed cited the availability of free games as for the reason behind increased mobile play, with almost half noted phones with better gaming capabilities had made a difference.

The findings in full can be found on a PDF over on Information Solutions Group's website.

[source: BusinessWire]

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.