Moshi Monstersdeveloper Mind Candy saw its revenues rise by 62 percent to £47 million in 2012, with the company betting future success on an increased focused on smartphones and tablets.

The figures, detailed in the firm's annual report, illustrated that Mind Candy's 2012 didn't quite match the heights of the previous year – operating profit remaining roughly stagnant at £10 million, compared to an almost fourfold increase in 2011.

Users, however, continue to be drawn to the Moshi Monsters brand in their millions, with 70 million on board by the start of 2013.

Power of the mind

As such, Mind Candy brands Moshi Monsters as the top licensed property in the UK in the report, with the firm's range of DS games and the success of its Moshi Magazine – the top-selling children's monthly magazine in the UK – backing up said claim.

"Building on work started in 2012 the company is developing new smartphone and tablet titles due to be released in 2013 and 2013 as part of its diversification strategy in order to appeal to a larger demographic," details Mind Candy in the report.

The firm adds that "untapped revenue and growth opportunities across different platforms not yet exploited for example on smartphones and tablets".

Mobile matters

It does appear, however, that previous attempts to make moves on mobile have stalled.

Mind Candy announced a major assault on mobile back in August 2012 – signing a deal with Japanese social gaming giant GREE – though two planned games never materialised.

"Mobile is a hugely important area for expansion within the business," detailed Mindy Candy's external mobile producer Gareth Mills at the time.

"We are most certainly looking to branch out in to new IP to expand the business and open up a wider audience. Our key focus will be on kids and family friendly entertainment with digital at its heart."

Indeed, also on the agenda in the latest report is the creation of new IP to expand the firm's library beyond Moshi Monsters, helping the firm "to build out a successful portfolio of brands".

You can hear what Mind Candy's mobile product manager Erica May thinks about the social gaming scene on smartphones at next week's F2P Summit in London.

[source: The Guardian]