UK trade association TIGA has called on developers to focus more of their attention on tablets, claiming the device's ability to tap up a new breed of consumer opens up a huge opportunity.

Speaking in reaction to an 84 percent rise in iPad sales and talk of Google Nexus 7 sell outs, TIGA chairman Jason Kingsley said the growth of the smartphone and tablet market as a whole continues to be underestimated.

A matter of millions

"The quality and proliferation of tablet devices provides exciting prospects for studios in the UK," said Kingsley.

"For years, we have seen the potential these devices offer for gaming. More crucially, we have seen the fresh markets they open up, taking games to people who may otherwise not consider playing.

"Tablets and smartphones have the potential to widen the gaming market and turn millions more to gaming."

Indeed, according to TIGA's own estimates, speculation by some that the mobile games market could be worth $12 billion in 2013 could prove to be a "major underestimate."