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Small Publishers Winning Mobile Gaming Race

Posted by Zonk on from the agile-development dept.

Next Generation reports on the Mobile gaming market, and the reality that so far small publishers are beating out large companies in releasing titles and growing the market. From the article: "During 2005, the Western markets of Europe and in particular the US have seen rapid growth - now accounting for 52 percent of mobile games revenues. The report argues that console and PC game publishers are being eclipsed in the market by companies dedicated to mobile games. Jamdat of the U.S. and Gameloft of France accounted for almost 30% of games download revenues in the U.S. and Europe during 2004."

17 comments

  1. "Small" publishers? by darkseid42 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't really see how Jamdat counts as a small company when they can afford to pay $100 million to license Tetris. And Gameloft was founded by the Guillemot family of Ubisoft fame.

    1. Re:"Small" publishers? by Havenwar · · Score: 1

      it's tiny companies, only one guy hired to sit and write lists of all the games the lawyers should dig up licenses for. And he's a midget!

    2. Re:"Small" publishers? by Toddarooski · · Score: 1

      Yeah... Jamdat's got a market cap of... lesse... $549 million. I suppose you could consider that "small" if you want to compare them to a company like Activision, ($3.68 billion) but it ain't exactly "couple of guys in a garage" territory.

      --

      "Do you expect me to talk?" "No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!"

    3. Re:"Small" publishers? by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 1

      Jamdat? Wasn't that the pool-like game Captain Picard was playing with the Naussicans?

    4. Re:"Small" publishers? by spooky_nerd · · Score: 1

      In this case though Jamdat's the largest of these "small" companies. There are also a lot of companies like mine, Mobliss, with less than 100 employees turning out some really good games. Shameless plug: Brady Bunch Kung Fu rocks! You're talking about an industry where there are still a lot of small players.
                Of course in any industry like this one there will be waves of acquisition and combination that will result in an oligopoly of large companies controlling most of the industry. I think this is especially true when you have to worry about carrier relations. The only way for a game company to succeed is to have a good relationship with Verizon, Cingular, T-mobile, etc. And those big carriers prefer dealing with people they know, over new start ups.
              P.S. these are my own personal views, and not those of my employer or anyone else.

  2. Makes Sense by Supurcell · · Score: 1

    Since most mobile gamers aren't expecting ultra-realistic graphics/physics in their hand(just something fun to pass the time), a small company doesn't need an army of graphic artists/coders to produce a game. I see this as a good thing. Without graphics being the main selling point, there will be more games that focus on fun gameplay.

    1. Re:Makes Sense by Eric+Giguere · · Score: 1

      But that's changing as the devices get more sophisticated. Mobile Flash and similar technologies mean it's getting harder for smaller shops to write games for these platforms. Progress, you know....

      Eric
      BlackBerry programming stuff

  3. Small but patient by Eric+Giguere · · Score: 1

    Publishing a game for these platforms requires a large investment in time and energy because of all the differences in the various platforms (not just J2ME, sorry "Java ME", either). That's really the biggest stumbling block for game developers, testing out and tweaking the game for the different devices. It can really suck up your time.

    Eric
    J2ME overviews
  4. Eclipsed? by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The report argues that console and PC game publishers are being eclipsed in the market by companies dedicated to mobile games.

    Thank you, department of redundancy department. That's like saying "doctors are currently leading the field in successful neurosurgeries, compared to plumbers."

    It's apples to oranges. Console games are meant to be an immersive experience, harnessing all power available to woo you into bedazzlement. Mobile games are meant as a diversion when you're not at a console, but still have some free time. They sacrifice eye-candy, plot, and depth over quick fun.

    Seriously, who's going to pull out something like Final Fantasy 7 for the morning commute?

    1. Re:Eclipsed? by darkseid42 · · Score: 1
      Seriously, who's going to pull out something like Final Fantasy 7 for the morning commute?

      You'll find out in 2006.

  5. Don't forget cost by WidescreenFreak · · Score: 1

    I was going to say the same thing before I saw that you beat me to it.

    The two types of games are completely incomparable. The sizes of the games can't even be compared. Look at the BREW version of "Splinter Cell" and the PC game -- the BREW version is microscopic by comparison, and cannot replicate atmosphere or excitement of the PC game genre.

    But the biggest difference - and I think the most important - is the PRICE. Most cell phone games that I consider buying are about US$7 or so to purchase. Compare that to the Collector's Edition of HL2 which ran at some $60. But since that's still an unfair comparison because HL2 in the same quality on a cell phone is impossible, let's compare the same games. I bought Bejewelled for my cell phone for US$6.99. The PC version from what I can tell still goes for US$19.99. So, for the same money I could have one PC game or three cell phone games. I'd be willing to bet that if cell phone games cost as much as their PC counterparts, cell phone gaming as we know it would be a mere fraction of what it is now.

    So, to compare the sales of cell phone games to PC games is ludicrous at best. They're not related to each other in any way, except perhaps by title.

    --
    The Overrated mod is for reversing inappropriate, positive mods, not for voicing disagreement with a post.
    1. Re:Don't forget cost by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      The best thing about bejeweled is that it faithfully replicates the bugs of the PC version, and then some! It wouldn't be a popcap game without serious bugs that interfere with gameplay. In particular the Java/MIDP version will frequently hang (except the timer still runs out) if you close your mobile or the JVM is otherwise suspended while jewels are falling. It's the same great quality I've come to expect!

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  6. ho-hum by Seumas · · Score: 1

    Small guys winning race that nobody cares about.

    Seriously, how many people are lame enough to play games on their cell phones? Christ, I haven't even changed the ring-tone on my phone from... well... a ring.

  7. Games getting better by pether · · Score: 0, Informative

    A new game with 3D graphics http://www.glu.com/games/game.php?game=alpha_wing2 .

  8. Why, me! by LKM · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Seriously, how many people are lame enough to play games on their cell phones?

    Why, me, thank you! Although I've hardly ever actually bought a game specifically for my phone. I play the old Lucas Arts games on my P800 using a port of ScummVM. My cell phone is always with me, so if I'm sitting in a train or waiting for a bus with a few minutes to waste, I fire up Monkey Island.

    I bought three games for my cell. A strategy war game called Strategic Assault which is quite funny, a shooter called Interstellar Flames which is utterly unplayable and Sim City. I also got Lemmings.

    Cell phones aren't that bad for wasting a few minutes now and then if you've got the right games. And as cell phones continue to mature, getting better graphics and better controls, eventually more people will start using them for playing games. Even now, I see tons of kids playing games on their cell phones in Europe, and MTV is constantly running ads for these games. This market may soon be huge.

    1. Re:Why, me! by Seumas · · Score: 1

      I dunno. I guess I just prefer having one device for each purpose. Plus, what about battery life? I have a Treo 650 and the last thing I want to do is eat up my battery playing pacman or Fish Tycoon. I use my phone as a phone and occasionally to take a note and that's it. I'm not opposed to the idea of putting your entire life on one little portable device, but I don't thikn phones are "there" yet. And neither are the games.... although maybe you could talk me into playing Lemonade Stand on it if it's available :)

  9. A device for each purpose by LKM · · Score: 1

    I have a DS and a GBA SP, too. Most of the time, I use these for my portable gaming needs. But I don't cary them with me all the time. I do carry my cell phone with me all the times, though. I even read books on my phone, simply because it's always there. Sure, reading a book in paper form is a lot more convenient, and it doesn't destroy your eyes, but then you have to carry a book with you.

    I think I do have quite a large chunk of my life on my cell :-)

    And yeah, battery life is a problem, but I put my phone in its cradle every evening and let it sync with my Mac, and it holds enough charge for one day even if I'm playing games for a few hours, so that's allright.