While the mobile games markets in Western Europe and North America slowed markedly in 2008, strong growth across the Indian Sub Continent - where sales more than doubled in 2008 - Africa & Middle East, and developing nations across the Asia Pacific regions saw global revenues for the sector rise more than 20% to an estimated $5.4bn in 2008, according to a new report from Juniper Research.
The mobile games report found that despite the flatlining of download volumes in countries such as the US and UK, and decreasing growth in Japan, adoption of mobile games continued unabated in the key Indian and Chinese markets.
iPhone and Apple App Store deliver Gold Award to Apple...
Furthermore, the decline in Java downloads in Western Europe and North America in 2008 was offset by the remarkable volume of downloads generated through the Apple App Store for the iPhone. The report also noted that the levels of gameplay per download via iPhone were far higher than for any other handset, factors that combined to bring Juniper's Future Mobile Gold Award for Mobile Games to Apple. "The combination of iPhone and the Apple App Store has galvanized the mobile games industry," said report author and Future Mobile Awards panel judge, Dr Windsor Holden. "Apple has provided an innovative device which enables developers to create smooth, compelling, visually attractive games for the mobile user, together with a business model offering a highly competitive revenue share for developers."
...while Fishlabs lands Silver Award
The Silver Award for Mobile Games was given to Fishlabs, for its groundbreaking work in the development of premium 3D titles and its mobile gaming community, myFISHLABS. Michael Schade, CEO & Co-Founder of Fishlabs said: "To receive the Juniper Research Future Mobile Awards in the Games Category into second place right behind Apple for innovating the mobile games industry is a great achievement for our company and our products. From the very beginning Fishlabs was constantly pushing the envelope in terms of quality and innovation for both, our games themselves but also the way we sell our products to consumers. With our award-winning mobile games portfolio and our revolutionary free try & buy download model we will change the game of the mobile games industry."
Juniper Research assesses the current and future status of mobile games based on interviews, case studies and analysis from representatives of some of the leading organisations in the mobile games industry. The report includes historical, current and forecast market sizing through to 2013, including regional and global data on download levels, user numbers, service pricing, user spend, end-user revenues and advertising expenditure.
Other findings from the Juniper report include:
• The Far East & China is the largest regional market in terms of games downloads; the Indian Sub Continent will overhaul Western Europe to become the second-largest such market by 2010.
• More than 50% of games downloaded by 2012 will be funded by advertising
• Operators in Europe and the US need to reduce their demands on game revenue share to encourage developers.
White papers and further details of the study 'Mobile Games: Subscription & Download (5th edition)' can be freely downloaded from http://www.juniperresearch.com Alternatively please contact John Levett at john.levett@juniperresearch.com, telephone +44(0)1256 830002.
Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.