Smart Phone technology combined with a new payment scheme is set to revolutionise the way we play games and the way that games companies can make money. As we all know, the science behind mobile phones has reached new levels with Smart Phones offering a multitude of games that make the most of touch screen and motion sensor technology. Combine this with a recent survey about introducing micro payment schemes into such games, and it seems that developers’ can finally make some money from ‘free games’.
The most popular free games available to players at present are Pets Society and Mob Wars. In each of these games, it takes several days of play to earn enough credits to buy extras within the game such as pet food, or weapons; but if you have neither the time or the patience, you can buy the credits with a small online payment. However, these games are still inherently tied to desktop computers, not mobile phones.
Players typically spend around £15 per month on micro payments within free games, mostly through social networking sites such as Facebook; but the developers feel that this could be increased dramatically by introducing this type of free games service to mobile phones. Tetris and snake top the mobile phone games polls at present, but with the introduction of touch screens and movement sensors, the scope for development is enormous, as is the potential to encourage gamers to part with their money.
Previously, games needed to be paid for and downloaded before they could be played on a mobile phone, something gamers are becoming increasingly more reluctant to do; but the introduction of free games with micro payment options could change the desire for games, and the revenue generated. By creating games that balance playability with in-play upgrades, there is a chance that developers can generate an income from mobile technology that has the possibility to rival the console industry.
Related posts: