Revenues from Mobile Games Set to Mushroom by 78% in 2005

Juniper Research | Hampshire UK, 9th March 2005: The onset of mass multiplayer gaming, a widening gaming demographic, greater playability, and increased adoption of mobile services in emerging markets point to a fast expanding market for mobile games, according to a new report from Juniper Research.

"With console games, customers are obliged to make the commitment to purchase a fairly expensive piece of hardware. The beauty of mobile is that it provides a potential global audience of several hundred million 2.5G users who already have that hardware in the form of their handset," said report author, Dr Windsor Holden.

Dr Holden added that developers and publishers were now recognising the need to expand the demographic beyond the core gamer.

"Many of the mobile games released thus far have been first person shooter (FPS) and sports simulations. These staple genres of console and PC have attracted a similar calibre of gamer to the mobile, namely young adult males. Consequently, the rest of the mobile audience was largely ignored. Increasingly, we'll see a wider range of lifestyle games aimed at audiences beyond the core gamer."

"Furthermore, in a number of emerging markets - most notably India - games console, PC and indeed fixed broadband penetration is negligible. Any games market which develops in these countries will see a substantial proportion - possibility even the majority - of their revenues derived from mobile services."

Other findings from the report include:

White papers and further details of the new study 'Mobile Games: Subscription & Download' (second edition)' can be obtained at www.juniperresearch.com or from Michele Ince at [email protected], Telephone +44(0)1256 345612.

Juniper Research provides analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing analyst reports, consultancy and industry surveys.