PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.-Mobile gaming will prove to be more than just a fad, according to a new report by The NPD Group.
The report, “Mobile Games: Who’s Playing,” said half of all U.S. wireless subscribers own phones capable of downloading games. Twenty-seven percent of subscribers play games, including paid downloads and free demos along with pre-loaded games, on those devices, according to the report. Last year, 20 percent of the subscribers reported they played games on their mobile phones.
In addition, 6 percent of current nongamers expressed an interest in playing games on their phones within the next year, largely as a way to alleviate boredom, said the report.
The report also found consumers who play games on other gaming devices are twice as likely to play games on their cell phones. However, limited screen size and navigation options drive mobile gamers more toward puzzle and card games. Young users, especially those between the ages of 13 and 17, are much more likely to be mobile gamers than adults, said the report.
Mobile gamers tend to spend more on their wireless devices and be heavier users of their mobile phones for traditional calling, the report found. However, the report found a significant price-sensitivity issue, which is slowing the industry’s growth. Only one-third of mobile gamers actually buy games, with the remainder playing only free or pre-loaded games.
The report surveyed more than 8,500 teenagers and adults.
