Despite mobile game publishers and developers welcoming the arrival of the Apple iPhone, the volume of paid-for mobile game downloads has flatlined in North America and western Europe, according to a new study conducted by Juniper Research.
In its report, Juniper predicted that the retail value of the global mobile games market will rise from US$5.4bn in 2008 to $10bn in 2013. However, it suggested that growth in a number of key markets is currently being hindered by limited on-portal revenue share for publishers and ineffective games marketing.
"The revenue share offered by Apple to games publishers is incredibly attractive," said report author Dr Windsor Holden.
"The danger is that if operators do not respond with a similar business model, publishers faced with low margins may simply exit Java completely, thereby reducing consumer choice in the longer term."
Despite this negative appraisal of the North American and western European mobile gaming markets, Juniper’s report remained optimistic about the growth prospects of the markets in the Indian sub continent, Africa, the Middle East and South America. In these regions, increased mobile adoption and limited penetration of games consoles and fixed internet are expected to see the mobile handset continue to be the gaming device of choice.
