Mobile Phones Present Growth Opportunity For Casual Gaming

Despite efforts to boost mobile gaming, consumers still see phones as casual gaming devices, according to a recent report.

Parks Associates released a report, "The New Frontier: Portable and Mobile Gaming," earlier this month. It found that consumers don't keep pace with technology developments in the mobile gaming industry.

"New 3-D and multiplayer mobile games look great in demos, but casual games are where the money is and will be for the next few years," Yuanzhe Cai, director of Broadband and Gaming for Parks Associates, said in a statement. "Portable game players will maintain strong growth momentum as they provide an experience yet to be matched by mobile phones. Next-generation players will likely include mobile broadband, which will enhance their value proposition."

Gamers don't see mobile phones as platforms for advanced gaming, the report found. More than 30% of those interested in mobile gaming want sports, action, and adventure games on portable players, according to Parks Associates. Twenty-nine percent want to play driving or flying games and 27% want to play shooting games on portable devices, the report found.

Less than 10% of mobile Internet gamers are interested in using their mobile phones to play core or console-centric games, while 55% want to use their mobile phones for puzzles and card games, Parks Associates said. More than 30% want to use them for word games and arcade-style games, the report found.

The report, which profiles game publishers, developers, technology providers, and carriers, sees growth potential in the casual gaming market.