Mobile Gaming Leads Consumer Preference | Electronic Theatre

Mobile Gaming Leads Consumer Preference | Electronic Theatre

Half of UK and US mobile gamers favour mobile devices as their primary home videogame platform, according to a new survey from PopCap Games. Part of an extensive research project that projects a 125 million mobile gamer population in the UK and US, the survey reveals that mobile gaming doesn’t necessarily mean “gaming on the go,” with many mobile gamers stating that their favourite place to play mobile videogames is at home on the couch or while laying in bed. The survey also uncovered many surprising, quirky and naughty mobile gamer habits.

Conducted by independent research firm Information Solutions Group, the survey analysed the behaviour and play habits of mobile gamers, defined as those who have played a mobile videogame in the past month.

“We already know that people play mobile games ‘on the go,’ but now we are seeing mobile gamers largely favour their mobile devices for home use.” said Dennis Ryan, VP of Worldwide Publishing at PopCap. “If you add the fact we are seeing a deluge of new gamers coming in through mobile, we believe mobile gaming is invading the last bastion of videogame consoles and personal computers: the home.”

The results of the survey were quite surprising in some aspects, and entirely predictable in other areas. For example, 50% of the mobile gamers in the survey agreed that mobile gaming is their favoured method of play at home over traditional consoles, computers and handheld gaming devices, and tablet-only players preferred home play on mobile devices even more (57%). However, many reported playing mobile videogames in offbeat places: a combined total of 10% confessed to playing mobile videogames either in a church or other place of worship, or while driving a car and/or while watching a movie at a theatre. Surprisingly, 3.3% of US respondents admitted to playing a mobile videogame either in a church or other place of worship, compared to only 0.7% in the UK.

The full results of the survey can be found at http://www.infosolutionsgroup.com/2012_PopCap_Where_People_Play_Mobile_Games.pdf, and Electronic Theatre will keep you updated with all the latest trends in mobile gaming.