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Move over PC and console gamers, and make way for the mobile crowd. According to new data by NPD Group, mobile users are the new face of gaming and represent just one of two segments that saw growth in the games industry. The other, not surprisingly, is digital gaming. As a whole, the total number of gamers in the U.S. is down, declining 5 percent (since 2011) to 211.5 million people, NPD Group reports.
"While this study segments the gaming audience based on a number of key variables and attributes, looking across the total gaming audience we see a tremendous impact from mobile gaming, particularly on smartphones and tablets," said Anita Frazier, industry analyst for NPD Group. "Because of this, our next study, which will be released later this month, takes a deeper look into the area of mobile gaming."
So-called "Core Gamers" still spend more than any other category of gamer. On average, gamers spent $48 on physical games and $16 on digital games during the past three months, compared to Core Gamers, who spent $65 on physical games during the same time period.
"Given the long lifecycles of the current consoles and the increasing installed base of smartphones and tablets, it's not surprising to see a slight decline in the Core Gamer segment," said Frazier. "It's the revenue contribution of the Core Gamer segment that continues to outpace all other segments, and remains vital to the future of the industry."
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chop_slap
September 08, 2012 at 8:23pm
Mobile is just more accessible. Most adults with smartphones don't buy these units for gaming, they just find it convenient to click a couple of buttons and voila, your game is there. Then, non-adults, well they just buy everything they can on these things. The only thing stopping then is ma/pa's CC.
At the other end of the spectrum, PC games have the best possible gaming systems on which to run...better graphics, speed and storage by major leaps and bounds. Not to mention, this power can be had for the price of an ipad.
The downside of PC's is that most people aren't intelligent enough to own a PC and therefore find some great PC games inaccessible. Also, paying someone to remove viruses for you can get expensive. Plug-n-play is a for these people is a must. PC's don't need replacement every year like ipdas and gaming systems, which are obsolete far quicker than PCs. Many graphics cards are good for 5-6 years, depending on the rate at which graphics tech is advancing.
Engelsstaub
September 07, 2012 at 9:24am
I think we just have to admit that playing Bejeweled, while taking a steamy dump in a public restroom, is still (by definition) "gaming."
We should also be able to agree that there's a vast difference between playing on a smartphone and playing on a PC. The gap narrows considerably when comparing PC gaming to console gaming...although PC gaming has the advantage of customizable hardware and settings. (That is why PC gamers are often referred to as "hardcore gamers" by others.)
Warrior247
September 07, 2012 at 11:24am
That's the point, wherever you are you can game. Console makers realized this long ago and developed the "hanheld consoles". Gameboys and PSPs sold ten of millions of units. It's basically an extension of console gaming, just on the go. I think that the main issue is that PC gamers feel the need to justify their purchases after spending thousands of dollars on a rig. They confuse "capability" with actual performance. so the gap dosen't just close with the console, it slams shut. Especially since in many cases your're playing the exact same game, with he exact same content, and in many cases less content as add-ons and downloadable content just doesn't make it over to the PC at all. Also, since all PCs are not created equal, there is a considerable gap in performance between PCs, and between PCs and consoles. So saying that "The PC" always wins vs a console is simply not true. Whats "The PC" anyway?
Warrior247
September 07, 2012 at 8:39am
Whaaaat?!! "Mobile gaming, particularly on smartphones and tablets?" Bu, B-B-B But it HAS to be the PC! Everyone wants to be stuck to their desks with back problems and carpal tunel syndrome! Who posted this? This, on a PC website? The Puh, the -P-P-P-PC is leadin, "consoles suck", "the iPad sucks", blah, blah, blah.
Engelsstaub
September 07, 2012 at 9:11am
That's the kind of trolling I enjoy; that which is entertaining and reeking of uncomfortable truth. :D
logicmaster2003
September 06, 2012 at 6:15pm
Not because I'm anti smartphone video games but these games for smartphones are comparable to 8-bit 20MB games ($0.99 perhaps ?) versus the REAL PC games (up 32/64bit, 8GB games which can be as low as $3.74 on steampowered.com)
And I rather eat your toe nails that to play on a 4.3" screen. I'm a proud PC gamer who plays on 60 inch screen with 5.1 speakers and maxed out graphic details !
RaptorJohnson
September 06, 2012 at 12:50pm
We need different words to describe what my girlfriend does with her phone and what I do with my computer.
They are not the same thing.
jgottberg
September 06, 2012 at 1:25pm
If she is playing a game on her phone and you likewise on your PC, it's the same thing - gaming.
But in fairness, it is pretty absurd to compare mobile gaming like Angry Birds to PC or even console gaming. The price point of games makes it much more affordable to buy Angry Birds for $4.99 versus $60 for a PC/console game. If Angry Birds cost that much, I doubt these numbers (as stated in the article abve) would even be close.
