Mobile reports and market data
3,856 documents·150 writers·21,905 charts and tables
Documents
PocketGamer.biz2 min
Unu unconsole at E3 2013; tablet, dock, gamepad and remote control
The Unu unconsole, introduced at E3 2013, functions as a versatile home entertainment system centered on an Android tablet.
- The Unu unconsole, unveiled at E3 2013, is an Android-based home entertainment system that uses a tablet and docking station to turn standard televisions into smart displays.
- The system is available in two configurations: a $199 media edition and a $249 gaming bundle that includes a dedicated gamepad.
- The hardware ecosystem includes the tablet, a docking station, a gesture-controlled remote with a QWERTY keyboard, and an optional gamepad.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz7 min
Modern Combat 5 E3 2013 demo
Modern Combat 5 represents a significant technical and mechanical evolution for Gameloft’s mobile military shooter franchise.
- Modern Combat 5 utilizes a heavily modified engine to deliver advanced graphical features, including dynamic lighting, high-detail skyboxes, and improved water rendering.
- The game integrates the Havoc physics engine to enable environmental destruction, showcased in a mission set within a destructible Venetian environment.
- New squad-based tactical mechanics include a radar drone for tracking enemies through obstacles and a revival system that allows incapacitated players to continue firing.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz4 min
Nina Kristensen from Ninja Theory plays Fightback
Ninja Theory, a developer historically recognized for high-end console titles, transitioned into the mobile market with the release of the touchscreen beat-'em-up game Fightback.
- Ninja Theory transitioned from high-end console development to the mobile market with the release of the beat-'em-up title Fightback, published by Chillingo.
- The game utilizes an eight-directional swipe-and-tap control scheme designed specifically for mobile hardware to execute punches, kicks, jumps, and ducks.
- Combat depth is achieved through move chaining, evasion tactics, and counter-attacks that trigger time-slowdown effects for finishing moves.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz7 min
Chillingo's Ed Rumley tells us why publishers still matter
The mobile gaming landscape has evolved significantly from the early days of simple, low-cost titles to a highly competitive, diverse ecosystem.
- Publishers remain critical for navigating a saturated mobile market where approximately 400 new games are launched daily.
- Publishers provide essential support in monetization, production, and industry relationship management to ensure commercial viability for developers.
- The mobile industry has shifted toward a platform-agnostic strategy, with Android now maintaining parity with iOS in release roadmaps.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz4 min
King's Tommy Palm talks Pet Rescue Saga on mobile
King is expanding its mobile portfolio with the launch of Pet Rescue Saga, a title previously established on Facebook since October 2012.
- King is expanding its mobile portfolio with Pet Rescue Saga, a title previously established on Facebook since October 2012 that already boasts 5.7 million daily active users.
- The mobile version features a clicker mechanic optimized for one-handed play, allowing users to clear large color-matched areas with a single touch.
- King employs a cross-pollination strategy where players rotate between different titles when they exhaust their lives, effectively increasing total engagement time across the company's library.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz6 min
Industrial Toys talks about the Morning Star graphic novel
Industrial Toys is developing a mobile-first ecosystem centered on the sci-fi shooter Morning Star, which integrates a companion interactive graphic novel to deepen narrative engagement.
- Industrial Toys is building a mobile-first ecosystem for the sci-fi shooter 'Morning Star' that integrates an interactive graphic novel to deepen narrative engagement.
- The graphic novel is released approximately one month before the game to establish a cohesive universe and build player investment.
- Cloud-based synchronization allows player choices, item collection, and interactions within the graphic novel to automatically influence the main shooter game.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz5 min
Games guru Tommy Palm on the rise of King
King’s transition from a web-centric developer to a multi-platform powerhouse represents a pivotal shift in the mobile gaming landscape.
- King achieved market dominance by prioritizing seamless cross-platform synchronization, allowing game progress and purchases to remain consistent across smartphones, tablets, and PCs.
- The company mandates native development by rewriting games from scratch in C++ rather than porting web-based titles, ensuring optimal performance on specific operating systems like Android.
- King maintains a firm commitment to the casual gaming market, focusing on intuitive gameplay and social connectivity rather than pivoting toward mid-core or hardcore segments.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz5 min
Green Throttle's Charles Huang talks unconsoles
The rise of unconsoles represents a strategic shift toward leveraging existing mobile hardware to deliver a console-like gaming experience on televisions.
- The 'unconsole' strategy leverages existing mobile hardware like Android phones and tablets to deliver console-like gaming experiences on televisions, bypassing the high entry costs of traditional dedicated hardware.
- The business model prioritizes content discovery and ecosystem integration over hardware manufacturing, using proprietary software to help users identify controller-compatible games for the living room.
- Unconsoles target multiplayer, fast-action, and button-heavy titles that are poorly suited for touch-screen interfaces but thrive in social, shared-screen environments.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz4 min
Talking Backyard Monsters: Unleashed with KIXEYE
Backyard Monsters: Unleashed represents the strategic expansion of the established Facebook title into the mobile gaming market.
- KIXEYE is expanding its established Facebook strategy title, Backyard Monsters, into the mobile gaming market to provide a portable version of the original experience.
- The core gameplay loop focuses on a dual-strategy system where players must simultaneously manage base fortification and deploy monster armies to raid other players.
- The game features a tactical unit system including infantry like Pokies, support healers, and high-damage units like Dave to encourage diverse offensive strategies.
PocketGamer.bizJun 2013
PocketGamer.biz5 min
Sean Paul Taylor on how BlackBerry is pushing mobile gaming
BlackBerry is actively expanding its mobile gaming ecosystem by prioritizing developer accessibility and hardware integration for the BlackBerry 10 platform.
- BlackBerry is incentivizing developers to port iOS and Android titles by making the BlackBerry 10 deployment tier free within the Unity mobile standard.
- The company has implemented a unified library within Unity that automates controller detection and button mapping, eliminating the need for developers to manage individual SDKs for peripherals.
- BlackBerry is prioritizing hardware integration for the MOGA Pro controller to facilitate a seamless transition between handheld mobile play and a micro-console experience via HDMI.
PocketGamer.bizMay 2013
PocketGamer.biz5 min
Word-of-mouth virality drives 57% of discovery, says Everyplay's Laakkonen
Word-of-mouth communication serves as the primary driver for mobile game discovery, accounting for 57% of new user acquisition.
- Word-of-mouth communication is the primary driver of mobile game discovery, accounting for 57% of new user acquisition.
- Peer-to-peer validation is critical to app store performance, with nearly 50% of store-based discovery effectiveness attributed to user reviews.
- Gameplay video is the most effective medium for driving viral growth because it captures the dynamic nature of interactive experiences better than static text or images.
PocketGamer.bizMay 2013
PocketGamer.biz4 min
Gifting tech company co-founder Trevor Blum explains Mesh
Mesh functions as an integrated gifting service designed to facilitate the purchase of in-game subscriptions and virtual goods within web and browser-based gaming environments.
- Mesh is an integrated gifting platform that enables users to purchase in-game subscriptions and virtual goods directly for others, replacing physical gift cards with automated digital delivery.
- The platform allows players to curate and share wish lists, specifically targeting non-gaming gift-givers to facilitate easier transactions within the gaming ecosystem.
- The company is prioritizing browser-based and PC gaming platforms for its initial rollout to avoid the restrictive platform policies currently present in the mobile market.
PocketGamer.bizMay 2013