Microsoft and Sony locked in battle for consumer’s living room with latest next-gen consoles going far beyond gaming- but new players such as the Steam Box and Ouya target hardcore and casual gamers App gaming is now sells more than handheld consoles- as mobile and console experience starts to merge Marketing through gaming becomes more […]
Microsoft and Sony locked in battle for consumer’s living room with latest next-gen consoles going far beyond gaming- but new players such as the Steam Box and Ouya target hardcore and casual gamers
App gaming is now sells more than handheld consoles- as mobile and console experience starts to merge
Marketing through gaming becomes more lucrative, with rise of freemium apps generating dual revenue from purchases and ads
Marketing goes interactive
2013 was a big year for gaming, with the next generation of consoles shaping the future of entertainment consumption. The Xbox One, with in-built gesture technology was made with a multimedia experience in mind, but after some PR blunders rival PS4 currently has the upper hand with a more gamer-centric system.
At the other end of the market, app gaming also became big business, with news that Apple’s gaming apps now outsell handheld console counterparts. Addictive puzzle game Candy Crush Saga was the success story of the year, with reports that it makes nearly a million dollars a day form its freemium model.
This year we also saw great examples of how brands are using ‘gamification’ to increase engagement with consumers, and some guides on how to run successful campaigns.
As we enter 2014, we look back at the top 10 headlines that made waves in the gaming industry, as marketers increasingly look to invest in the industry.
EA drops online pass for used games after player complaints
May 2013
Electronic Arts is axing a controversial program that stifled trade in second-hand games.
The Online Pass program locked many titles so second-hand games could only be fully played if a person bought a code from EA to unlock online add-ons. Some of EA’s most popular games, including Battlefield 3, Dead Space and Madden NFL, used Online Pass.
Consumers ‘now spending more on Apple iPhone games than handheld console games’
May 2013
OS games for iPhones and iPads generated more revenue than handheld console games on devices such as the Nintendo DS, according to new research. The second edition of the ongoing quarterly App Annie & IDC Portable Gaming Report. offers insights into the shift of consumer spending from gaming-optimized handhelds to mobile devices.
Biggest U-turn yet? Microsoft axes DRM restrictions after web outcry
June 2013
In one of the most striking examples of internet protest power yet seen, Microsoft has reversed its controversial decision to impose restrictions on pre-owned games on its upcoming Xbox One console. Microsoft initially said that gamers would need to log onto the internet via the Xbox One once per day to keep playing and imposed a number of restrictions on lending or selling games. The firm has since been beset by protests from angry fans, with many taking to popular online forums such as Reddit threatening to switch to Sony’s upcoming rival, the Playstation 4.
7 dos and don’ts of mobile app marketing (infographic)
June 2013
With smartphones fast catching PC use, this infographic from technology firm Dot Com Infoway sheds light on vital aspects that mobile app marketers need to focus on to make sure their promotional activities drive results.
Android game console Ouya sells out on Amazon
June 2013
Crowd funded game console Ouya has gone on sale this week, offering an Andoid –powered games system for just $100, promptly selling out on Amazon.
New boss at Zynga: Xbox chief to lead embattled social gaming giant
July 2013
Zynga has appointed ex-Microsoft executive Don Mattrick as its new chief executive, as the social gaming company looks to turn around its fortunes. Shares in Zynga rose by 10% on the news of the appointment, after falling more than 50% in the past year amid staff redundancies, cancelled games and a falling market share. Mattrick (pictured right) will replace Zynga founder Mark Pincus in the CEO role. Pincus will stay on as chairman and chief product officer.
Mobile phenomenon Candy Crush Saga ‘makes $850,000 a day’
September 2013
Candy Crush Saga is currently making $850,000 a day, as the year-old mobile puzzle game reveals the secrets to its ‘freemium’ business model success.
Watch a trailer for Candy Crush Saga below:
Online gaming platform Steam targets ‘living room’ with free OS
September 2013
Valve, the firm behind the popular online gaming platform Steam, is to release a free operating system as it looks to expand beyond its PC roots to appeal to ‘living room’ players in the console market. Following a countdown to the announcement, Valve announced the Steam OS engine this week. The system will be based on Linux and will be free to users and free licensed to games developers and manufacturers. The console could potentially disrupt a market currently dominated by the Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo Wii. Steam currently has about 50 million active users.
Mobile gaming trends: Apple leads way as Google Play growth slows
November 2013
Apple continues to dominate the mobile app sector in terms of revenue, generating 63% of the sectors revenue through its App Store, compared to 37% from Google Play, according to new research. er 2013. The data, from Distimo, found that the vast majority of all revenue generated in the Apple App Store and Google Play came from games in September 2013.
Xbox One gets global launch as console battle begins
November 2013
Microsoft’s next-generation console, the Xbox One, has gone on sale in the UK as the pre-Christmas battle with Sony’s Playstation 4 gets underway.
Watch this report from the BBC below:
