Game Developers Suggest Size of iPad Mini a Pro for Mobile Gaming
By Rob Scott
October 26, 2012
October 26, 2012
- The iPad mini does not have a Retina display and its A5 processor is a generation old, but the convenience of the new device’s size holds promise for increased mobile game play.
- “We see a bunch of things that are good for gamers here,” explains Doug Scott, VP of marketing and revenue at DeNA’s Ngmoco game division. “It’s backward compatible with iPad software. And any time that Apple jumps into a market, it legitimizes it and brings a lot of attention to that device type. There will be a rising tide for mini tablets, and that will drive awareness for gamers who might not have considered a tablet.”
- “It will use the same graphics and design as the iPad, this makes it easy for small developers have one app launch across many different devices, which give them access to more users without needing to do extra work or market to a different store,” says Rob Carroll, director of publishing at Tapjoy.
- “The larger screen size allows for more detailed games over the phone size,” adds Carroll. “Better looking, richer experiences are good for developers, it allows them to create more immersive game experiences. The smaller size should bring in new users that weren’t comfortable with the larger tablet size, expanding the tablet market and giving developers more reach.”
- On the other end, Jesse Divnich, VP of insights and analysis at EEDAR, suggests the device may cause fragmentation. “One of the many — and there are many — reasons why developers lead on the iOS devices, is that there is at least a good understanding that 60 percent of actively used iPhone’s are 2 years or newer.”
- “My primary issue is that if the tablet market, much like the PC and laptop market, goes down this road of having both low-end to high-end processing power, it will be difficult to determine market sizes, and developers may be forced to program to the lowest common denominator.”
- Other game developers suggest it will encourage Android to up its 3D capabilities. One exec says the mini could help double the size of the iPad gaming market in the next year.
- According to Chartboost, the iPad currently accounts for 27 percent of iOS traffic, while the iPhone accounts for 56 percent. However, “the average number of daily game play sessions is 10 percent higher for iPad users than iPhone users,” notes the post. Apple’s Game Center currently has 160 million users.
No Comments Yet
You can be the first to comment!
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.