Technology runs our lives. From setting an alarm clock to get up for work, to communicating with your friends in the evening, we’re on our smartphones, laptops and tablets on a regular basis. Children are now much more ‘tech-savvy’ than they were a decade or so ago and the digital era is only going to grow further; the technological revolution is just getting started.
Social media channels have helped to fuel this increase and internet users are now playing more games than ever before. In fact, online gaming is now a colossal industry and it will continue to grow as youngsters gain further insight into social gaming. Of course, websites such as Twitter and Facebook aren’t the only reason for the development and enhanced status of social gaming but they have certainly played their part.
According to a study conducted by the Transparency Market Research board, the global social gaming market will be worth $17.4 billion by the start of 2019 – an incredible sum of money considering how quickly the industry has flourished. It is time for those unaware of how important social gaming is to the digital revolution. Nowadays, it is not only much easier but much more acceptable to play online games via your smartphone device; here are a few areas in which the industry can continue to grow.
Social Media Games
Game developers are smart people and they have certainly found a way to exploit a fairly niche, growing market. Nowadays, game consoles are expensive and not everybody can afford to buy the latest model; especially when Sony release a new PlayStation every few years. Instead, they gambled on leveraging social media to satiate people’s gaming needs – and their grand plan has worked to great effect.
Estimated figures suggest that approximately 50% of social media users spend their time playing online games, either by themselves or with an opponent. Social media channels have helped to open up a new avenue for online gaming developers to exploit and people enjoy the chance to play these games whilst connecting with friends and family over Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
With this trend correlating directly with the rise in social gaming markets, the social media channels should also profit from the enhanced value by the beginning of 2019… and they could grow further as we enter the next decade.
Browser Games
Gaming hubs, such as Kongregate and Newgrounds, are now prominent with gaming fans around the world and they have helped promote and enhance online games even further. There is no longer a need to purchase a console – digital games are now much more advanced, thanks mainly to the success of these hubs as well as mobile app stores.
Another area of browser gaming that has seen significant growth in recent years is the iGaming industry. Operators such as Fabulous Bingo, which offer a range of slot titles as well as their flagship bingo offering, are amongst those to have benefited from the rise of high-speed internet connectivity and social gaming, employing chat hosts that supplement their games with interactivity.
We all grew up playing a number of exciting games on Miniclip and Mousebreaker and those kind of websites are slowly but surely regaining their rightful place back at the forefront of online gaming.
‘Subject-specific’ Games
Again, these have played a key role in the development of the sector. Whether you’re a sport fan wanting to recreate your favourite goal in the Champions League final or trying to emulate a rock concert from a famous musician, subject-specific gaming appeals to people’s second nature.
It makes people feel like the game is relevant to them, rather than appealing to a wider audience – and this helps gamers to feel much more confident and comfortable when playing these particular games.
“Doodle Jump” (CC BY 2.0) by Johan Larsson
Social gaming could work alongside major game developers, such as Activision or EA Sports, to exploit some of the biggest and most successful games around. The FIFA series is already available on smartphones but they could take things further – especially as mobile gaming continues to grow.
The opportunity for fans to bet from their own living room could somehow be incorporated into these games; perhaps an option to stake virtual funds could be incorporated? Subject-specific games are much more relevant, especially when you can tweak your own characters and general storyline to suit you.
– Jeremy Wardman
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