14 DAY TRIAL // The leader in measuring the digital world, comScore reports that the number of mobile game downloaders grew 17 percent from November 2007 to November 2008. During this time, 8.5 million people / 3.8 percent of mobile subscribers, downloaded a game to their mobile device. 34 percent of mobile game downloaders in November owned a smartphone, compared with 10 percent last year. According to the metrics company, the iPhone and BlackBerry Curve have replaced the RAZR and low-end flip phones as the most popular gaming platforms
“The rapid growth in smartphone adoption in the United States has provided a boost for mobile gaming, as 34 percent of those downloading a game in November did so using a smartphone,” said Mark Donovan, senior analyst, comScore. “Last year, not one smartphone appeared in the top 10 devices used for mobile downloads. This year, six out of 10 are smartphones, excluding devices with smartphone-like functionality, such as the Instinct and Voyager, which also make appearances.”
“As the mobile phone has evolved into a better platform for both playing and merchandising games, the games being offered have also been improved, drawing in a broader user base,” observed Donovan. “Over the past year, we have seen mobile gaming expand into a broadening demographic, with strongest growth among teens, who previously eschewed their mobile device in favor of handheld gaming devices, and those 35 and older.”
According to comScore, the number of smartphone owners downloading a game nearly tripled since the metrics company last checked. Evidently, the iPhone has influenced these results enormously, with the App Store currently holding almost 20,000 applications that have been downloaded over half a billion times.
The tracking firm added that iPhone owners accounted for 14 percent of mobile game downloaders in November. Out of all iPhone owners surveyed, 32.4 percent had downloaded a game in November. The market average was 3.8 percent, according to comScore.