It’s been 8 months now since we looked at Java game downloads in the UK, so I thought it would be interesting to see how the market has developed since then. After all, 8 months is a whole generation in terms of technical and user development in mobile.
According to ELSPA’s Official Mobile Games Java Download Chart, compiled from data provided by the 5 main operators in the UK (ie Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile, Orange and 3) the state of the universe looks like this:
1 LEMMINGS – IFONE
2 WALL BREAKER – INFUSIO
3 TETRIS – IFONE
4 PUB POOL
- INFOSPACE
5 WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE – GLU MOBILE
6 SWAT SNIPER –
INFOSPACE
7 LMA MANGER 2005 – JAMDAT
8 PITFALL GLACIER – DIGITAL
CHOCOLATE
9 MINI GOLF CASTLES – DIGITAL CHOCOLATE
10 PITFALL JUNGLE –
DIGITAL CHOCOLATE
There’s a couple of things to note here, though.
Firstly, we have no data about how much each title sells, which is a little disappointing. It’s also worth noting that a game promoted by a larger operator can sell less per user than a smaller operator, yet still be ahead in the charts. So, we really do need volumes to be able to usefully coment.
Secondly, it is only games sold via the operators. Since we’ve seen recent claims that off-portal sales of content have now reached about 70%, we are in theory only looking at 30% of the market here. This could be very skewed in terms of results, as gut feel tells me that most savvy mobile users and gamers would be buying off-portal, leaving the laggardly rump buying from their operator.
If that is the case, the operator chart would reflect an innate conservatism and a preference for games that don’t exactly push the envelope.
So here’s a call for a better chart for us play with, which would include off-portal sales too. This doesn’t have to be exhaustive, but certainly some of the bigger indie games sellers and resellers.
Anyway, with that in mind, what does the chart tell us?
Well, certainly oldies are still dominating the download scene. Are they really better, or are developers failing to get to grips with the new medium of phone-based gaming? Or is it a reflection of the type of gamer buying from operators, we discussed above?
The other interesting development is the sudden arrival of Digital Chocolate on the scene, with 3 titles in the top 10. This is the company founded by Trip Hawkins, who previously founded Electronic Arts, which practically invented the modern computer game. Trip is a master of the sound bite (he describes mobiles as "social computers" and "sieze the minute" is a nice description of mobile gaming) and founded the new company specifically to take advantage of the new mobile medium, attracting some impeccable investors on the way.
It looks like he might just be able to pull off that very rare trick of creating two hugely successful companies. Sure, it’s early days, but signs couldn’t be much more promising.
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