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I worked in mobile gamedev a long time, and I remember the excitement around 2010, where it really seemed like we got a new, innovative platform which will allo

I worked in mobile gamedev a long time, and I remember the excitement around 2010, where it really seemed like we got a new, innovative platform which will allow for completely new types of gameplay and turn a lot of casuals into real gamers at the same time. But turned out, the mobile crowd (which is basically most of humanity at this point) really prefer spending their money in a very specific genres, and innovative gameplay just doesn't convert that well. Marketing doesn't lead people. It just enhances the signal about what people choose. Marketing can only drive an install, but after that, it's the game quality and a person's preferences that decide the LTV.

fidotron 2y ago
> Marketing doesn't lead people. It just enhances the signal about what people choose. Marketing is also the process of surveying the market and deciding what to make in the first place.
- golergka 2y ago
  Good point, I should have phrased it differently.
pier25 2y ago
> the mobile crowd (which is basically most of humanity at this point) really prefer spending their money in a very specific genres, and innovative gameplay Yeah although what percentage of mobile users actually play on their phones regularly these days? It's anecdotal but I haven't played a mobile game in almost a decade now. I played a lot on my iPad 1 and 3. The app fever of 2010 has passed. Again anecdotal, but I avoid installing apps on my phone as much as I can. My wife still plays candy crush on her iPad almost every night but has zero interest in any other game.
- jamesgeck0 2y ago
  Anecdotally, when I was in Asia I saw people playing mobile games all over the place. Mobile is the biggest gaming platform by a large margin.
  - heraldgeezer 2y ago
    Yes, but it's all anime gacha games like Genshin, Honkai, Arknights etc.
    - johnnyanmac 2y ago
      Is that a bad thing when you see what the western mobile scene looks like?
mrkramer 2y ago
>innovative gameplay just doesn't convert that well Mobile gaming might be casual but the touch UI is huge innovation by itself. Touch gaming controls is the real thing that makes the difference in mobile gaming compared to other types of gaming.

fidotron 2y ago

> Marketing doesn't lead people. It just enhances the signal about what people choose. Marketing is also the process of surveying the market and deciding what to make in the first place.

golergka 2y ago
Good point, I should have phrased it differently.

pier25 2y ago

> the mobile crowd (which is basically most of humanity at this point) really prefer spending their money in a very specific genres, and innovative gameplay Yeah although what percentage of mobile users actually play on their phones regularly these days? It's anecdotal but I haven't played a mobile game in almost a decade now. I played a lot on my iPad 1 and 3. The app fever of 2010 has passed. Again anecdotal, but I avoid installing apps on my phone as much as I can. My wife still plays candy crush on her iPad almost every night but has zero interest in any other game.

jamesgeck0 2y ago
Anecdotally, when I was in Asia I saw people playing mobile games all over the place. Mobile is the biggest gaming platform by a large margin.
- heraldgeezer 2y ago
  Yes, but it's all anime gacha games like Genshin, Honkai, Arknights etc.
  - johnnyanmac 2y ago
    Is that a bad thing when you see what the western mobile scene looks like?

mrkramer 2y ago

>innovative gameplay just doesn't convert that well Mobile gaming might be casual but the touch UI is huge innovation by itself. Touch gaming controls is the real thing that makes the difference in mobile gaming compared to other types of gaming.