Condition of HTML5 mobile gaming – some straight facts and numbers.

Posted by przemek on 2013/01/28

HTML5 gaming market is growing, we see that obviously, and despite of many negative voices and events, web mobile gaming is becoming more attractive. But can we present it in numbers, or as a collection of facts which will show present status? Let’s try. I will use my experience along with informations I found in the web. Some of those facts may put down all of negative opinions. So, how is it really?

• Actual HTML5 gaming began in 2010, and from that time (which is only 2 years) it made a long way from simple games, to complicated 2D (mobile) and 3D games (desktop) with HD graphics, sounds, and animations. Here are some great examples.
• According to Boostermedia there is around 1000 mobile HTML5 games on the market, and this number may be higher soon since developers keep on producing new games.
• Number of publishers is much higher now. According to my researches there is globally around 40 active companies which already support, or will support soon HTML5 mobile gaming. That includes different types of business models in which they cooperate with developers. This number is growing too, many publishers are willing to open their own versions of HTML5 mobile gaming networks in nearest future.
• There are many indie HTML5 games developers but they don’t bring best quality products. Only less than 10 developers provide professionally built mobile games (including: Photonstorm, Tresensa, NGT, Softgames, NonStop Games).
• Most popular business models are: advertisements revenues, flat fee per game license, subscription based distribution, and freemium. We noticed that presently advertisements and subscriptions are most reliable income sources.
• There is already around 10 HTML5 games frameworks (Ultimate JS, Impact JS, Play N, etc.) – they provide great support for developers in the means of games production.
• Growing numbers of HTML5 games brings a higher awareness of HTML5 gaming market in minds of publishers, and it may soon become a great alternative for overcrowded native market.
• In the means of promotion HTML5 has great advantage – you only need a link, and a browser to play, or share the game with your friends.
• Android based consoles, like OUYA along with Smart TV’s, can bring totally new market for HTML5 games distribution.
• Mutliplayer gaming on various devices can be provided by HTML5 thanks to it’s cross platform features.
• Performance shouldn’t be an issue now. New devices are more powerful, and using hardware directly (instead of software) to accelerate animations may become a best solution.
• HTML5 based operating system Tizen is a fact, and it will provide cheaper, and faster creation of web based games for mobile devices.

 

Most of facts shown here confirm that condition of HTML5 gaming market is much better than it was in the beginning. Still there wasn’t a BIG BANG, but if the growth is better then awareness of market is higher. Numbers show trends of publishers to release their own HTML5 gaming networks, we see more games, more developers. Is there a money? Yes, not as huge as from native market, but developers shouldn’t give up. Every market needs to grow, and when it does, there are more opportunities, higher traffic and more income.

Image courtesy of [Master isolated images] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net