How the Casual market changed the gaming world

Last year Kick starter funded the android based device the Ouya, which brought along publicity to the titular named developer.  This is the first time a console was created with the sole intention of playing android games, but this is the first time that android apps, or mobile apps for that matter, has challenged the throne of console games. I'll take a look at the history that lead up to this big entry in the gaming world.

Back in 2008, apple opened up the door for mobile gaming. Announcing at the 2008 ADC tech event "Iphone tech talk", apple director of technology John Geleynse made the statement that the apple Iphone is a gaming device. This was laughable back then, as the DS and PSP were still on top in the handheld gaming world. The Iphone still only boasted the A1 processor chip, which by today's standards works as good as a Playstation one. Still, the technology giant pushed and pursued that title until the Iphone 4 showed off what it's processors could do.

Android fiercely competes with the competition

Around the same time 2008 Google play, formerly the android market, opened its app store. The app store was/is still growing and continues to grow as more developers have now locked on to the potential market that apps may ensue.

Let's look back in 2006 when Nintendo took a huge risk by venturing into uncharted waters with its Wii console, targeting casual gamers and taking the gaming world by storm. For years the Wii took the lead in sales and it was at this point that the mobile market also aimed to target that goldmine we know as the casual market.

Games such as Angry birds, Plants vs. Zombies, Robot Unicorn attack, Temple run, and now Candy Crush have dominated in downloads.

A survey conducted by Mocospace revealed that most people who have apps on a device prefer to play for fun, and that makes up 34%, while 32% play to kill time.

That's the big idea. You don't have to be pressured to complete the game, to unlock all trophies/achievements, to play online. You simply press the start, play the game, quit the game and go on with your business. To make things even more marketable, Facebook has integrated these very apps into their social network, reinventing the idea of social gaming. I'll do another article sometime about social gaming. For now, things are changing in the gaming world as developers want to take mobile gaming to the next level.

Now that the Ouya has released their similar titled device out to the public, there have been a lot of speculation surrounding it's future with naysayers rejecting this new console and stating that it'll flop and be forgotten. Then we have those who see its potential, realizing that this could be a gateway to a new haven for indie developers and casual gamers.

While the Ouya aims to be used as a home console, one of its targets is the indie developer.

The console is fully modifiable, able to be used with custom firmwares and the like.  Following its announcement other companies have now moved on to introducing android based gaming consoles, such as the Gamestick by developer Play Jam and Nvidia's proprietary Shield handheld PC streaming/gaming device.

It makes sense; the costs are cheaper for consumers and for developers to make and takes less time. Also, there's no 'risk' in creating games that may flop on console to be created for mobile apps. Most apps range from free to $20 the most.

With the recent surge of movie tie-ins gamers have taken notice of the absence of shovelware on mainstream platforms.  The demographic is far broader than console gaming is concerned, with more than half a billion people owning phones. Gaming giants such as Sony and Nintendo also have made recent attempts to target the mobile gaming demographic, the 3ds has the Nintendo store with downloadable games in the form of apps, while Sony allows full past and present game downloads.

While android consoles will become more available, it is still highly unlikely that it will dethrone mainstream gaming consoles at any time. However, gaming companies have seen the popularity rise and  in order to stay relevant, have now added more social networking to envelope users are submerged in a brand new experience.

Currently, the Ouya sells for $99 while the Gamestick sells at $79.99. Both systems were released this year.  Nvidia's Shield will release later in July.