iPhone driving mobile gaming boom

By Robert Purchese Published 3 February, 2009

Smartphones overshadow thick-phones.

Owners of the sleek iPhone accounted for 14 per cent of all mobile gaming downloads across the US during November 2008, according to a comScore report.

Smartphones such as the iPhone and BlackBerry now account for a third of all mobile gaming downloads in America, comScore reckons. And the number of games downloaded for the devices during November 2008 was nearly triple that of the previous year, although that isn't too surprising since the iTunes App Store launched last year as well.

Furthermore, a whopping 32.4 per cent of those polled admitted downloading a game for their iPhone. That dwarfs the market average of 3.8 per cent. This performance helped the entire US mobile gaming market grow by 17 per cent, despite a 14 per cent dip from thick-phones.

Helping this uptake are a stable of tip-top games for iPhone: you may have heard us bang on about Rolando and Drop7 very recently.

Support from major games publishers is growing too, with Metal Gear Solid heading to iphone, and developers like id Software eyeing the platform.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (39) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Xerx3s #1 3 years ago

    Statistics are awesome! Especially since there is no governing body overlooking all sales. My arse drives a toilet use boom. Over the past year, toilet use was up 14000% thanks to my arse and awesome chili's.

  • Blackthorned #2 3 years ago

    It amazes me anyone can afford an iPhone to be honest.
    But then Puffins amaze me too.

  • penhalion #3 3 years ago

    Just remember downloads are not sales and you'll be fine with the numbers.

  • Darkedge #4 3 years ago

    "a whopping 32.4 per cent of those polled admitted downloading a game for their iPhone" and they played that game once and then forgot about it, like 99% of the apps on the iRippoff.

    Means nothing, now over a couple of years then we'll see.

  • ps3owner #5 3 years ago

    iSheep... bahhh

    I can't think of anything worse to spend my money on then owning an i[fillinblank] device. someone, help me out here pls
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/09 @ 11:32

  • Grump #6 3 years ago

    I've done my part to drive this boom. It's just too damn easy to browse the app store and download stuff on the fly. Before I know it I've spent £10-£15 on crap like iFart and that crappy lightsaber thing. Also spent 59p on a picture of a duck that quacks when you touch it.

    I also download good stuff like Rolando, Feildrunners, Fish Tycoon, Puzzle Quest, Warfare Inc, Hero of Sparta etc.

  • DrDamn #7 3 years ago

    It just goes to show what you can do with an accessible and well priced delivery system.

  • DrDamn #8 3 years ago

    @Grump
    Puzzle Quest? Where - not coming up in a search, did you mean something else?

  • DrDamn #9 3 years ago

    @me
    Ok got it - PuzzleQuest all one word. :)
    /purchase

  • Grump #10 3 years ago

    @DrDamn

    PuzzleQuest: Challenge of the Warlords. It's been out for a while now.

  • m0thr4 #11 3 years ago

    I reckon Bejeweled and Rolando are making up the majority of the game sales. Both suit the iPhone's touch screen perfectly and, although Rolando looks like a Locoroco rip-off, in fact it's a much better game. "Touch Physics" and "Topple" also make good use of the interface.

    My personal favourite game is the flight sim "X-Plane". The quality of the 3D graphics far exceeded what I thought was possible on the iPhone.

    For those that complain about the price, I wonder what you are comparing it to? Most people will buy it for the combination of phone, PDA, GPS, iPod and the massive range of useful apps. That it also plays games and other useful software is simply a bonus.

  • m0thr4 #12 3 years ago

    Before I know it I've spent £10-£15 on crap like iFart and that crappy lightsaber thing.

    I doubt it, since both "iFart Alert" and "Lightsaber Unleashed" are free.

  • GreyScale #13 3 years ago

    "It amazes me anyone can afford an iPhone to be honest"

    I know, a £99 payment then £35 a month contract would literally bankrupt most normal people.

  • ps3owner #14 3 years ago

    @GreyScale

    I dedect a slight hint of sarcasm there... might be wrong though ;)

    I think it depends on once needs really, if you use it full throttle, non stop calling ppl... sending messages or whatever, listen to music a lot and use mobile internet + gamin on top. fair enough. But really... £35 is a lot if you don't use any of the minutes or free txt msg. I know there is a pay as you go option, which even gives a year worth of free internet access but hey... the phone isn't cheap if all you want to do is make a phone call :).

    so, it's a great toy. but I can't see the point in spending money on it if I have no time in the day to use it. like, all day at work (no point, got internet access + all apps. when I am out?! sorry... I hate it if I sit in the pub and ppl spend more time with their phone then actually communicating... on the move... well, difficult on a bicyle. In the evening, when I am at home?! ... hm, got internet games and everything there already

    actually, I can't think of a reason to own it. but, it's still a "revoluionary" toy, sorry phone, aeh pda... well, all of that in one anyway

  • ps3owner #15 3 years ago

    but mr ed, think about it. any iDevice is overpriced. You can't ignore that fact. So, for my personal use anything iRelated is pointless. Yes, I know... it's more intuitive, just works and all... but. The one half of my brain that does still work can actually use a PC and most other stuff quite well. So, no need to use my full brain to work with the iStuff.

    btw, it's my opinion, nothing else. no need to generalise :)

    although, what do I know, I own a PS3 which is an overpriced toy as well. damn it, I am contradicting myself here... ah well. maybe I should start using the other half of my brain.

    and my Xbot roots are satisfied by playing on the Xbox, original :)

    Edit: I'll leave this thread alone now. sorry for voicing my opinion.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/09 @ 12:30

  • GreyScale #16 3 years ago

    My point is, it is pretty much in the same price range as other top end smartphones with a high minutes/texts/data contract. Saying it is overpriced because it does more than you personally would need it to would be like me saying the PS3 is overpriced because I only need it to play audio CDs.

  • presh #17 3 years ago

    Hmm, some misconceptions here. To Xerx3s, there doesn't need to be a governing body for these sales - they are collated every month by ComScore through polling and questionnaires of a representative sample. Totals of sales are from the aggregated sales numbers from the operators. This is something that ComScore (via M:Metrics) has been doing for 3 years now, and it's widely accpeted in the mobile industry to be the most accurate data that's out there.

    Absolutely, downloads are not sales - however, the conversion rates seem to be decent - better than for Java games.

    @moth4r: I'd say the biggest downloads go to stuff that' advertised, which isn't all about quality ;-) For example, for the UK app store, the games deck is still just managed by one bloke, so he promotes what he likes ;-)

    @PS3owner: You're not wrong, but then again the iPhone is not actually aimed at 'normal' consumers - it's classed as a business device/Smartphone. In the UK it's got about 2% of the market. So yes, for many people it's expensive, but then again so was the iPod. The data shows that once people get an iPhone they use it a lot more than any other phone on the market, mainly because the interface is so good. So that explains the amount of iPhone evangelism ;-)

  • IneptPercy #18 3 years ago

    I have a better idea, my good old sony ericsson W880 is slim, fits in my pocket and actually phones people. My DS plays games to a very nice standard... what do I need an iPhone for again?

  • skillian #19 3 years ago

    I know I'm not the only one waiting for a killer Android handset.

    iPhone is really nice, but like all Apple stuff, too expensive and too shackled (for me).

    edit: The iPhone tarrifs are considerably better than people make them out to be (£35 gets you 10 hours call time to any UK mobile or landline at any time, 500 texts and ALL your data usage. ALL OF IT.)

    My current contract is 20% cheaper than that and gives me twice as many minutes. I know the tariff is there to pay for the phone, not the minutes, and it's certainly better priced now thatn it once was, but the contract cost still doesn't compare very favourable with other phones.

    The worst thing about the iPhone was it brought about an era where exclusive phones are tied to a single provider. If iPhone was on multiple providers you know the prices would be much better than they are now.
    Edited by 2 at 03/02/09 @ 13:10

  • ps3owner #20 3 years ago

    hey mr ed, sorry for criticising your iphone. I should have know better. It happens all the time when I have an "intelligent" conversation with the 3 fellows who own an iphone at work.

    just can't help winding them up to be honest... they (like you) keep falling for it all the time... it's like you guys have to justify the phone for some reason. :)

    btw, I don't need all of that "free" stuff, minutes and so on... as I explained before. So, it's a personal choice really. If I find a valid reason to justify owning an iPhone I'll let you know... there isn't one though.

    well... now I am out though, honestly :)

  • skillian #21 3 years ago

    So many poor people on eurogamer. They argue consoles, phones, mp3 players because they can't get off their arses and earn some real money.

    Troll? Or just not living on the real world?

  • Velios #22 3 years ago

    Fact : I was the first person to own an iPhone in Peterborough. It's first Gen though, so does'nt play many of these latest games :(

  • Greebo #23 3 years ago


    The ipod touch plays all these games and can be had for £150 (8GB).

    If you buy one purely to use as an mp3 player, there's no doubt there is better (and cheaper out there). However, mine has become a partner to my laptop and possibly the best PDA I've ever had. I get my Outlook account data sync'ed over wifi, synchronise RSS to read on the go (web surfing is actually very pleasant on it) and there are plenty of decent free games to add a bit of value!

    I get annoyed by Jobs worshipers at times, but the ipod touch is smashing and a very capable gaming platform.

  • Psiloc #24 3 years ago

    The iPhone is nearly impossible to justify to somebody. You have to physically hold and use one before you finally understand that all other phones are actually shit.

    BTW, if you've ever been the person saying "I just want a phone that makes phone calls arf arf" then you're an instant tosser unless you have a 3210. Fact.

  • windflaw #25 3 years ago

    @ Blackthorned I guess some people are easily amazed :)

  • Thunderbolt #26 3 years ago

    Having played with my friends iphone I can see that its a pretty good device but too expensive for my needs.

    But anyone buying a Touch really has more money than sense. I mean £150 for 8gb? Too big for the gym, the nano is better and cheaper for that. Too small to hold all your MP3s the Classic is better for that.


  • canIdoyabombsforya #27 3 years ago

    So should the next DS also be a phone to stay dominant I wonder?

  • Xerx3s #28 3 years ago

    "The iPhone is nearly impossible to justify to somebody. You have to physically hold and use one before you finally understand that all other phones are actually shit. "

    Funny. I've used one, still came to the conclusion that it's overhyped. It's not bad but definitely overhyped as it's in some area's slightly better and others slightly worse than the competition. The touch screen is a wee bit better than most others but the build in aps are not up to the task and the fact that it's not open for development out of the box is absolute madness.

  • Psiloc #29 3 years ago

    "Funny. I've used one, still came to the conclusion that it's overhyped. It's not bad but definitely overhyped as it's in some area's slightly better and others slightly worse than the competition. The touch screen is a wee bit better than most others but the build in aps are not up to the task and the fact that it's not open for development out of the box is absolute madness."

    Then I stand corrected I guess. What apps aren't up to what task?

  • Blackthorned #30 3 years ago

    @GreyScale

    Firstly. I don't like your tone. Blunt sarcasm doesn't become you. Secondly, I actually think a £35 a month contract should enable the customer to get the device for free. In that respect it is not like other smartphones with similar capabilities, or am I wrong about that?
    That £99 affects a buying decision for some people.

  • kiroquai #31 3 years ago

    There's quite a bit of decent stuff for the iPhone, as I found out this weekend. Having worked my way through Rolando I went and bought Dizzy Bee 2 which is hugely awesome.

    Regarding the costs of the phone etc, for someone like me it is ideal. I was on Vodafone and they are hideously expensive with their packages so I went for the £40-a-month option and paid £60 for the 16gb iPhone - if I had chosen the 8gig one it would have been free. My iPod was pretty much dead anyway and I obviously enjoy my games, so for me it works financially and practically.

  • Razz #32 3 years ago

    ÀîÁ¬½Ü

  • GreyScale #33 3 years ago

    "Firstly. I don't like your tone. Blunt sarcasm doesn't become you. Secondly, I actually think a £35 a month contract should enable the customer to get the device for free. In that respect it is not like other smartphones with similar capabilities, or am I wrong about that?
    That £99 affects a buying decision for some people. "

    You are wrong yes. The Touch HD is £127 on a £35pm contract with Orange (doesnt include unlimited internet btw), the SE Xperia is £146 on a Vodafone £35pm deal. Blackberry Storm is only free on a £40pm contract (which the iPhone also is). These deals can be had for a bit less through 3rd party dealers, but I fail to see why the iPhone should be the only one to be marked out as 'overpriced'.

  • Marshall2008 #34 3 years ago

    VELIOS SAID "Fact : I was the first person to own an iPhone in Peterborough. It's first Gen though, so does'nt play many of these latest games :("

    @Velios

    FACT: your full of shit, the iPhone plays ALL of the same apps as the 3G. If you had one you would know this. The only apps that don't work/not supported are those requiring the use of GPS.

    How do I know this? I have an iPhone 3G, my son uses my original iPhone and my other son uses an iPod Touch. All 3 devices are synced to my iTunes account and all 3 devices play all of the same games.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/09 @ 15:25

  • Vice.Destroyer #35 3 years ago

    Out of interest, Marshall. Three devices linked to one iTunes account. Can you buy one app and use it on all three devices? Can you buy one song and use it on all three devices? Because that would interest me.

  • tomnol #36 3 years ago

    I recommend 'Subway'. Simple game but beautiful in design and execution and utterly addictive. Has gotten more playtime from me than some console game. At a fraction of the price.

  • Windypops #37 3 years ago

    @Kings

    Yeah. Like that mug Stephen Fry. They sure saw that thick twat coming.
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/09 @ 18:23

  • Marshall2008 #38 3 years ago

    @Vice.Destroyer

    Yep, you can sync all of your music and apps to all of your ipods etc. I dont know if there is a device limit but as well as the iPhone, iPhone 3G and the Touch I also sync 3 ipod shuffles and 3 iPod Nano's with the same account.

  • Marshall2008 #39 3 years ago

    @KingsXKing

    Wow, you seem to get awfully worked up over a phone. You should cut back on the coke.

    Chillax mofo. Go and get your Nokia out and play snake or something...
    Edited by 1 at 03/02/09 @ 18:45