Recent studies have put the world of mobile gaming into perspective, which come after recent claims from many industry professionals that one day mobile gaming will be the end of console gaming. While there are many similarities between the two styles, with some games even jumping platforms, there are also an abundance of differences that set them apart. One of the main debates that has come out of the heated discussions is that mobile gaming is seen by many users as a way to ‘kill time’ or just something that they indulge in whilst ‘on the go’. Console gamers, however, will dedicate hours of leisure to sitting down and playing multiplayer online or various campaign modes.
Image & Form, the creators of ‘SteamWorld Dig’ are one of the latest companies to branch out their game across various platforms, from Nintendo DS to PC and even Playstation Vita. In the past, the developers at Image & Form have been hesitant to adapt the successful game to an iOS or Android platform, saying that mobile gaming is “too crowded” for ‘SteamWorld Dig’ to be noticed. In a recent interview with PocketGamer Biz, a source from Image & Form stated that in the mobile gaming world, applications are seen for an extremely short time – often limiting their exposure to the audience. Brjann Sigurgeirsson, CEO of Image & Form continued by saying that “The audience doesn’t really want to play – they want to pass the time. The vast majority of the mobile audience prefers casual, less demanding games. If a game becomes too difficult, it’s very easy to switch to the next thing – after all, that one’s also free, you only lost the time you invested. Which in turn means less intricate games – again with a few exceptions.”
Source: http://steamworldgames.com/dig/img/screenshot_3_hd.jpg
While his comments may seem a little harsh to some mobile game developers, you’ve got to give the guy credit for getting straight to the point. Many of the highest ranking apps across both iOS and Android devices are those that can be played for a short time, while on a bus or train for instance, and then quickly exited when you’re ready to continue with your day to day life.
All new mobile game developers should take this on board when creating the latest apps, intent on capturing the hearts (or attention spans) of avid followers globally.
After 5+ years in development, we're excited ... 
