Distimo's latest report foucsed on Games in Apple App Store, BlackBerry App World, Google Android Market, Nokia Ovi Store and Windows Marketplace for Mobile in the United States.

Android and Windows Phone users pay more for games than BlackBerry, Nokia or iPhone users.

Games on Windows Marketplace for Mobile and BlackBerry App World are most expensive at $4.91 and $4.60 (on average) respectively.

The Games category on the Apple App Store with the most titles available is Puzzle. Games published in the Role Playing category on the Apple App Store are most expensive, averaging $7.96 per game.

Game Developer Research published its latest report, the 2009/2010 State of Game Development Survey, revealing among other things a surge of iPhone developers and a lull in those making games for the Wii. 

The results of the comprehensive 55 question survey help to illustrate which platforms Western game creators develop for, which market sectors they work in, which tools they use and how much they spend on these tools, and sheds light on which factors determine the target platforms for game development.

As a reflection of recent economic difficulties and resulting layoffs, this year's survey reveals that many experienced developers have founded smaller studios, or have begun developing games on their own.  This trend is marked by a seven percent growth in the proportion of developers employed by companies of 50 employees or fewer, while in sharp contrast, the proportion of developers at companies of 500 or more employees has fallen by two percent since last year's survey.

As shown from the results of the survey, another increasingly prevalent trend has been the growth of the mobile space.  Due in large part to the success of Apple's iPhone software platform, mobile support shot up to 25 percent of developers, nearly doubling last year's 12 percent.  Of these mobile developers, nearly three quarters of that group are targeting iPhone and iPod touch development, a number more than twice the reported support for traditional handhelds like Nintendo DS and Sony PSP.

Mobile game publishers grossed nearly $540 million in top-line revenue in the U.S. in 2009, up at a 12% CAGR from $382 million in 2006, according to a new study from SNL Kagan, "Economics of Mobile Games."

In "Economics of Mobile Games," SNL Kagan ranks the leading 21 mobile game publishers by U.S. revenue from third-quarter 2005 to fourth-quarter 2009. At the top of the list is EA Mobile, which SNL Kagan estimates will bring in record revenues exceeding $115 million in 2009. Gameloft, Glu and Namco Bandai round out the top four.

While profitability varies widely by publisher, the overall margin for the industry is on the rise. SNL Kagan estimates that the U.S. mobile game industry's EBITDA margin has grown from negative 19% in third-quarter 2005 to an estimated 17% in fourth-quarter 2009. The study found that publishers with libraries of classic game hits or those that develop popular games using their own intellectual property have the most financial success.  

RealGames introduced the Federation of Studios (FoS), a mobile publishing platform for small and mid-sized game developers port their games, at no up-front cost, across more than 1700 mobile handsets, eight different operating systems and 130 carriers and direct-to-consumer distributors.

It grants developers access to Real's proprietary EMERGE development platform and an integrated marketing and distribution process, arming them with the ability to deliver their game to the broadest mobile gaming audience possible.

The EMERGE development process enables quick, cost efficient porting to multiple platforms (J2ME, BREW, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Android, Nintendo DSi and Flash).  Key to the efficiency of EMERGE is a tightly managed business process that, in addition to porting capabilities, also provides game developers with quality assurance, localization, sales and distribution services. The first FoS partner is Sonic Boom, Inc., a leading publisher and creator of mobile games and applications, developer of mobile titles including Name that Tune! and Virtual Villagers.

Moblyng Games’ m:Mafia is now available in the Ovi Store.Moblyng Games’ titles allow players to connect with friends across multiple networks and devices, including Facebook, the iPhone, Android and the Nokia 5800 and N97 more platforms than any other social gaming developer.

“Nokia has the distinction of servicing a vast majority of the world-wide wireless market,” said Stewart Putney, CEO and founder, Moblyng Games. “Adding the Nokia platform and the Ovi Store marks a step for Moblyng Games towards global mobile gaming — a feat we are proud to pioneer. Each time we add to the list of supported Moblyng Games devices and markets, truly cross-platform gaming becomes available to millions of additional players, and that is revolutionary.”

EA Mobile announced the launch of four new, movie-based titles: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra, Star Trek and X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Experience the magic of Harry Potter in this exciting new mobile game for feature phones based on the latest installment of one of the most popular movie franchises of all time. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince delivers all the fun of the movie via varied, action-packed gameplay in the authentic and interactive setting of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Join Harry, Ron and Hermione as they explore the school grounds, interact with popular characters, and battle Dark Forces in an all-new free roaming environment.

Glu Mobile's Brain Genius Deluxe is now available from Apple's App Store for iPhone and iPod touch. Brain Genius Deluxe is the sequel to Glu's  Brain Genius.

The latest version of Brain Genius Deluxe features brain training games that test observation, memory, calculation and reasoning. Players can challenge themselves through daily teasing and exercises of wit or practice to perfection by trying the teasers in single exercise mode.

About Brain Genius Deluxe:

• Smartest Brain Game on iPhone and iPod touch - 23 brain-crunching exercises featuring some colorful characters and humorous mind-bending moments.
• Noggin-Tickling Bonus Puzzles - Includes bonus games including sudoku and sliding puzzles. Each of these is bigger and more entertaining than many stand alone iPhone applications.
• Advanced Profile System - Keeps track of awards and achievements in the game to show players their progress to becoming a true Brain Genius.

Hasbro, announced that more than a dozen of its popular toy and game properties will land on various video game platforms in the second half of this year through licensing alliances with video game leaders. Here's the scoup on what mobile games will be coming from these alliances.

This summer will kick off with major action and adventure based on the launch of Activision's TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN,  Glu Mobile will  release the game on a variety of mobile devices as well as a mini-application on the iPhone.

EA will in August  launch  G.I. JOE The Rise of Cobra on the Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION3, Wii, PlayStation2, PSP, Nintendo DS and mobile devices.

For board game fans, EA will relase BATTLESHIP, YAHTZEE, CONNECT 4, SCRABBLE, BOGGLE and SORRY! CRANIUM, YAHTZEE, THE GAME OF LIFE, and CLUE in a variety of mobile formats.

"Through our strategic alliances with the world's most talented video game developers and publishers such as EA, Hasbro has continued to re-invent the play experience of its brands in a way that is meaningful to today's digital consumer," said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro

EA Mobile announced six new titles available on the Apple App Store including: Star Trek, AMERICAN IDOL, TRIVIAL PURSUIT, Lemonade Tycoon, Pandemonium! and Anytime Pool.

Star Trek

EA Mobile invites you to become the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise and fight against the Klingons, Cardassions and Vulcans in an all new space adventure for iPhone and iPod touch. Based on the world famous Star Trek franchise, the game coincides with the release of the latest movie directed by J.J. Abrams. The Star Trek mobile game pits players against enemies from all over the galaxy in a number of diverse and exciting gameplay scenarios that are guaranteed to keep you coming back for more.

Match Star Trek Tech with Wireless Tech: Communicator, Apps, and Phones.

FusionOne and Glu now offer transfer of games from one handset to another.

The Handset Transfer Solution, the only comprehensive service of its kind that includes the transfer of licensed content, enables mobile carriers to maintain and grow revenue streams derived from content sales by ensuring that when customers get a new phone, their purchased content is transferred to the new handset, regardless of whether they purchased the phone at a store or online.

Content providers can preserve and extend existing relationships with their subscribers regardless of a subscriber’s mobile device, and subscribers will no longer be inconvenienced by having to remember, re-discover, and re-subscribe to their favorite mobile games and other licensed content from their old phone.

EA Mobile announced SCRABBLE on Apple's App Store now supports Facebook Connect. The new edition of SCRABBLE connects the Facebook SCRABBLE application to a SCRABBLE game on iPhone and iPod touch - or vice versa - allowing fans in the U.S. and Canada to have access to their favorite Hasbro-branded crossword puzzle game any time, any place.

This connected version of SCRABBLE provides an intuitive interface that allows head-to-head challenges with family, friends or anyone accessing the game on Facebook, an iPhone or iPod touch. Start on Facebook and switch to iPhone or iPod touch to keep playing on the go. Connect with a Facebook friend from an iPhone or iPod touch or join a public game on Facebook. With easy tracking of scores and statistics, players always know where they rank against competitors. While playing SCRABBLE, gamers can enjoy built-in chat so they can converse with opponents and friends throughout the game. Players can also get help from in-game dictionaries.

The wireless game console based on a Qualcomm chipset will debut  in Brazil next month. The console has secure 3G wireless game delivery and addresses the special requirements of these regions where current generation videogame consoles are expensive for the middle class and software piracy is rampant.

The Zeebo system provides a new approach for both publishers and developers looking to extend their footprint into emerging markets, including:

• Secure 3G wireless distribution of digital content designed to overcome lost revenues from rampant piracy.
• Simple, intuitive wireless shopping mall making it easy for consumers to discover and purchase content - giving publishers and developers direct access to a potential one billion consumers in the emerging middle class.
• Shorter development cycle as well as lower marketing costs.

CSMG, the strategy division of TMNG Global (Nasdaq:TMNG) released a report on the global video games market and its impact on mobile and fixed service providers, entitled: Playing Games: A Revolution In Interactive Entertainment.

Fueled by increased network access, faster broadband speeds, next-generation consoles and more capable mobile devices, the dramatic growth in the video games market presents tremendous opportunities for service providers to capture greater share of this market, according to CSMG.

The report finds that the global gaming industry is expected reach $40 billion in annual revenues by 2012. By comparison, U.S. gaming software sales reached $20 billion in 2008 from $9.4 billion in 2005. Mobile games represents the fastest growing segment with a 24.6% (CAGR) compound annual growth rate forecasted for 2007 through 2012. The average age of a gamer has increased to 33 years and female gamers now reach almost 50 percent across many types of games.

"Despite the current economic downturn, gaming has proven to be resilient in these trying times and is the leading entertainment segment that is fueling growth," said Rich Nespola, Chairman and CEO of TMNG Global. "The expansion of casual games, simpler user interfaces and the proliferation of innovative business models is broadening the gamer demographic. The timing is ripe for service providers to hedge the business cycle by capturing the robust opportunities to grow the mobile gaming market."

Results from the Multimedia Research Consultancy's (TMRC) first online survey of mobile games industry experts The iPhone is a winner of support.

The participating organizations report current mobile games sales up on a year ago (43 per cent say sales are up vs. 29 per cent saying they are down).

However, despite the economic downturn and this moderately good result they are very positive about 2009, not only for their own organization's sales prospects, but also for the industry as a whole. 66 per cent anticipate that the value of their enterprise's mobile games sales will rise in the next 12 months, with only 11 per cent expecting a decline.

The iPhone is already rated as the most successful Development Platform/Operating System (DP/OS) by 71 per cent of our experts. When the experts looked into the future, they expected the iPhone to get stronger, possibly precipitating the demise of several existing platforms.

 

We like Wirefly because they are always coming up with new cheap, dscount deals and offers to lure customers. This Presidents Day weekend they are offering no $35 Activation Fee for new Verizon customers with a plan and also no $35 activation fee on a new T-Mobile account and the $18 applicatin fee waived for upgrades which ends at midnight Monday, February 16.

Their latest touchscreen offer is for a free 3G touchscreen LG Incite with a free bluetooth headset with an AT&T new account. The LG Incite received good reviews and also has Wi-Fi.  It's very shiny like the LG Shine with Microsoft compatibility and email functions.

Earlier this week we featured Wirefly in an article for best deals BlackBerry Storm deals for Valentines. BlackBerry Storm is $99 and the activatoin fee is waived. Wirefly always has free FedEx Shipping

Don't forget, Wirefly also offers on all cell phone purchases or upgrades a free Bluetooth headset phone purchase or upgrade. Use coupon WIREFLYBT23 at checkout, offer expires March 31.

comScore, reports that the number of mobile game downloaders grew 17 percent from November 2007 to November 2008, when 8.5 million people, or 3.8 percent of mobile subscribers, downloaded a game to their mobile device.

The iPhone and BlackBerry Curve have replaced the RAZR and low-end flip phones as the most popular gaming platforms, according to comScore. In fact, the number of smartphone owners downloading a game nearly tripled, while dipping 14 percent among owners of feature phones. iPhone owners accounted for 14 percent of mobile game downloaders in November, with 32.4 percent of all iPhone users reporting they downloaded a game in the month, compared with a market average of 3.8 percent.

comScore M:Metrics also announced the results of its Mobile Benchmark Study. With the exception of ringtone purchases, which fell 1.1 percent from October to November, all mobile content categories posted strong growth, most notably downloaded application usage and access to social networking.

Mobile game publisher Glu Mobile has integrated Movaya's PlugNPlay and TryNBuy solutions into Glu's website for direct-to-consumer sales.

"It has been a great experience working with Movaya to offer Glu's award-winning games directly to our customers," said Jill Braff, senior vice president of global publishing, Glu. "Through our alliance with Movaya, we have developed a cost-effective solution capable of delivering games directly to mobile devices through the glu.com website."

"Movaya's technologies will enhance how Glu is able to sell its games," said Phil Yerkes, CEO of Movaya. "Rather than relying solely on wireless carriers and other third-party distributors, Glu now has the power to market its products directly to customers. The move allows customers to sample games and stay informed on updates and new offers, and more importantly, creates a new distribution channel to generate additional revenue for Glu."

Immediately, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, The Dark Knight and Family Feud are available for purchase from Glu.com using the Movaya platform, with additional titles being added over the coming weeks and months.

Glu Mobile announced their games for the first quarter of  2009

The titles launching in North America in the first quarter of 2009 will be available on J2ME, BREW, Blackberry and Windows Mobile platforms with additional platforms noted.

• Superman/Batman Heroes United - An action game based on the BATMAN and SUPERMAN mythologies that joins the heroes on a quest to fight evil. (Available January 2009)
• Cooking Star - The deliciously fun casual game where players tilt, touch, flick, and flip to cook up mouth-watering meals, master the menu, and become a Star Chef! (Available February 2009)

Smartphone app seller, Handango has partnered with mobile game publishers Digital Chocolate and I-play. Thus aa vast array of top entertainment content for Blackberry and Windows Mobile devices.

Digital Chocolate titles include 3D Brick Breaker Revolution, Mini Golf 99-Holes and Shopping Madness and games from I-play include Deal or No Deal, Million Dollar Mission, Jenga, Jewel Quest 2, Mercenaries 2, and Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift and more.

Previously this year, Handango announced distribution deals with EA Mobile and Capcom as part of its ongoing effort to increase entertainment and gaming options for smartphone users.

Olympic record breaker Michael Phelps and 505 Games, will develop console and iPhone videogames. The first title is scheduled for release in spring 2010 and will be developed by 505 Games’ newly formed U.S. operations in Los Angeles.

505 Games will donate a portion of the videogame proceeds to the Michael Phelps Foundation.

“I am really excited to partner with 505 Games and work with them to develop a game that is reflective of my personality, lifestyle and competitive nature,” said Phelps. “I believe this will be a tremendous opportunity to help continue my quest to raise the profile for the sport of swimming.”