The iPhone has changed the way the mobile world looks at smartphones and their promise as handheld gaming devices. Touchscreens are the new hotness, and popularity of the iPhone’s multi-touch mobile games helped drive the AppStore to 1 billion downloads in less than a year. So, new research from Information Solutions Group and PopCap Games that shows mobile gaming among AT&T continuing to grow comes as little surprise. Of those surveyed, 57% reported that they played mobile games on their mobile phones.
The survey polled 1,100 AT&T wireless customers in the US, asking each how and when they played games on their cellphones. Of the 57% that indulged in mobile games, more than 50% used them as a distraction from the day’s tasks, while 40% used them as a sort of stress relief. Half of mobile gamers said they played games on their mobile phones during work-hours, with one in seven playing during their break time.
The data shows that mobile gaming is picking up steam in the US. And AT&T is expecting more growth – one third of those polled said they were “somewhat or very likely” to buy a mobile game in 2009. Interestingly mobile gamers were almost evenly split between the sexes – 51% of gamers were male and 49% were of the female persuasion.
With ever major player in the mobile space looking to launch their own application store, there’s little doubt we’ll see more and more people embracing mobile games as work distractions and stress relief. Us? We’ll keep playing mobile games for work. It’s hard work, but someone’s gotta do it!