Since the dawn of time, in a galaxy far far far away… and a little to the left of the one you’re thinking of… the age old question has been asked; why do people play mobile games? Here at MobileGamesUnlimited, we’ve been pondering this and have been able to come up with a compilation of different reasons, some serious and others wacky enough just to be possible!
As you would expect with such a question of biblical proportions to answer the reasons are varied and yes, it could be possible that some will indeed not make it onto this list (sincerest apologies to those who have a different answer – but, you’re wrong!). Please pick the countdown music of your choice and enjoy the top ten list below and see whether you can guess what’s number one!
The Top 10 Reasons for Why People Play Mobile Games.
10 – New Entry – To ignore those around you
In a twist in irony, yes the art of conversation is truly dead by the mobile phone! We’ve all seen someone either being ignored or choosing to ignore others in the room or street. Fortunately for those who find the situations they’re in and the company they’re with unbearable (grandparent’s exchanging notes on knitting, a lousy date or being told something dull by your parents etc.) you can tune them out by busting out a game on your trusty phone!
9 – To save the world, one game at a time…
Some gaming addicts out there can’t cope with the real world so prefer to be a hero in their mobile world. Those of you who have pulled the duvet cover over your head at night time rather than going to sleep – you are far from alone. Whether its defeating the end of level boss or just improving your putting skill, you needn’t hide any more – except from your mother who’d much rather you spent such energy on your homework or chores as you do in zapping zombies!
8 – Having a break at work
Have a break, have a mobile game… yes, more calorie burning than most of your day-job activities put together, (unless you happen to be an athlete), your thumbs get a thorough workout when killing time. Probably an excellent way to vent your days’ frustrations, without getting into any trouble using the office computer, you can chill out with a relaxing or taxing game of your choice and let yourself unwind. If you’re anything like me, a quality game of crazy golf or pool are excellent ways to disconnect from your office atmosphere, and does mean you can have a sandwich in one hand and the mobile in the other! Trust me, playing something more tricky with one hand and trying to drink coffee, may mean you’ll be escorted from the building!
7 – It beats what’s on TV
There’s only so long you can spend watching soaps without letting your brain turn to mulch, so instead more and more people are picking up their phone instead of the remote control. Not only do you get to guarantee your entertainment, but you know you can have a lot more fun playing a platform or quiz game in the comfort of your own home. True winning ‘Deal or No Deal’ on the phone is unlikely to be quite as good as being in the studio’s hot-seat in real life, but at least you can play it to your hearts content and tell that smug banker ‘no deal’ until you’re ready for your tea! Just remember, not to blow your amassed ‘millions’ as the distinction between your game and reality does get a little blurred if you play too much!
6 – To compete with friends
Of course we’re all guilty of being competitive at heart – it’s human nature! Whether it’s beating someone at a game of darts down the pub or winning a game of tennis or securing first place in a crazy karting game, you can play against your friends – in the school playground, in the office or in the comfort of your own lounge. Not only is it cheaper, quicker and easier than finding a venue, but you can practice for as long as you like to ensure you have the upper hand. Just remember, if it’s not your phone – don’t be surprised if you don’t win first time round, they’re more than likely to have been practicing to perfection and if they swear otherwise, you know full well they’re lying!
5 – Just discovered games on their mobile phone
Amazing as it sounds, despite it being around 20+ years since mobile phones were ever really made for the everyday person, there are those people out there who’ve only just discovered the joy that Snake, Tetris and Block-Buster provides. Naturally as more phones become more and more advanced, the more retro games are slowly but surely giving way to modern classics and some rather more imaginative titles. One thing that is for certain though, they are all addictive in their own way. This has slipped from being higher in the list due to the availability to download games across multiple handsets and networks – meaning you no longer have to buy a specific device to play a particular game (other than the iPhone).
4 – Education – or should that be ‘education’?…
I’m sure nearly every child has argued with their parent or teacher at one point or another in their lives giving the reason for not doing homework or being distracted about the home or class by playing a mobile game by using the believable argument that it is indeed an educational benefit. Sometimes it’s a lot harder to convince these onlookers of these educational properties, e.g. a fishing game can’t really assist with an in depth appraisal of Romeo & Juliet, but with some games crossing the line of ‘edu-tainment’ such as the ‘Brain Trainer’ style games, you can now convince yourself and those around you that you are indeed improving your maths, observation, reaction and perceptive skills. I still think we’re a little way off having a GCSE on mobile games, but I’m sure that everyone would be guaranteed at least one A* on their Record of Achievement if they did! And just imagine if your boss would be impressed by seeing that on your CV?!
3 – Boredom buster
We’ve all been there haven’t we? Stuck on a journey in the middle of a miserable wet day, you’re sick of listening to music, can’t find the favourite book of yours and don’t have hours to kill but you’re damned if you’re going to endure another moment without some relief. Fortunately, the trusty ol’ mobile phone comes to the rescue with a plethora of games to pick from and try your luck at. Many games offer quick battles or fast-fire rounds where you can pit your wits against the computer. Needless to say with some games requiring motion control e.g. bowling, you have to be sure you keep a good grip of your phone or else it could end up on someone else’s lap or worse yet, out the door or window if you’re not too careful!
2 – Long journeys
Similarly to number 3 on this list, you are almost at the mercy of any petrol station, roadside restaurant or anything else that can kill the monotony that a long journey provides. Thankfully the prayers of parents sick of hearing ‘are we there yet?’ for the gazillionth time, we can be entertained for hours playing ‘Battleship’, ‘Monopoly’ or less traditional travel games like ‘Guitar Hero’. This offers relief all round for everyone concerned. Just remember, if you’re driving, don’t play with your mobile – be sure to swap with someone instead first!
1 – More convenient than playing another portable device
To the surprise of possibly everyone out there, the number one reason for playing a mobile game is because it’s more convenient than using anything else! The battery life of the humble mobile has improved almost with every new device brought out. Better than many mp3 players you can listen to your favourite music whilst also beating up baddies or making and breaking the lives of your ‘Sims’. More portable, stylish and flexible in terms of use and functionality, your mobile can outperform a PSP, DS or in car entertainment system. Being so discreet also offers great convenience when having a few minutes spare. You can swiftly load a game and play a level, save your progress and quit all within minutes – which offers a huge plus to the game developers and players alike.
Needless to say, this top ten list is far from written in stone, and we’d be keen to hear your thoughts and suggestions for future charts – and who knows, maybe with enough requests we’ll see your idea make it into the list or even knocking our number one off the top spot!
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