The Science Behind Mobile Gaming

There is no denying that smartphone and tablet use is on the rise, and has been for some years now. It’s likely that most people you know will own such a device and use it for a plethora of purposes. What you may not realize is that many people use their mobile devices as a platform to spend some time gaming!

Gone are the days where you had to sit in front of a TV with a games console to spend some time playing your favorite titles. For some years, console brands like Nintendo and Sony have brought out a range of handheld gaming devices. Today, the emphasis on accessible gaming is even stronger than ever before! Thanks to technological innovations, smartphones and tablets now have hardware specs that rival those found in desktop and laptop computers.

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As a result, we are now able to play a range of resource-demanding games on our mobile devices. What’s more, we don’t have to invest in any additional hardware accessories to do so! Did you know that in 2015, over 164 million people in the U.S. alone played games on their mobile devices?

With all that information in mind, why is the mobile gaming industry so widespread and growing at such an exponential rate? Here’s an insightful look at the science behind mobile gaming:

Delayed gratification

The thing about any computer game is that you cannot finish it within the space of a few minutes. Often, you have to dedicate days, weeks, even months to the cause before you reach the end.

It’s that delayed gratification that draws us into computer games and makes us addicted to them in some respects. It applies not just to console or PC-based gaming titles but also to those on mobile platforms too. With thousands of mobile games to choose from, and that’s not even talking about the ones in the Apple App Store or Google Play, there’s something for everyone!

Ease of use

One of the reasons for the surge in mobile gaming popularity is the ease of use. We don’t have to learn how to use the device to play a game because we’re already familiar with the device’s controls.

Most mobile games are played on touchscreen phones and tablets, so there’s no need to learn what a particular button does in a game, for example.

There’s plenty of online help

Let’s say that you start a new and popular game on your iPhone, but you’re unsure how best to progress through each level. The good news is that the Internet makes it easy to discover walkthroughs or “cheat sheets” to new and existing games titles!

So, whether you wanted a Mobile Strike guide or a helping hand with Candy Crush Saga, you won’t have to scratch your head for very long!

Mobile gaming is social

Although it’s the last point in today’s article, it’s by no means the least important. One of the features of mobile gaming is that it’s a social exercise. The vast majority of titles for mobiles and tablets can be played with friends, family, and even strangers via the Internet.

It’s clear that the future of mobile gaming is big and isn’t about to decline anytime soon.

Gaming on the Go

Everyone loves to play video games at home. A nice big 4K television accompanied by the latest consoles and a spacious sofa to share with your friends is perhaps the perfect environment for gamers. However, you might be a PC gamer, so a triple-monitor setup with a powerful gaming PC might be your idea of a fun night in. However, despite all of the expensive setups we invest money into for gaming at home, what about portable gaming?

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Handheld Gaming Consoles

If you remember the days of the Game Boy, then you’ll be glad to know that video game developers are still innovating and creating handheld consoles. For instance, the latest Nintendo console, the Nintendo Switch, is a new flagship gaming console that can also act as a portable gaming device. The unit consists of a screen and two control pads that clip onto the sides of the console itself. This means it can be hooked up to a TV but also act as a portable gaming device to take with you wherever you go.

This versatility makes it an excellent candidate for your next gaming console purchase. Sadly, the lineup of launch games is a little disappointing. Hopefully, the future will bring many more games that are convenient and fun to play in a handheld form factor.

However, that doesn’t mean older handhelds aren’t being supported. The Nintendo 3DS is still as popular as ever and, although the 3D mechanic turned into a marketing gimmick that had limited functionality in games, the lineup of games is as strong as ever and the price of the 3DS is getting cheaper by the year. If you don’t mind your handheld console being a little bulkier, the 2DS is a cheaper alternative to the 3DS and plays all of the same games.

Mobile Gaming

The alternate option is something that you probably already use on a regular basis—a smartphone! Although far more expensive than a gaming console, they are also much more convenient because they are smaller and you can use them for things other than gaming. For instance, you could use it to browse the internet, make phone calls, send and receive messages and listen to music, making it an all-in-one portable entertainment device.

The choice of games is also very enticing. You can check here if you want a great list of gambling games to get those money-on-the-line thrills wherever you are, or you can check a gaming website such as IGN or GameSpot for reviews of the latest big-name mobile games. There are also a lot of freemium games on mobile devices, meaning you can get a lot of entertainment for free and chose to pay for additional items or levels if you enjoy the game.

Sadly, a mobile phone is far more expensive than a handheld gaming device. If you already have a phone, you can enjoy some great mobile games but you’ll probably need an updated model if you want to play the latest 3D games and action-oriented titles. There are also some exclusive games for the traditional handhelds such as the Playstation Vita and Nintendo 3DS that might convince you to spend the cash on a portable gaming console.