Steam Powered Mobiles
Posted by todd Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:45:00 GMT
The crew over at GigOM got me thinking today and convinced me that the next generation mobile platforms are on to something. (In theory) If they pull it off they could kick mobile application/game purchasers up over the measly 3% they get today.
Here's why.
I am not a heavy video game player, but in the past month I've purchased several games using Valve's Steam platform. To clarify, I purchased more games in the past month than I did in the previous two years. Don't get the wrong idea; it's not that I've given up on having a life! I'm not reliving my college years either. (actually that would involve less games and more alcohol)
The reason is that it's been so long since I went into a game store, or read about them that I'd basically forgotten about them. In the back of my mind I knew my computer could play them, and that I liked them... but it never crossed my mind that I should get a new one.
When talking about mobile adoption my father is my favorite example. He was an early adopter of mobile phones...back when they were only mobile if you were strong. He's *always* had a cell phone.
He's also never purchased a game, ring tone, or anything else for his phone. He wasn't even aware that the phone he has came with a golf game pre-loaded. In the back of his mind he knew his phone could play them....but it never crossed his mind that he should try it.
He still hasn't.
To convince the majority of people to try something new you have to stuff it down their throats, ideally in a way that is valuable to them even without making a purchase....but at the very least without making it feel like you are spamming them.
I'm biased of course; this is what we are doing at Vocel.com. We make this possible today. The emerging platforms (BREW UIOne, OpenWave MIDAS, and Adobe Flash Lite) are going to enable the next stage, and in the process make mobile gaming known to the masses. Previews and teasers pushed to the device, and into the faces of non-traditional users..
Like Steam has done on the PC, the answer to mobile data isn't to sell more things to people who already want it. The answer is to engage more people and teach them to want it.
-Todd
