Mobile gaming Boom

Not so long ago I, wouldn't have thought much about turning to my cellphone to indulge in penchant for video games. Basically I have been raised on a rich diet of visually explosive games for sophisticated consoles by Sega and Nintendo. I had also found myself playing even more interactive games that required joysticks, mice and keyboards plugged into hulking desktop computers.

But these days i am increasingly enticed by a different kind of video game: the $4 or $5 variety that i can play on my cellphone screen.

''I didn't think it was going to be that great,''. But after downloading a few games into my phone, I was taken by the simple fun they offered, and by my ability to play them anywhere, anytime.

I can play them in class, while I am waiting for public transportation,'' . Believe me On a recent shopping trip with my girlfriend, ''I basically burned off an hour playing games while she was trying on all of her clothes.'' Basically why i am saying this is I want put forward the point that mobile game industry is booming. This is just one of my case but there are several people like me, may be the number will go in thousands...

Mobile gaming is a getting higher in India's fast-growing wireless business. The various facts & figures contributing to this statement are -

• The Indian mobile-game business currently makes up about 5 per cent of the global wireless market.

• Market researchers expects that the Indian mobile gaming market will generate $26 million (US$) in revenue in 2004, and will increase to $336 million in annual revenue by 2009.

• It is projected that as many as 78.6 million people will be playing mobile games by 2009.

Software services are a booming business in India, it is emerging as a key market in the next big wave of mobile multimedia-- both for software developers and consumers. India currently has about 43 million mobile-phone subscribers, and a number of service providers are offering value-added services. Mobile phones are also emerging as a leading entertainment device.

Apart from these we can look out for many more options that are there...

* Mobile Gaming Evolution
* Embedded Games
* SMS Games
* Browsing Games

A good business model can be developed out of this, ya it can be developed. as India is the IT hub of the world, the platform is already available for the Indian game developers to come into this business as the opportunities are plenty.

There is no doubt that mobile gaming is way forward, in case of india the structure is in its development stage but no doubt it is growing at a faster pace.

But the question is how much organized is the current market and who are the active players involved in it. and what can be done about piracy? we have to think about this, the real picture is still not clear.