A new report from mobile analytics firm Flurry finds that explosive growth in the iOS and Android gaming markets now has them drawing more U.S. software revenue than traditional portable systems from Sony and Nintendo.
Using data from NPD as well as Flurry's own usage analysis on 125,000 mobile apps, the company reports that iOS and Android will make up 58 percent of all U.S. portable game revenue in 2011, compared to just 34 percent in 2010 and 19 percent in 2009.
Nintendo's DS line makes up an estimated 36 percent of all U.S. portable software revenues in 2011, down from 70 percent in 2009, while the Sony's PSP accounts for 6 percent of revenues, down from 11 percent two years ago.
The total size of the portable and mobile game software market has also increased in that time, from $2.7 billion in 2009 to an estimated $3.3 billion this year, Flurry says.
"Within the portable category, an abundance of digitally distributed free and $0.99 games, available on hardware that is both comparably priced and more powerful than traditional portable game devices, better appeals to many consumers," Flurry's Peter Farago writes in a blog post.
"As a result, the days of paying $25, or more, for a cartridge at a retail store may soon end."
Revenue is shifting, but are profits? Seems like there's tons of money moving hands (mostly in the form of advertising$$), but is anyone beyond Google and Apple making true *sustainable* profits in the new "mobile" wild wild west?
"Flurry increases the size and value of mobile application audiences, already helping more than 50,000 companies in over 100,000 applications across iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone platforms. Flurry has built the world's leading mobile application analytics and data-powered advertising platform, with more ground breaking services in development. "
I think numbers about Sony and Nintendo handhelds given away by a company that is making it's money with analysis and advertising tools for iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone aren't what I would call trustworthy.
It's like reading a study that the Sony marketing campaign isn't effective, done by the company, that is responsible for Nintendo's marketing.
"Flurry increases the size and value of mobile application audiences, already helping more than 50,000 companies in over 100,000 applications across iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone platforms. Flurry has built the world's leading mobile application analytics and data-powered advertising platform, with more ground breaking services in development. "
I think numbers about Sony and Nintendo handhelds given away by a company that is making it's money with analysis and advertising tools for iOS, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone aren't what I would call trustworthy.
It's like reading a study that the Sony marketing campaign isn't effective, done by the company, that is responsible for Nintendo's marketing.