Games still lag behind other mobile content - Moledina

Game Developers Conference boss Jamil Moledina has said that although the mobile gaming industry is expanding, other forms of content are still in the lead when it comes to consumer adoption.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with our sister site, MobileIndustry.biz, Moledina said, "On a handset, games still play second fiddle to ringtones, and other little snippety bits of video and audio.

"Most of these wonderful ideas about the expansion of the mobile industry are hinged on 'X' many 3G handsets being in the marketplace, so since everyone has the platform, everyone will be buying and playing these games," he continued.

"There's an optimistic assumption in there and I'm not sure that the consumer adoption is right where the rosy predictions are."

When asked if he thinks the many forecasts for huge growth in mobile gaming are accurate, Moledina replied, "I don't know. I think you have to expect a certain amount of puffery in an emerging industry, that there is going to be a bit of hyperbole. It's born from a kernel of truth, so I actually kind of agree with it.

"It's definitely expanding. We're seeing a lot of mobile publishers provoking the creativity of mobile developers, we're seeing carriers get much more involved in this, as a distinguishing factor for their deck."

Moledina is currently busy organising GDC 2007, which will take place in San Francisco from March 5 - 9. This year's event will be bigger than ever, with more than 12,000 visitors expected to attend - and according to Moledina, GDC Mobile is also set for growth.

"Every single aspect of GDC is benefiting from the expansion," he confirmed. "Mobile is a very interesting area, because we're seeing more and more mainstream console and PC developers participating in the process."