A couple decades ago, the innovative advances in technology in the desktop computer was impressive enough. It would be near impossible to predict that a device, more powerful and information packed than a bulky computer, would fit into the palm of a hand. And further that these portable devices would not only act as a phone but access internet as well as contain an immense database of state of the art apps and games – accessible in only a few clicks and that load in seconds. Smartphones have become an integral part of our wardrobe as much as the shirt we wear. Therefore, it is little surprise that companies have worked tireless to improve the compatibility of their mobile platforms. Many businesses have even adopted a successful mobile first approach to target mobile shoppers or create better layouts and compatibility to suit smartphone from users of apps or those checking their bank accounts. For example, website building Platforms like Shopify or Square Space emphasize and promote their features for creating website and/or online stores that are compatible both on desktop as well as tablet and smartphone. These web building companies also respectively offer the Shopify card reader and Square card swipe to accept mobile payments and these are continually being improved to sync better with mobile customers. Imbedded apps like Samsung Pay or Apple Pay lets people make effortless cashless payments via their mobile phones. These include not only credit and debit cards, but also points, loyalty, and gift cards.
Mobile apps and gaming complement the very nature of having a smartphone. That is the fact that users can play anywhere and any place they wish, at times an internet connection is not even needed. The advantage of this is being able to pass the time, especially during the morning commute to work on the bus or as a stress reliver. This explains the wide variety of games or apps that help put people in many different moods to improve their day. There are more meditative or calming apps/games to destress, energizing ones to pump up motivation, or other apps that sharpen the mind.
Just as with mobile payments or productivity apps, the most effective online games are those that have effectively adapted to mobile platforms. Remaining optimized across different browsers, from Apple to Android, and across platfoms, from desktop to tablet & mobile, is essential to how long users engage with a game and also whether they download the title in the first place. All apps or games for smartphones have reviews, and a poor mobile formatting is a major pitfall. Compatibility is a basic component and, without it, the app will surely fail. Even minor details, such as the game covering the iphone’s clock or menu, can turn off handfuls of users. The issues also range from game controls in confusing places and improper screen dimension causing cut-offs to games taking up too much of the smartphones data and causing crashing, freezing, or slower speed performance. These challenges, if left unaddressed, causes the failure of many app and games.
A great example of companies that have made mobile games a priority for the success of their titles is UK casino slots. Online slot designers such as Yggdrasil Gaming and Elk Studios are just a couple of the many companies that focus on creating an innovative playing experience for mobile users. The visual appears of these slot games are not compromised by the smaller screen size nor is the layout or gameplay. The ease of use is partly in the well-designed controls, from the spin button to placing a certain wager amount. While the slots often have flashy animations, especially when a Bonus feature is triggered and the symbols come alive, this does not cause the smartphone to stall or waste data. This is because these online slot sites have a team of mathematical and technologically skilled experts that put mobile first. Unlike some companies that overlook the fundamentals of functioning for a flashy artistic varnish, the designers at Elk Studio focus on the basics of perfecting the layout and ensuring the reels move smoothly and then add on the flourishes. Titles such as Elk Studio’s ‘Kaiju’ or Yggdrasil’s ‘Easter Island’ are great examples of beautiful mobile slot designs that can act as models on the type of smartphone games that are effective and engaging.
Mobile games that are ranked highly among users have an immersive theme or storyline, an easy to pick up gameplay, and offer awards (in the case of online slot the reward could be real money). Mobile gaming has evolved over the years from being of low quality and poor compatibility to games that are incredibly engaging and stunning visually. This is because in the past mobile titles were adapted from desktop games and now it goes beyond simply reversing this to developing games specific for the mobile marketplace. Candy Crush and Angry Birds are perfect illustrations of this. Bad formatting or confusing gameplay all act as distractions and annoyances, detracting from a seamless gameplay. Successful games or apps effectively create a natural flow in the gameplay, offer incentives, and keep the game simple. This latter point is particularly important because a pitfall for many developers is that they get so caught up in the game itself and forget the physical design of the mobile phone itself. Most people throughout the day use their phone with only one hand – whether holding a sandwich at lunch or clutching the bar on the subway. A racing game, for instance, that require 2 hands is virtually impossible in these situations and therefore get less engagement. Returning to the earlier example, online casino sites have considered this ‘ergonomic’ design. This is why mobile slot games often allow users to spin the reels by flicking a single finger upward or setting an AutoPlay feature for continuous spins. Elk Studios even goes a step further and include 4 different betting strategies that adapt to the performance of the user’s gameplay, so that they do not even have think about what the best wager is to place at any given point. Less thinking about how to play leads to a better overall gameplay.
Just as the past couple decades have shown amazing progress in mobile gameplay, the next decades will certainly improve upon this to create a better optimized and more enjoyable experience.
