Smartphones are taking over the world. It is odd to think that what was once considered a prime sci-fi fantasy device had become an inseparable part of our everyday lives. We communicate, work, and study using phones, but the biggest application has been found in entertainment, or more specifically, gaming. Mobile-first is an increasingly popular term heard around every corner on the internet. But what is this mobile-first strategy? And do gaming companies employ a truly effective mobile-first strategy in online gaming?
What is the mobile-first strategy?
Before we discuss the efficiency of the pro-smartphone strategy in the game development field, we should understand what mobile-first means. An astonishing number of mobile users in Canada play games on their small portable devices, but have you ever heard of the mobile-first strategy in gaming? If the answer is no, worry not. We have an answer.
A mobile-first strategy is an approach to technological innovation wherein new content is designed for mobile devices first and then adjusted for desktop. Creating and designing games, websites, and apps for small-screen devices is trickier than for larger devices. And as portable devices gained more popularity in recent years, the need for this mobile-first approach arose.
Nowadays, more and more companies are switching their focus to this approach across all industries in Canada and worldwide.
Mobile-first gaming
Mobile gaming began in 1994 when Hagenuk MT-2000 mobile device introduced Tetris, the first-ever mobile game. Comparing the 1994 version of Tetris and the contemporary mobile games is almost impossible as they have almost nothing in common. This example shows how fast and far we can get with portable gaming when we set our minds to it.
A mobile-first approach found its application in gaming precisely because games are an important part of our lives. We Canadians like entertainment, we like fun – and fun is the core reason why games exist in the first place. Today, Apple and Google Stores are filled with thousands of mobile games built only for keeping mobile users happy. But is that enough for us?
Apparently not, as the mobile-first strategy has spread out into other spheres and branches of gaming. One great example is the Canadian online gambling industry, whose mobile-oriented sector is flourishing.
The best mobile gambling experience
A wealth of online casino websites and gaming companies are opting for a mobile-first approach. According to CasinoDirectory, a popular website dedicated to the digital gambling realm news and information, having a mobile-friendly version of a casino site is not a bonus but rather a prerogative. CasinoDirectory experts also say that more and more players are choosing to play via mobile phones exclusively. This has encouraged digital gambling halls in Canada to devise special bonuses for their players that hail from Android, Windows, and iOS small-screen devices.
So, not only is the content created to fit their smaller screens first and then scaled up for the big screens, but they also get unique promotions and bonuses to complement their gaming experiences.
Furthermore, software developing firms that deliver online casino games to those sites build mobile-first games, some even specialize in it. For instance, the companies OneTouch and 4ThePlayer are known for their revolutionary approach to gaming where each release is carefully designed and crafted for smaller screens first and then upgraded for computers.
Is the focus on portable fun good?
To sum everything that we’ve seen here up: is the mobile-first approach effective for online gaming? Is it better to create and use content that’s intended primarily for small screens?
The answer largely depends on your habits and tastes, but the overall impression is that it is – for now. The current state of the tech industry hints that much of the world agrees on mobile-first product innovations. But some experts consider this approach passe, or simply put, outdated.
The new and modern way of thinking is mobile-in-mind, where design fits the audience’s needs rather than small screens. However, the mobile-in-mind strategy is yet to come into vogue in the upcoming years if it comes at all – it’s not the end of mobile-first just yet.
We are deep inside a mobile-centric technological revolution as more and more people turn to their handy phones for backup, information, and entertainment. And everyone even remotely connected to tech, got the memo. The mobile-first approach is not only fully optimized for smartphones and tablets, but it is also easier to adjust to larger screens like computers. A mobile-oriented website also has better optimization, uses cutting-edge technologies, and provides a better user experience. But perhaps the best trait of such an approach lies in its durability – with a mobile-first strategy in design and development, whatever you create will be easier to update, adjust, and use in the years to come. And you can always keep it fresh, regardless of its age and latest innovations in the field.
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