Pachter: Mobile games are a fad, EA's emphasis on sector 'misplaced'
by Xav de Matos 
{ Jun 30th 2009 at 11:00PM } 
In a section titled "Mobile Phone Games are a Fad," Pachter explains that, while 1 billion iPhone applications have been downloaded across 31 million Apple products sold, "it is not evident that more than 20% of these downloads are games." Suggesting the iTunes App Store has generated "under $400 million in game downloads" in its first year. Pachter does predict the mobile game industry will grow at 25% per year for a few years, but will eventually fall as competing devices enter the market.
The report also calls Electronic Arts' emphasis on mobile games "misplaced." EA Mobile has grown steadily over the last few years, but the report estimates the mobile games division is -- along with that of competitors Gameloft and GLU Mobile -- "barely profitable."
According to the report, finger pointing in Apple's camp should directed toward the "open forum" structure of the store and Apple's business model. Apple runs the game download service for an estimated 30% fee, leaving 70% to the game's publisher, the report claims. The section on mobile games goes on to conclude that handheld systems, like the new PSP Go, will "maintain its niche, without significant cannibalization" from the mobile games industry.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:03PM
ENOUGH WITH THE PACHTER. Are you in his fu**king bedroom reading his diary?
Rollins @ Jun 30th 2009 11:10PM
He's doing it just to piss us off. :)
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:16PM
I know, but I figured if I give him what he wants he will grow bored. Pachter Post Troll=Xav???
Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2009 11:19PM
Hey, I only wrote this one! Don't hate me! It's a Wedbush Morgan marathon because of the Industry Report released.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:22PM
I kid, I kid. *holds hands* Okay, lets try and survive this.
MystileArmor @ Jun 30th 2009 11:53PM
.. and thus, from this day on, every year June 30th, we will celebrate International Pachter-Bullshit-day!
People pulling facts out of the depths of anal cavities rejoice!!
WINterfang @ Jul 1st 2009 12:02AM
Patcher is in a MOTHERFUCKING ROL these days....pisses me off.
MystileArmor @ Jul 1st 2009 12:03AM
....
..
.
HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA
bluesky_v2.01 @ Jul 1st 2009 1:40AM
Patches is a cool guy. Just be sure not to take any of his predictions seriously :) Or at least with a truckload of salt.
Mr Khan @ Jul 1st 2009 10:54AM
lol @ Xav getting downvoted
Xav de Matos @ Jul 1st 2009 3:25PM
I also lawl'd.
Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:03PM
Okay seriously, Joystiq, is June 30th Pachter day!?
Wiizer @ Jun 30th 2009 11:04PM
OMG, NO MORE PACHTER STORIES!!!!1!
Seriously, just consolidate them and we'll all ridicule him in the comments.
You don't even have to WRITE A BLOG ENTRY JUST WRITE MICHAEL PACHTER!
-Vexx- @ Jun 30th 2009 11:05PM
PATCHER
STOP
YOU ARE STARTING TO BE UP THERE WITH UWE BOLL RIGHT NOW
dagamer43 @ Jun 30th 2009 11:45PM
You have to RUIN franchises to be up there with Uwe Boll. Let's not lower our standards here.
-Vexx- @ Jun 30th 2009 11:49PM
Maybe I'm a little overboard yet
tmacairjordan87 @ Jun 30th 2009 11:06PM
Yeah this is getting ridiculous now...
WREturns @ Jun 30th 2009 11:20PM
Ridiculously hilarious. Why can't I upvote the bloggers/articles on Joystiq?
Phil @ Jun 30th 2009 11:07PM
...Please, just stop. I really couldn't give a rats ass about what this guy thinks. He's an analyst, not an actual developer or representative of a company.
As far as I am concerned, he's no more important than the millions of bloggers out there with their OWN commentary on the industry. You and other sites just give him attention that honestly, I see as pointless.
Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 30th 2009 11:08PM
OH MY GOD ANOTHER PACHTER STORY!! THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THE WALLS!! THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THE GODDAMN WALLS!!
Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 30th 2009 11:14PM
Is that a picture of Pachter laughing all the way to the bank?
Timett @ Jun 30th 2009 11:08PM
I came in here to ask if it seemed like Pachter was making more statements than usual lately. I guess I'm not the only one who was starting to notice.
The stuff he's been saying has been dumber than usual too.
Phil @ Jun 30th 2009 11:14PM
This especially. But what I find most stupid, is that he says mobile games, as if referring to ANY and ALL games that can be played MOBILE.
To me, I had at first interpreted the statement as such. And really, mobile games 'are' profitable. Peggle on the iTunes store says otherwise against his statement.
Plus... The iPhone is in a league of its own in terms of what it can do for cell phone gaming due to it actually having an operating system and not just having shitty games that wouldn't even be acceptable on the game boy color (*coughANYCELLPHONEGAMEEVERMADEcough*).
Sinister Rouge @ Jun 30th 2009 11:15PM
Woo! More Pachter! Let's go for some kind of idiotic record!
Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2009 11:15PM
Guys, it's cool. Only 17 more Pachter stories to go. Hold my hand, we can do this.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:17PM
Hahahahaa. Lonely crystal meth filled night in the great white north eh?
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:17PM
I would laugh if it wasn't because I'm pretty sure you got another 17 articles about this guy.
Rob @ Jun 30th 2009 11:18PM
NOOOOoOOoO! *sob!*
ArchiGamer @ Jul 1st 2009 1:05AM
Eww, I don't want to hold your hand! I don't know were its been!
-Vexx- @ Jun 30th 2009 11:17PM
YOU CAN NOW ONLY POST IN ALL CAPS
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:26PM
YEAH IS NOT ANNOYING AT ALLLLLLLLLL
Eduardo @ Jul 1st 2009 12:13AM
YAY BECAUSE EVERYONE KNOWS ALL CAPS IS CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL
-Vexx- @ Jul 1st 2009 12:16AM
YEAH
John Packebush @ Jun 30th 2009 11:18PM
I do not wish to come to Joystiq and see another story from Pachter. Ever. Anyone can analyze the videogame market and come to the same assumptions as this half-wit. You can go on any videogame forum and find the same shit he is spewing. Really Joystiq, I expect more from you.
WREturns @ Jun 30th 2009 11:22PM
Uh-oh. Random commenter John Packebush is disappointed in you, Xav. What are you gonna do now?
Dotard @ Jun 30th 2009 11:41PM
You so funny.
Xav de Matos @ Jul 1st 2009 12:05AM
@WREturns: Is calling the Ghostbusters an option?
WREturns @ Jul 1st 2009 12:07AM
For you, Xav? Always.
Xav de Matos @ Jul 1st 2009 12:09AM
Oh, shit. In that case: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhoU7lINYxk
Roto13 @ Jul 1st 2009 12:27AM
That "half-wit" happens to be right 60% of the time.
incubeezer @ Jun 30th 2009 11:20PM
Pachter: Predicts more Pachter prediction stories on Joystiq, readers 'furious'
Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2009 11:23PM
Well if you're just going to ruin my feature articles by telling everyone the titles before they go live, then I give up!
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:21PM
So it will grow and suddenly is going to drop dead.He knows that there have been games for cellphones even before iphone right?
The title should say Patcher:Skynet sooner than we think.
Xav de Matos @ Jun 30th 2009 11:23PM
MOFO's gonna be self-aware SOONISH.
THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Jun 30th 2009 11:24PM
Pachter Declares New Skynet, "RAD!" Predicts mysterious new T-800 model will win bring us closer to a 1 console future!
dogmaticatheist @ Jun 30th 2009 11:23PM
THIS JUST IN!!!
Pachter predicts that Pachter will make more predictions than usual!
why not the LS2LS7? @ Jun 30th 2009 11:27PM
Oh, I think the market is in a boom that will not be sustained right now. But it's not going to go away any more than it has in Japan, which experienced the boom years before the US.
Crummy cash-ins like the rail shooters we see such as the Mass Effect one will not be as successful in the future, nor viewed as adding much to the series they are part of.
At least, IMHO.
mocax @ Jun 30th 2009 11:28PM
it seems to be the in thing to cram as many apps on the iphone as possible.
all my friends are doing it, but they don't use 99% of the stuff they downloaded/bought.
strange things people do.....
WINterfang @ Jul 1st 2009 12:18AM
Awww puppies =)
InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 30th 2009 11:42PM
its over 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!