There’s a new debate amongst the mobile game industry concerning how users should be able to get games on their devices. Currently, the most popular method is over-the-air, using the phone’s data connection. Operators like this because they get double revenue – first for the actual game, and second for the data used to download the game to the handset. They also enjoy a great deal of control over the available games with this model.
However, as mobile games get more and more complex, and consumers get educated in regards to connecting their phones to their computers to transfer files, the notion of sideloading is becoming a popular one. Sideloading offers game developers another distribution method, and also offers consumers more control and the freedom to check out more games without incurring extra data costs.
Some say that the market isn’t ready for sideloading yet, that most consumers won’t know how to do it. Others say that it doesn’t necessarily need to replace over-the-air downloading, but simply offer another distribution method. I know that it’s frustrating for users of unbranded handsets to try to legally get games such as those from EA mobile, since their handset doesn’t register properly. Thoughts?