• Paul
• On October 27, 2016

When it comes to gaming, Windows wins on a number of fronts. If you’re a PC player, then you’ve got a myriad of options. If you prefer to game on the go, then Windows Mobile apps are there. Of course, depending on your particular playing persuasions, each platform has its positives and we’re going to highlight some of those in this article. While we probably won’t convince you that one option is better than another (especially if it goes against your current opinion), we do hope we can show you that Windows has a lot to offer when it comes to gaming.

Browsers Breed Flexibility and Diversity

“macro pixels url cliche” (CC BY 2.0) by Cubosh

Browser-based gaming might seem like something of a throwback to the early noughties when mobile apps were still something of a novelty, but they’re actually extremely relevant in today’s gaming ecosystem. Since the turn of the millennium, new forms of gaming such as online casino games have emerged. Technically referred to as iGaming, the industry is now worth $41 billion and the main players in the market offer everything from slots and blackjack to live dealer roulette. To cope with the myriad of gaming options and constant series of product updates, operators need a platform solution that’s flexible and powerful.

Online platforms, via a Windows browser, are perfectly equipped to deal with the demands of the industry. Indeed, thanks to the power of HTML5 and Java integration, developers can create many variants of visually rich games like the roulette games from 32Red which come in 12 different flavours. Moreover, with HTML5’s ability to cross divides, these games can be enjoyed on a wide array of platforms, from PCs to Android and tablets.

A platform for innovation

When you look across the iGaming industry, browser-based gaming is all the rage. At TonyBet you’ll find no fewer than 23 table games, while Raging Bull provides 3-reel slots like Diamond Mine that scale up and down as you resize your browsing window. Having the flexibility of a platform that can handle such a diverse range of games is indeed crucial in the online casino world.

Take, for example, 32Red and its partnership with leading software supplier and innovator Microgaming. In addition to creating one of the first real-money online poker solutions 15 years ago, Microgaming developed more than 600 unique casino games as well as random number generator technology to make the industry more fair and secure.

Today, Microgaming is moving into the virtual reality with a number of products, including roulette. VR roulette uses the power of Oculus Rift and Leap 3D technology to create a fully immersive casino space. Inside the game, players can play with chips and walk around the table just as they would in a real setting. Although this product is still in its developmental stage, operators are already preparing themselves for the next generation of gaming.

Just as it has in the past with innovations such as live dealer technology, 32Red has created a browser-based platform that could easily integrate a VR product. Indeed, when software suppliers started fusing RFID chips and webcams to pair online players with real dealers, operators were able to blend the new games into their existing suite because their desktop platforms were HTML5 and Java enabled. This ability to react to changes is something that could pay dividends in the future as VR starts to become a bigger player in the iGaming space.

Apps Make Gaming a Personally Unique Affair

“Nokia Lumia 920 – Caledos Runner” (CC BY 2.0) by Nicola since 1972

Although Microsoft has taken its eye off the ball in order to focus on the products it offers Android and iOS users, Windows 10 Mobile has some interesting features.

In among the wave of upgrades, such as mirroring and an upgraded start screen, the app store is still going strong. In fact, thanks to an improved Action Centre, users can now respond to app notifications without having to open the app itself. Although gamers won’t really get the most out of this feature, it does suggest that Windows Mobile is becoming a more app-friendly platform.

Now, when it comes to the benefits of gaming via a Windows Mobile app, one of the most obvious is personalization. If online games and browsers offer a generalized, flexible gaming platform, then apps give players a more individual experience. Why so? Well, as we’ve hinted at already, notifications are a big reason for a gaming company to develop an app. When a player downloads a game such as Asphalt 8: Airborne, it not only gives them direct access to a high-quality racing game, but it gives the developer, Gameloft, direct access to the player.

Notifications make in-app purchases possible

Native apps have the power to push messages and notifications to players when they’re not logged into the app. For developers, this creates a vital line of communication that, when used correctly, can encourage more interaction. For example, in among Asphalt 8’s 400+ career mode events, 140+ cars and 1,500 unique challenges, players can customize and upgrade their cars.

Notifications not only give players the ability to keep track of upgrades (which take time to apply) without opening the app, but it allows Gameloft to send special offers directly to the user. Because of this, in-app purchases are projected to reach $36 billion by 2017 by Statista.com. Indeed, by creating effective calls to action, Windows Mobile apps are most suited to games where players engage in career mode options.

As you can see, browsers and apps each offer something different for gaming companies. On the one hand, online platforms offer an arena where creative types can trial new games and reach the greatest number of people. This dynamic often results in innovations which then find their way into mobile arena where they then become refined and tailored to players on an individual basis.