1）VoucherCodes.co.uk最新报告指出，苹果目前在智能手机用户中的支持率超过了三星，有53%受访者对新iPhone很感兴趣，有51%对三星Galaxy S4感兴趣，有28%以上智能手机用户已经准备升级到最新苹果手机。

35%的Android用户表示有意放弃当前操作系统，在下一次购买新手机时转向更为大众化的选择。对iPhone粉丝来说，无线收费及更长的电池寿命是他们最关心的两件事情。

buying-new-iphone(from cleveland.com)

2）eBay最新报告指出，智能手机已经成为一种时尚必需品，而不仅仅是一种实用设备，新iPhone的发布导致更多用户将自己的旧手机挂到拍卖网站。

68%英国人将出售自己的旧手机以便省钱购买新iPhone，25%受访者称他们会在第一时间购买新iPhone，66%受访者表示有意升级和购买新手机，甚至不用考虑新手机究竟有何技术进步或变化等因素。

52%英国女性受访者承认自己并不了解新iPhone有何进步之处，男性用户的这一比例则是29%。

3）SuperData Research最新数据显示，暴雪旗下MMORPG《魔兽世界》收益在过去7个月中下降了54%。该游戏在今年4月份收益约9300万美元，低于去年9月份时的2.04亿美元。

在此期间，《魔兽世界》流失了130万订阅用户，在5月份游戏仍拥有800万玩家，但其数量并未出现反弹的趋势。

WoW(from wired.com)

尽管去年9月至今年3月该游戏总收益出现下滑，但用户转化率却不断上升，可见魔兽铁杆粉丝对游戏中的微交易模式颇有兴趣，观察者认为暴雪仍将采用月订阅收费以及游戏内微交易相结合的盈利模式。

4）美国娱乐软件协会（ESA）最近报告指出，美国目前有385所学院和大学传授电子游戏设计课程或提供相关学位，超过55所高校提供专科学历，226所高校提供学士学位，46所提供硕士学位，仅有4所提供博士学位课程。

game design(from macfound.org)

ESA指出电子游戏是当今世界发展最为迅速，最为活跃的娱乐形式，这些高校将为行业输入创造交互软件、创新硬件、新商业模式和在线社区，改变用户体验、推动技术进步，并影响教育、医疗和商务等重要领域的学生。

5）NativeX Games Task Force最近发布的8月份Android市场份额数据显示，三星设备在NativeX网络的日活跃用户比例持续增长，占据前10名榜单所有席位，排名第一的是Galaxy S3，占比11%，第二名是Galaxy S2，

Android-Device-Market-Share-August-2013(from NativeX)

占比6%，小米MI 2位居第11名（游戏邦注：NativeX是一家帮助iOS和Android游戏开发者提升用户粘性、留存率和盈利性的咨询公司，本调查数据仅适用于Android游戏开发者）。

6）据pocketgamer报道，中国PC游戏发行商完美世界日前宣布进军手机游戏领域，将由完美世界美国子公司Perfect World Entertainment瞄准“硬核”市场（包括RPG、战略模拟、策略战斗、MMORPG和MOBA等题材）

bombbubs(from pocketgamer)

推出免费手机游戏，并表示已经准备推出4款游戏，包括由iFree和Agent Disco开发的RPG《The Null Society》、Fugazo开发的《BombBuds》和Sneak Games开发的《Arena of Heroes》。（本文为游戏邦/gamerboom.com编译，拒绝任何不保留版权的转载，如需转载请联系：游戏邦）

1）The iPhone 5s could convert up to 11 per cent of Android owners

by Phil Tottman

More than 28 per cent of smartphone users already plan to upgrade to the new Apple device.

As the war between Apple and Samsung rages on, smartphone owners are being drawn to the iPhone 5s like a moth to light.

Apple currently holds the lead over Samsung as the most popular handset manufacturer with 53 per cent saying that they are interested in the new iPhone compared to 51 per cent who are more interested in the Galaxy S4, reports VoucherCodes.co.uk.

35 per cent of Android users have said that they are considering abandoning the operating system for the more mainstream option when they next upgrade.

Wireless charging and a longer battery life are two of the most important things for fans of the iPhone. The device has a history of bad batteries, and the introduction of the new lightning connector upset fans who were used to the older connection.

So improvements on these aspects will help them significantly grow their fan base.

VoucherCodes.co.uk has also revealed that shopping traffic to its site from an iPhone is nine times higher than from a Samsung Galaxy since the start of this year.（source：mobile-ent）

2）38 per cent of Londoners upgrade their phones to ‘look good’

by Phil Tottman

66 per cent of the nation would spend big bucks on a new device without knowing what it actually does.

Smartphones are becoming even more of a fashion necessity rather than a useful device, found a report from eBay.

The release of the much-desired new iPhones has caused rapid increase of older models being put up for sale on the bidding site, with almost double the amount than before.

68 per cent of Brits will sell their old phone to subsidise the cost of a new device, where as only 25 per cent said they would store them away for an emergency.

66 per cent of the nation would upgrade and spend fortunes on a new phone; even without being aware of what has changed or understanding the technological advances of the new gadget.

More than 52 per cent of British women admit to not understanding the benefits of any updates, compared to 29 per cent of men.

It was previously reported that 38 per cent of Brits have sabotaged their phones to get an early upgrade.

It seems a bit of a waste of technology, if a top-notch phone is being used more for eye candy than an innovative gadget that performs to better our way of life in more ways than impressing our mates.

But each to their own, it is baffling why someone would splash out hundreds of pounds on a pair of shoes, when there are far cheaper and sensible options out there – but it happens.（source：mobile-ent）

3）Analyst: World of Warcraft revenues drop 54% in 7 months

Jeffrey Grubb

Developer Blizzard’s massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft isn’t the financial giant it once was. The subscription-based title’s revenues are actually down 54 percent in the last seven months, according to industry analysis firm SuperData Research.

Superdata released a report that claims World of Warcraft generated around $93 million in total revenues in April. That’s a ton of cash, but it’s way down from the $204 million the MMO generated in September.

In that time, World of Warcraft lost 1.3 million subscribers. In May, the game still had 8 million players, but it’s unlikely that number is going to bounce back up. While the drop in monthly members is certainly taking a toll on WOW’s revenues, it’s also important to keep in mind that the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Mists of Pandaria, debuted in September and sold millions of copies early on. It’s natural for revenues to drop since then.

In July, GamesBeat reported that Blizzard is testing microtransactions in World of Warcraft in addition to its Blizzard store that currently exists outside of the game.

SupderData’s chart shows that World of Warcraft’s transactional revenue is steady even as its total revenue plummets.

“Despite major declines in total revenues between September 2012 and April 2013, the game has seen an increasing conversion rate for the its current, add-on, extra-game store, and its microtransaction revenues have held pat overall,” reads the SuperData report. “What it tells us is that dedicated WOW players are interested in — and will spend money on — microtransactions. By bringing this system into the game, and allowing for powerups and performance-based microtransactions, WOW hopes to further entice players to spend.”

We’ve reached out to Blizzard to ask if these numbers are part of the reason it is looking to implement in-game purchasing.

It seems unlikely that World of Warcraft would go completely free-to-play. Instead, it seems like Blizzard will implement a hybrid model that enables it to continue charging the monthly fee while also selling in-game items to players.（source：venturebeat）

4）Students looking to study video game design at college have more choices than ever

Jeffrey Grubb

In the United States, 385 colleges and universities have video game design programs or offer degrees in the field, according to industry-lobbying group the Entertainment Software Association.

The ESA released a report that shows more than 55 schools offer related associate’s degrees, 226 have bachelor-degree programs, and 46 offer master’s degrees. Only four schools have Ph.D. programs.

“Video games are the fastest growing, most dynamic form of entertainment in the word today,” ESA chief executive officer Michael D. Gallagher said in a statement. “These students are preparing to join an industry that creates interactive software, innovative hardware, and ecosystems that spawn new business models and online communities, transforming consumer experiences, spurring technological advancements, and impacting important areas including education, health care, and business.”（source：venturebeat）

5）Navigating Android Market Share [AUGUST]

by Chris Harris

The following blog post, unless otherwise noted, was written by a member of Gamasutra’s community.

The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not Gamasutra or its parent company.

September has arrived, which means it’s time for another Android device market share update. For those  who read my reports every month, you’re probably thinking I sound like a broken record because for the third month in a row Samsung completely dominated the charts. Have no fear though, the Xiaomi MI 2 just barely missed out so I’m confident they will claim the #10 spot next month.

As always, this market share data is based on daily active users in NativeX’s game network. That means this data is great for Android game developers but if you’re not a game developer, don’t use this report. Instead, use the “all Android apps” data provided in the Android Developer Portal.

I publish an Android market share report every month as a service of the NativeX Games Task Force. My goal is to help game developers survive in the fragmented world of Android by identifying the most popular devices and operating systems. For those who are unfamiliar with the NativeX Games Task Force, we consult iOS and Android game developers to help them improve engagement, retention, and monetization in their games.

Android Device Market Share

The table below breaks down the same device market share data in a different view.

Daily active users in the NativeX network continue to rise which has added to the movements between the Samsung devices. Most of the list has remained the same with the exception of a couple of flip flops. The Galaxy Note 2 continues to drop. The Galaxy S4 was on a slight incline over last month and captured the 4th spot, however it is still a ways off from capturing the #3 spot. As mentioned above, the Xiaomi MI 2 is sitting in the 11th spot ready to claim a spot on the charts next month. There are other contenders for the spot including the Galaxy Note 10.1, Nexus 7 and the Galaxy S Advance.（source：gamasutra）

6）Chinese MMO giant Perfect World makes move on mobile F2P

by Keith Andrew

Having made its name specialising in MMORPGs on PC, Chinese outfit Perfect World has announced its intention to “storm” into the world of mobile free-to-play, both developing and publishing a range of titles.

The company has unveiled its intent to focus on ‘core genres’, such as RPGs, strategy sims, tactical combat titles, MMORPGs and multiplayer online battle area releases (MOBA), with four titles from both US and China-based studios already lined up for launch.

The move will be handled by Perfect World’s US subsidiary, the California-based Perfect World Entertainment.

Taking risks

“Perfect World knows how to build great free-to-play games, how to excite hardcore gamers and how to trust great studios with their own creative visions,” said the firm’s general manager for mobile Fabien-Pierre Nicolas.

“With Perfect World’s experience and focus, we believe we will not only break into mobile, but will become a leading mobile developer and publisher.”

Interestingly, the company claims it is “willing to take a risk” by partnering with third-party studios on studios that “show a high level of creativity and passion.”

The firm’s first four such partnerships include the China-based iFree, which is behind trading card release Elemental Kingdoms and San Francisco studio Agent Disco working on RPG release The Null Society.

Also on board is Fugazo from Seattle working on turn-based multiplayer title BombBuds and Austin-based Sneak Games with MOBA release Arena of Heroes.

“Perfect World was a natural fit for us,” said Fugazo co-founder Andrew Lum of the deal.

“They trusted us day one in our original creative vision for BombBuds and provided advice on our monetisation strategy without over-reaching on our core concepts. They are a rare new breed of publisher.”（source：pocketgamer）