Mobile gaming is breathing new life thanks to iOS and Android - here’s some predictions on mobile gaming in the coming years, and what effects it will have on you as a game designer.

This week, id Software's John Carmack said that he believes that in two years, mobile devices may be more powerful than consoles. Whether or not you think this in our future, there’s no denying that games for mobile platforms have steadily increased in market share in the last few years – even video game design online has improved with the advent of JS-happy browsers like Chrome. This is good news for people seeking video game design degrees, or who are taking video game design courses - apps provide a more level playing ground for developers, and could provide you with the right opportunity to get your work viewed. Here are a few things to consider when moving into a mobile-centric game market.

1. Designing for Touch Screen
Now a staple for phones, touch screens offer a whole new set of interaction standards when it comes to how players approach your game. If anything, this gives you more freedom, but the adaptation can be hard. Spend time exploring games, apps, and any other touch interface you can, to determine what works and what doesn’t. You may find entirely new schools of game design that have only begun to catch on.

2. Designing for Social Media
Though often snobbed by gaming purists, there’s huge potential in social games like Farmville and Mafia Wars. If they're popular enough for schools to block them, they must be doing something right. Sure, currently the bar may be set pretty low - but the possibility of combining mobile devices with social gaming has unlimited possibilities. This is only expanded by the mobile platform - by using location data and a list of contacts, augmented reality gaming knows no bounds. Developers with game design degrees that have also taken courses in web design might be particular well suited in careers hinged on bridging the development gap over social media.

3. Designing for App Store distribution
This is more marketing than implementation, but remember how your game will be first viewed by potential players. Though you might be sufficiently proud of your work to warrant an $8 price tag, analytics company Flurry has recently released data suggesting that free games that draw revenue from in-game purchases pull in more cash than ones that charge up front. Certainly there are several schools of thought to work from, so take some time perusing your phone’s app store, and see what catches your eye - buyers are motivated by everything from aggregate consumer reviews to colorful logos.