As part of AppsWorld 2013, I was fortunate enough to sit in on a panel consisting of representatives from four mobile gaming companies; Endemol Games, Wooga, Plumbee, and matmi.

The topic was social gaming – an almost expected feature in the modern game.

Whilst none of the panellists could quite decide whether the “freemium” model was good for the industry or not – a subject which carried through most of the discussion – all could agree on how important social integration is; but with what method?

Facebook was perhaps the most obvious and guessable choice; but an interesting question posed by moderator Jack Kent asked: “Which is best? Apple’s ‘Game Centre’, or Google’s ‘Play Games’?”

The reply was quite simple in its answer, but said all that which was required: “The average Facebook user has 200 friends, the average Game Centre has 1.”

Like the freemium debate; opinion was heavily split about smart TVs and their future especially in regards to gaming – one panellist went as far to say: “Do you really want to see your mum playing Candy Crush on your TV?”

Yet of course this is only one scenario – as others pointed out. The potential offered by game streaming via services such as Gaikai means full 3D games such as those similar to a dedicated console can go directly to your living room – bypassing the requirement for other hardware.

The panel was in agreement that a lot of gaming will be streamed off of mobile in the next few years using devices like Google’s ChromeCast – which each developer was very excited to see the potential.

Freemium is where opinion was heated and offered the most debate – reaching no conclusion.

One audience member asked the panellists “Are freemium games using a drug dealer-type model?” In regards to the getting people hooked into a game before charging via in-app purchases (occasionally extortionately).

A fact which came up was in-app purchases are mainly bought on Tuesday’s – we can only speculate; but a virtual “retail therapy” for the start of week blues?

Whilst several of the panellists agreed there is a “thin line” which can easily be crossed especially in regards to ethics around in-app purchases; one was adamant in saying: “People choose what they want; some people choose to smoke, some people like to drink…”

This was rebuked by one of the other panel members who states how some game firms will now recruit psychologists in order to essentially exploit customers for the most money. Speaking to a developer previously – his view was that it’s killing making games which are purely for enjoyment.

The conversation ended with that sentiment echoed: “Freemium makes money, but they’re not “fun” … if we want to make fun games again we need to relook at the model”

What do you think about the future of “Social Gaming” and the freemium model?

The panellists were speaking in the Gaming World at AppsWorld Europe 2013.