Trip Hawkins: Social gaming is the next step

Trip Hawkins, Digital Chocolate CEO and former founder of EA, says "social gaming" is the future of mobile gaming, not repurposed, licensed games that look like knock-offs of the console version. "By the time those brands map over to a mobile phone, so much is lost in the translation," Hawkins said. "Do you think the gamer is going to continue to buy mobile games when all they get is second-rate versions of what the brands are supposed to be about?" Hawkins also argues for a simpler, more accessible mobile game: Only 5 percent of the 140 million Super Bowl viewers play "Madden" because the other 95 percent aren't interested--"it's too deep, too immersive, too demanding," Hawkins said. "It's like asking people to drive a stick-shift when they have an automatic."

For more on Hawkins' perspective on mobile games:
- read this interview from Hollywood Reporter