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EA Mobile dominates the mobile market for games, according to research firm M:Metrics. The wireless division of Electronic Arts held the top two game title spots, with Tetris (see image) and Bejeweled. EA Mobile is followed by Glu Mobile with 9.9 percent market share and Gameloft with 9.1 percent.

Additional top-five game titles include Gameloft's Platinum Solitaire, Hands On Mobile's World Poker Tour - Texas Hold 'Em and Namco's PAC-MAN. While Hands On Mobile, I-play, Namco, Oasys, THQ, Digital Chocolate, and Konami round out the top-ten publishers; in that order.

"For the first time, we can offer a clear perspective on the mobile games market, based on reliable, rigorous measurement methodologies and industry-validated metrics," said Seamus McAteer, chief product architect and senior analyst, M:Metrics. "This data finally puts an end to the vast amount of speculation about how the mobile games market stacks up."

In March, 4.9 million, only 2.7 percent of U.S. mobile subscribers, downloaded a game, and 45 million (24.2 percent) played a game they had previously downloaded or that came installed on their device. This number has remained relatively constant from month to month across all geographies. For example, 4.2 percent of U.K. and 2.7 percent of German users downloaded games to their mobile handsets.

M:Metrics said that pricing, choice and lack of interest were the top reasons cited by players of downloaded games that they did not buy another title in the month of March. Hence, the stagnation.

In addition, the firm said its findings directly tie game buys to handset purchases. Not great if the people who are purchasing the phones are buying games at a low rate - 0.5 to 0.8 percent - as well. It added, a significant portion—as much as 30 percent—of those who downloaded games in the month were first-time game downloaders. While repeat purchases accounted for only 20 percent and 30 percent game player downloads.

McAteer said, "This data shows that operators must do a better job at converting those that played a mobile game into a player of downloaded games."

"There is no shortage of new titles being launched on operator portals, many offering innovative game play and superior production value, but these do not appear to be resonating with consumers. Subscribers that had played a downloaded title cite the pricing, lack of interest and selection as reasons they did not purchase another title in the month of March," McAteer added.

Speaking with the Washington Post, McAteer said phone interfaces often got in the way of the user experience as well. They often only list title and not much more. So those with name recognition do the best. "It looks like Craigslist instead of iTunes," he added.