The iPhone: Game Platform Or Not?
Now, I don't have an iPhone, but I do have an iPod Touch, and I love that thing to death. It's gotten to the point that I feel completely naked without it in my pocket. And aside from all of its wonderful built-in features like a web browser, calendar, music (duh), etc, the thing that I've grown to love the most are the apps. More specifically though, the games. Sure, there's a high percentage of terrible games, but I've got at least 30 or so on my iPod Touch that I've really enjoyed. But this begs the question, should the iPhone (or iPod Touch) be considered a gaming platform?
In some ways, the answer is an obvious yes. Some developers are making a handsome profit on iPhone games, and several major game publishers - like EA, Namco Bandai, THQ, and Capcom - are shifting resources around to ensure that they have games available for it. I've also noticed that it seems to be more socially acceptable to take out my iPod Touch on a bus or train than it is for a DS, and so I've been using it more as my "on the go" gaming device.
But I suppose the real question isn't whether the iPhone is a gaming platform so much as whether the iPhone as a gaming platform can compete with the DS and PSP. And as much as I love my iPod Touch, I still don't think it's there yet. True, I have said that don't bring my DS with me as much because of my iPod Touch, but there are a few problems that are in my opinion holding the iPhone back. Though developers have done an admirable job of finding ways around the lack of d-pad and buttons on the iPhone, there's just no way to get the same accuracy that you would with those inputs. As such, the games that I find myself playing the most are simple games like variations on Solitaire, Minesweeper, or Missile Command. There are more serious games, but they either rely on tilt control, which isn't ideal when on a bus or train or touch buttons placed on the screen, which I've already mentioned aren't as accurate as the real thing. And so the iPhone becomes more of a casual gaming device.
There's nothing wrong with being a casual gaming device since there's definitely a market for it. But will that ever threaten Sony or Nintendo's handhelds? I doubt it. If I want a nice diversion for a couple of minutes, then my iPod Touch is great to have with me. But if I want to sit down and immerse myself in a game while on the go, there's no substitute for a DS or PSP.
NaviFairy
Posted to Hot Stuff, Video Games on 16 April 2009
· Comments (8)
Other stuff like this: ds, dsi, editorial, iphone, ipod touch, psp
Yes the iPhone is a gaming platform - as an example Cyan Inc. is developing Myst (iMyst) for the iPhone, and if that's successful they'll be remaking Riven (iRiven?) for the platform too.
It's very much a gaming device, it's why I finally decided against getting a PSP. You're right in that most of the beat games available are casual games, but others are starting to trickle through, and once OS 3 is out in the summer there is SO much more potential. The biggest thing here could be the accessory support that developers have access to now; you only need one manufacturer to design and distribute a small unit that plugs into the phone with a joypad and a couple of buttons, and every game developer could write games that use it...
The iPhone can only go up!
"I've also noticed that it seems to be more socially acceptable to take out my iPod Touch on a bus or train than it is for a DS,"
Socially acceptable? Errr.. not that any of us should really care too much about that, but really? What's the difference? They're both little electronic devices you hunch over and stare at, poking at it with your fingers and thumbs and generally looking like a doofus. Just because one is shinier and a lot of non gamers geek over it too doesn't make it significantly cooler.
I'm confused, how do you tell what is more socially acceptable?
Unless people are coming up to you saying, "I find this, what you're doing is terrible." - I don't really see a clear methodology in determining what is "socially acceptable".
I'm a sucker for the tower defense games available for my iPod Touch.
I agree without actualy buttons, the device doesn't compare to the DS or PSP. I also agree more complex games are a bit tough for me as I ride the train so games with simple one-tap tap controls work best.
I agree that the iPhone/iPod Touch COULD be a great gaming platform, but it has a few things going against it.
The first is the price. Two hundred dollars for 8GB and it's not upgradeable? Sure, the PSP, and even the DSi, are similarly priced, but you can upgrade the memory. And swap it out when it gets full, as opposed to having to delete everything. (I never got the anger against the lack of onboard memory for the PSP outside of game saves.)
The second is definitely the fact that it's from Apple. It's cool to own Apple products now, but a lot of people (myself included) won't touch the thing just because of the branding. I'm actually awaiting the new Sony touch PMP rather impatiently, and the rumours of a Zune with a touchscreen has me similarly excited. (I already own a Zune and a Walkman DAP. My experience with both has been largely positive.)
One thing Sony could do to combat the popularity of the iPod Touch is to make it so devs could create apps other than games. But with their love of control over every aspect of their devices, which in and of itself rivals Apple, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
And Nintendo doesn't really need to worry, because their going after completely different demographics.
There are a couple of benefits that could come as the result of Apple's success in the MOBILE gaming market: Sony might bring its products under one blanket brand, like Microsoft has (semi-successfully) done with it's "Live" branding. I would love to be able to download music from the PSN to my PS3 or PSP, and to transfer the videos on my PS3 to my Walkman, as well as my PSP.
And then there is the possibility of a touch capacitive Zune getting its own app store that is linked with XBLA. (Because the current XNA Zune games are getting no support from Microsoft, sadly.)
I see nothing but good coming about as a result of the iPhone/iPod Touch. It's just up to the idiots in charge to make a comprehensive stretegy to compete.
For Huh? and Ash-Fox:
In reference to the iPod Touch being more socially acceptable, what I mean is that when I pull out my DS I've noticed the occasional odd glance or dirty look from other people around me, meanwhile I haven't once noticed those looks when using my iPod Touch. I find it particularly notable because when I'm using my iPod Touch I'm significantly more self-conscious because I'm tilting the thing around, and yet when I sheepishly look around me nobody seems to notice or care. But still when I pull out my DS someone might glance over at me, shake their head, and go back to what they were doing. Maybe I'm just more self-conscious than most, but it's something that I've noticed.
it is still a telephone, guys. I am quite obsessed with my iPhone, especially because of the genius apps, but I recently bought MGSTouch for it and that compared to Metal Gear Acid (which is how many years old now?) the iPhone is no more a gaming platform than any of my late phones that were capable of running solitaire.
nevertheless, it would be nice if they'd at least re-release some great old point and click adventure games - this could be the best platform and control method for that lovely genre.