3 ms·

Is android the next big gaming platform?

5 points by tapan_pandita 14y ago

With the kickstarter success of Ouya and Gamestick and the announcement of project shield from Nvidia, is android set to become the next big gaming platform?

r3demon 14y ago
It is already a big gaming platform, you can't ignore such a huge market. Unfortunately, high quality games are not there yet, but it gives a bit more time for the smaller studios to make something fresh.
- dotborg 14y ago
  is it worth to spend 10s of milions of dollars on high quality game for android ecosystem?
ZeroGravitas 14y ago
The key element seems to be the embrace of game controllers by android, e.g. you can already plug'n'play with XBox and Playstation controllers: http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/feature.asp?t=how_to&c=45227 http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/feature.asp?t=how_to&c=4522... which apple seems to be fighting, even preventing iOS specific controllers if they're not tied to specifc apps: http://kotaku.com/5947934/the-first-apple+approved-ipad-iphone-and-ipod-game-pad-is-one-small-step-for-ios-gaming http://kotaku.com/5947934/the-first-apple+approved-ipad-ipho... The controller market is a little bit, ahem, fragmented, but generally seems to be converging on the PS3 style since it allows the double analogue sticks to operate pinch, zoom, rotate and other two finger gestures. Compare Archos tablet with gaming controls, their tv-box with gaming controls, and the new Nvidia portable console: http://www.archos.com/img/products/gamepad/dwd/Ambience-corner_HD_01.jpg http://www.archos.com/img/products/gamepad/dwd/Ambience-corn... http://media.begeek.fr/2013/01/ARCHOS_TV_Connect_TV_touch_remote_nowrmk.jpg http://media.begeek.fr/2013/01/ARCHOS_TV_Connect_TV_touch_re... http://i0.wp.com/hypebeast.com/image/2013/01/nvidia-unveils-tegra-4-powered-android-portable-gaming-console-project-shield-1.jpg?w=1410 http://i0.wp.com/hypebeast.com/image/2013/01/nvidia-unveils-... Though interestingly Nyko only just released a couple of handsets build for Nvidia chips and in collaboration with Nvidia that use the XBox 360 layout of having the dpad as a secondary to the analogue.
UnoriginalGuy 14y ago
No. Android is powerful and technologically able to be the next big gaming platform, but unfortunately it remains too fragmented. When someone writes a Nintendo 3DS game for example they have to develop the game and then test/QA it against a very small selection of systems (four or five). When someone does the same thing on Android they have to test it against several thousand devices, and if they miss any one device people will leave negative reviews and it might sink the whole project (see every EA game on Android ever). Plus, Android as a gaming device has some control issues to overcome. There are only certain kind of games that work well using on-screen controls and even if a sub-set of the market has a physical controller you cannot presume that in the design. Essentially the only way "Android" could become a good gaming platform is with a massive lock-down. You'd have to develop a device, with its own market, and physical controls. Then lock out every app that isn't working within that strict ecosystem. Kind of like the "Valve Box." But once you do that it isn't really the "Android" ecosystem any more, since instead you have now developed your own ecosystem with certain assured characteristics (e.g. hardware power, 3D support, physical controllers, etc).
idea_shot 14y ago
No.
ibisum 14y ago
I didn't used to think so, but then I got my Nexus 7 paired up with my iControlpad gamepad, and I really honestly cannot think of a better setup for gaming fun .. its just such a neat package. So, I've bought quite a few Android games lately .. maybe I'm not representative, but it certainly feels to me that this could be a viable platform, if properly embraced.
primitur 14y ago
I didn't used to think so, but then I got my Nexus 7 paired up with my iControlpad gamepad, and I really honestly cannot think of a better setup for gaming fun .. its just such a neat package. So, I've bought quite a few Android games lately .. maybe I'm not representative, but it certainly feels to me that this could be a viable platform, if properly embraced.

5 points by tapan_pandita 14y ago

With the kickstarter success of Ouya and Gamestick and the announcement of project shield from Nvidia, is android set to become the next big gaming platform?

r3demon 14y ago

It is already a big gaming platform, you can't ignore such a huge market. Unfortunately, high quality games are not there yet, but it gives a bit more time for the smaller studios to make something fresh.

dotborg 14y ago
is it worth to spend 10s of milions of dollars on high quality game for android ecosystem?

ZeroGravitas 14y ago

The key element seems to be the embrace of game controllers by android, e.g. you can already plug'n'play with XBox and Playstation controllers: http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/feature.asp?t=how_to&c=45227 http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/feature.asp?t=how_to&c=4522... which apple seems to be fighting, even preventing iOS specific controllers if they're not tied to specifc apps: http://kotaku.com/5947934/the-first-apple+approved-ipad-iphone-and-ipod-game-pad-is-one-small-step-for-ios-gaming http://kotaku.com/5947934/the-first-apple+approved-ipad-ipho... The controller market is a little bit, ahem, fragmented, but generally seems to be converging on the PS3 style since it allows the double analogue sticks to operate pinch, zoom, rotate and other two finger gestures. Compare Archos tablet with gaming controls, their tv-box with gaming controls, and the new Nvidia portable console: http://www.archos.com/img/products/gamepad/dwd/Ambience-corner_HD_01.jpg http://www.archos.com/img/products/gamepad/dwd/Ambience-corn... http://media.begeek.fr/2013/01/ARCHOS_TV_Connect_TV_touch_remote_nowrmk.jpg http://media.begeek.fr/2013/01/ARCHOS_TV_Connect_TV_touch_re... http://i0.wp.com/hypebeast.com/image/2013/01/nvidia-unveils-tegra-4-powered-android-portable-gaming-console-project-shield-1.jpg?w=1410 http://i0.wp.com/hypebeast.com/image/2013/01/nvidia-unveils-... Though interestingly Nyko only just released a couple of handsets build for Nvidia chips and in collaboration with Nvidia that use the XBox 360 layout of having the dpad as a secondary to the analogue.

UnoriginalGuy 14y ago

No. Android is powerful and technologically able to be the next big gaming platform, but unfortunately it remains too fragmented. When someone writes a Nintendo 3DS game for example they have to develop the game and then test/QA it against a very small selection of systems (four or five). When someone does the same thing on Android they have to test it against several thousand devices, and if they miss any one device people will leave negative reviews and it might sink the whole project (see every EA game on Android ever). Plus, Android as a gaming device has some control issues to overcome. There are only certain kind of games that work well using on-screen controls and even if a sub-set of the market has a physical controller you cannot presume that in the design. Essentially the only way "Android" could become a good gaming platform is with a massive lock-down. You'd have to develop a device, with its own market, and physical controls. Then lock out every app that isn't working within that strict ecosystem. Kind of like the "Valve Box." But once you do that it isn't really the "Android" ecosystem any more, since instead you have now developed your own ecosystem with certain assured characteristics (e.g. hardware power, 3D support, physical controllers, etc).

idea_shot 14y ago

No.

ibisum 14y ago

I didn't used to think so, but then I got my Nexus 7 paired up with my iControlpad gamepad, and I really honestly cannot think of a better setup for gaming fun .. its just such a neat package. So, I've bought quite a few Android games lately .. maybe I'm not representative, but it certainly feels to me that this could be a viable platform, if properly embraced.

primitur 14y ago