3 ms·
Modern smartphones just aren't really good gaming platforms. That's sad though, because all that computing power could support good games, but most of the mobil
by 10098 13y ago
Modern smartphones just aren't really good gaming platforms. That's sad though, because all that computing power could support good games, but most of the mobile games are quite boring. Compare this to 2004-2006 period when Java games for dumbphones were popular - I remember playing a few really good ones. I think the key difference is that dumbphones had keys and were more like an actual controller. With touchscreens the situation is very different. I tried playing some NES games on an emulator, but the controls were awful. The "draw the keys on the screen" approach clearly doesn't work when it comes to games. Yes, there are special controllers that you can buy and use with your phone, but mobile game designers can't assume that everyone will have them, and they have to design their games with the touchscreen limitations in mind, which leads to games being not very interesting.
- mikepurvis 13y agoI don't know that it's worse—more different. Maybe there are particular genres of action games which are not possible, but games like cut-the-rope, angry birds, flight control, etc, wouldn't be possible with a console controller either. The genre that really feels unexplored in my view is long-form adventure games—touch feels like a natural fit for a game whose structure is "go there, now there, observe, repeat". This is what Republique was supposed to be about—it's supposed to be excellent; perhaps if it is a commercial success, others will follow.
- CalRobert 13y agoWell, for what its worth you'll find a number of adventure games for tablets - Monkey Island was redone for iOS, and there's some other good ones here: http://www.adventuregamers.com/topgames/view/iphone_and_ipad http://www.adventuregamers.com/topgames/view/iphone_and_ipad I bought Year Walk yesterday and so far it's engaging, though I've only given it about 20 minutes so far. However, I weep for the loss of buttons. It's sad that my favorite Android devices was an HTC Touch Pro 2 (a Windows Mobile 6.5 device!) running a custom Android rom. The keyboard was to die for.
- WA 13y agoI think your analysis is spot on, although HoMM 2 (which your parent poster is talking about) would be perfectly playable on a tablet/iphone, since it's not fast paced and most interaction could be done by tapping. I'd love to see HoMM 2, too.
- archagon 13y agoThere are a couple of genres that work really, really well with touchscreens. Unfortunately, they're not really in vogue right now. Turn-based strategy is one; Skulls of the Shogun is a good example, as is Frozen Synapse. Bullet hell shmups are, surprisingly, another. Check out Danmaku Unlimited 2: it's one of the few iOS-native games that compelled me to keep playing for more than an hour. http://doragongames.com/danmaku2/ http://doragongames.com/danmaku2/