5 ms·

> However, this advantage might be significant when it comes to games some of which have a tendency to push whatever hardware they are on. This doesn't line up

by dejb 17y ago

> However, this advantage might be significant when it comes to games some of which have a tendency to push whatever hardware they are on. This doesn't line up with the experience in desktop software where the the PC dominates gaming despite having a multitude of difference hardware environments.

scythe 17y ago
This is in part because the manufacturers have adopted standards - be they patented, like x86 and directx, or open like opengl. Unfortunately, we don't see as much in terms of standards on phones. Android addresses this, though, since everything runs on dalvik. A JIT would be nice if we're going to see more resource-intensive stuff.
jballanc 17y ago
...and you've never run into a case where your particular hardware isn't capable of running latest great game XYZ? The point is that people don't think of their phones the same way they think of their computers. If I want to play Crysis, I'll go out and buy a new graphics card. If I've got 15 min standing in line at the store and my phone can't play your game, I'll go buy a different game.
JunkDNA 17y ago
The detail you forget with gaming is that the basic PC hardware is more or less guaranteed to be there: mouse, keyboard, 3d graphics accelerator, monitor capable of a certain minimal resolution. In particular, the ergonomics are also consistent. The issue with phones is that ergonomics can make or break your app, and that is dictated entirely by fixed hardware. Do you have only a touch screen? A keyboard? keyboard + touch screen? What about physical screen size and resolution? Your application will technically run on every combination of that hardware, but the end-user experience may suffer. Those ergonomic issues impact the end-user in a huge way. If you've ever watched someone with a Blackberry (with a trackball) use an iphone optimized website, it's usable but not as efficient as using a touch screen. There's often no way around these limitations for the end-user other than getting a new device. Mobile devices will eventually mature and converge toward common hardware and input technologies, but until that happens cross-device work is going to be a real challenge.
glhaynes 17y ago
Shouldn't we be comparing the PC as game machine to video game consoles, then? I think console gaming is a MUCH larger industry.

by dejb 17y ago

scythe 17y ago

This is in part because the manufacturers have adopted standards - be they patented, like x86 and directx, or open like opengl. Unfortunately, we don't see as much in terms of standards on phones. Android addresses this, though, since everything runs on dalvik. A JIT would be nice if we're going to see more resource-intensive stuff.

jballanc 17y ago

...and you've never run into a case where your particular hardware isn't capable of running latest great game XYZ? The point is that people don't think of their phones the same way they think of their computers. If I want to play Crysis, I'll go out and buy a new graphics card. If I've got 15 min standing in line at the store and my phone can't play your game, I'll go buy a different game.

JunkDNA 17y ago

The detail you forget with gaming is that the basic PC hardware is more or less guaranteed to be there: mouse, keyboard, 3d graphics accelerator, monitor capable of a certain minimal resolution. In particular, the ergonomics are also consistent. The issue with phones is that ergonomics can make or break your app, and that is dictated entirely by fixed hardware. Do you have only a touch screen? A keyboard? keyboard + touch screen? What about physical screen size and resolution? Your application will technically run on every combination of that hardware, but the end-user experience may suffer. Those ergonomic issues impact the end-user in a huge way. If you've ever watched someone with a Blackberry (with a trackball) use an iphone optimized website, it's usable but not as efficient as using a touch screen. There's often no way around these limitations for the end-user other than getting a new device. Mobile devices will eventually mature and converge toward common hardware and input technologies, but until that happens cross-device work is going to be a real challenge.

glhaynes 17y ago

Shouldn't we be comparing the PC as game machine to video game consoles, then? I think console gaming is a MUCH larger industry.