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iPhone: Is it now a legit gaming platform?

D

dougp

Diamond Member
I say yes - with games like Let's Golf, Fastlane, Ferrari GT, Payback, Hero of Sparta, Brothers in Arms, etc. being released, along with cute little games like iShoot, Topple, Blocked, etc. by independint individuals, I believe it's a clear cut winner for best mobile gaming platform. I haven't touched my DS since buying the iPhone, and I'm more inclined to spend $10 on a game in the App Store than going up to Game Stop to buy one.

What say you ATCG?
 
I disagree... the only iPhone game I spent any time with was fieldrunners. I suppose it can be labeled as a gaming platform, but I wouldn't consider it by any means the best one. Many of the titles on the iPhone from well known studios still feel like quick and dirty ports of titles.
 
Originally posted by: ObscureCaucasian
I disagree... the only iPhone game I spent any time with was fieldrunners. I suppose it can be labeled as a gaming platform, but I wouldn't consider it by any means the best one. Many of the titles on the iPhone from well known studios still feel like quick and dirty ports of titles.
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Like what? I think one thing that does kill it is the lack of physical controls, but that just takes some getting used to. Also leads developers to come up with more inventive control types.
 
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
No, not until the games that are provided are more than Flash-lite versions of the gaming franchises.

You shop at GameStop...lol.
Click to expand...

How do games like Let's Golf, Fastlane, BiA or any of the actual 3D titles feel like Flash-lite titles? Me thinks you haven't played any.

And as for GameStop, in all technicality, I don't buy DS games, my R4 is for that purpose. I was just pointing out the convenience.
 
If you're looking for portable flash games without a ton of depth to play in short bursts - it's definitely superior to the DS in that it's always on and ready to go.

But it's not going to replace the DS or even PSP. Would you give an iPhone/iPod touch to a 6 year old? Would you give them a DS? There is your answer.
 
Originally posted by: dougp
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
No, not until the games that are provided are more than Flash-lite versions of the gaming franchises.

You shop at GameStop...lol.
Click to expand...

How do games like Let's Golf, Fastlane, BiA or any of the actual 3D titles feel like Flash-lite titles? Me thinks you haven't played any.

And as for GameStop, in all technicality, I don't buy DS games, my R4 is for that purpose. I was just pointing out the convenience.
Click to expand...

Still pale in comparison to full-fledged games such as Final Fantasy IV DS, Advance Wars, Castlevania, Mega Man, etc, ad nauseum.

Look, you like the iPhone games, and that's cool and all, but they really are nothing more than Flash games on a phone. Flash games without solid, tactile controls.

Besides, Apple has said that they don't really see the iPhone as a game platform and really won't support it as such. I saw the article on DailyTech or Kotaku a while ago.
 
Originally posted by: dougp
...I believe it's a clear cut winner for best mobile gaming platform. I haven't touched my DS since buying the iPhone...
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What do you mean by "mobile gaming platform"? I hope you mean cell phones, and not handhelds, because there's no way the iPhone one-ups the DS, let alone the PSP, as the "clear cut" winner in the latter category (the DS and PSP not being members of the former).

I think the lack of actual buttons hurts, but doesn't necessarily hold it back.
 
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
Originally posted by: dougp
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
No, not until the games that are provided are more than Flash-lite versions of the gaming franchises.

You shop at GameStop...lol.
Click to expand...

How do games like Let's Golf, Fastlane, BiA or any of the actual 3D titles feel like Flash-lite titles? Me thinks you haven't played any.

And as for GameStop, in all technicality, I don't buy DS games, my R4 is for that purpose. I was just pointing out the convenience.
Click to expand...

Look, you like the iPhone games, and that's cool and all, but they really are nothing more than Flash games on a phone. Flash games without solid, tactile controls.
Click to expand...

How is this a flash game?
 
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
Originally posted by: dougp
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
No, not until the games that are provided are more than Flash-lite versions of the gaming franchises.

You shop at GameStop...lol.
Click to expand...

How do games like Let's Golf, Fastlane, BiA or any of the actual 3D titles feel like Flash-lite titles? Me thinks you haven't played any.

And as for GameStop, in all technicality, I don't buy DS games, my R4 is for that purpose. I was just pointing out the convenience.
Click to expand...

Still pale in comparison to full-fledged games such as Final Fantasy IV DS, Advance Wars, Castlevania, Mega Man, etc, ad nauseum.

Look, you like the iPhone games, and that's cool and all, but they really are nothing more than Flash games on a phone. Flash games without solid, tactile controls.

Besides, Apple has said that they don't really see the iPhone as a game platform and really won't support it as such. I saw the article on DailyTech or Kotaku a while ago.
Click to expand...

I won't argue about what Apple said because that's true, but I think that's a stupid move. As for paling in comparison? Yes, to some of those games - but it appears that a lot of this board is uneducated in what is available on the iPhone/Touch.

There are full RTS games, full RPGs like Final Fantasy, platform games along the lines of Mega Man & Castlevania.

http://www.toucharcade.com

Don't post out of ignorance, research this stuff. It's a powerful hand held with more developers than the DS or PSP.

And to ducci, I wouldn't hand a PSP to a 6 year old. I feel the iPhone and PSP are for the mature gaming crowd.
 
Originally posted by: dougp
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
Originally posted by: dougp
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
No, not until the games that are provided are more than Flash-lite versions of the gaming franchises.

You shop at GameStop...lol.
Click to expand...

How do games like Let's Golf, Fastlane, BiA or any of the actual 3D titles feel like Flash-lite titles? Me thinks you haven't played any.

And as for GameStop, in all technicality, I don't buy DS games, my R4 is for that purpose. I was just pointing out the convenience.
Click to expand...

Still pale in comparison to full-fledged games such as Final Fantasy IV DS, Advance Wars, Castlevania, Mega Man, etc, ad nauseum.

Look, you like the iPhone games, and that's cool and all, but they really are nothing more than Flash games on a phone. Flash games without solid, tactile controls.

Besides, Apple has said that they don't really see the iPhone as a game platform and really won't support it as such. I saw the article on DailyTech or Kotaku a while ago.
Click to expand...

I won't argue about what Apple said because that's true, but I think that's a stupid move. As for paling in comparison? Yes, to some of those games - but it appears that a lot of this board is uneducated in what is available on the iPhone/Touch.

There are full RTS games, full RPGs like Final Fantasy, platform games along the lines of Mega Man & Castlevania.

http://www.toucharcade.com

Don't post out of ignorance, research this stuff. It's a powerful hand held with more developers than the DS or PSP.

And to ducci, I wouldn't hand a PSP to a 6 year old. I feel the iPhone and PSP are for the mature gaming crowd.
Click to expand...

That's quite an ignorant statement. Got any proof to back it up? Considering the DS and PSP have been around for years and have game libraries in the hundreds if not thousands.

Shouldn't this be in the Phone and Gadgets section anyway? This is for console gaming, and the iPhone is not a console. It's a phone with lots of features.
 
http://www.dailytech.com/John+...Phone/article14672.htm

"One interesting thing that Mr. Carmack found is that the iPhone hardware is extremely powerful, but is held back by Apple's APIs which are, in his opinion, bloated and inefficient. For this reason, he says the DS holds its own against the iPhone, due to better APIs, despite inferior (according to Mr. Carmack) hardware."

"Cass Everitt had been doing some personal work on the iPhone, so he helped me get everything set up for local iPhone development here, which is a lot more tortuous than you would expect from an Apple product."
 
Originally posted by: dougp
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
Originally posted by: dougp
Originally posted by: RyanPaulShaffer
No, not until the games that are provided are more than Flash-lite versions of the gaming franchises.

You shop at GameStop...lol.
Click to expand...

How do games like Let's Golf, Fastlane, BiA or any of the actual 3D titles feel like Flash-lite titles? Me thinks you haven't played any.

And as for GameStop, in all technicality, I don't buy DS games, my R4 is for that purpose. I was just pointing out the convenience.
Click to expand...

Still pale in comparison to full-fledged games such as Final Fantasy IV DS, Advance Wars, Castlevania, Mega Man, etc, ad nauseum.

Look, you like the iPhone games, and that's cool and all, but they really are nothing more than Flash games on a phone. Flash games without solid, tactile controls.

Besides, Apple has said that they don't really see the iPhone as a game platform and really won't support it as such. I saw the article on DailyTech or Kotaku a while ago.
Click to expand...

I won't argue about what Apple said because that's true, but I think that's a stupid move. As for paling in comparison? Yes, to some of those games - but it appears that a lot of this board is uneducated in what is available on the iPhone/Touch.

There are full RTS games, full RPGs like Final Fantasy, platform games along the lines of Mega Man & Castlevania.

http://www.toucharcade.com

Don't post out of ignorance, research this stuff. It's a powerful hand held with more developers than the DS or PSP.

And to ducci, I wouldn't hand a PSP to a 6 year old. I feel the iPhone and PSP are for the mature gaming crowd.
Click to expand...

The two major issues are controls and game library.

The iPhone is probably capable of running just about anything the DS (minus the dual screen gimmick) and possibly PSP can, but would you want to play something like Castlevania on a touch screen or using actual buttons? What about more complex games that make use of more than just 2-4 face buttons and a d-pad?

Library is also an issue. I don't doubt that the iPhone has plenty of quality games available (and for less money), but how does the quality of the overall library compare? The DS, for example, has a huge library of quality RPGs. Does the iPhone have enough to counter titles like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the legion of Atlus published games? What about first party titles like Zelda, Metroid Prime Hunters, and New Super Mario Bros (or even the Mario & Luigi RPGs)? How about PSP games like Resistance Retribution or Killzone Liberation?
 
Originally posted by: R Nilla
The two major issues are controls and game library.

The iPhone is probably capable of running just about anything the DS (minus the dual screen gimmick) and possibly PSP can, but would you want to play something like Castlevania on a touch screen or using actual buttons? What about more complex games that make use of more than just 2-4 face buttons and a d-pad?

Library is also an issue. I don't doubt that the iPhone has plenty of quality games available (and for less money), but how does the quality of the overall library compare? The DS, for example, has a huge library of quality RPGs. Does the iPhone have enough to counter titles like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the legion of Atlus published games? What about first party titles like Zelda, Metroid Prime Hunters, and New Super Mario Bros (or even the Mario & Luigi RPGs)? How about PSP games like Resistance Retribution or Killzone Liberation?
Click to expand...

Good post. That's what I was basically saying but in not so many words. 🙂
 
Also, I think a lot of people are probably hesitant to consider the iPhone a legitimate gaming platform because it still doesn't have a lot of support from major traditional game publishers. Sure, Brothers in Arms and Metal Gear Solid Touch are out there, but as far as I can tell the games available on the iPhone are largely indie games. That doesn't necessarily make it any less of a 'gaming platform', but I don't think gamers are really going to take it seriously until they see some major releases from the big brands.

And again, the perception of it lacking the ability to deliver solid controls is probably a major issue for most gamers used to traditional tactile buttons.
 
I think the platform has been developing nicely, but it still has quite a bit of growing to do. iPhone OS 3.0 will be interesting though as they are adding API's that allow for two way control and communication with external devices (both Dock Connected and Bluetooth). I think its reasonable to assume we will see some nice third party accessories come along that really push the interaction with the iPhone.

We'll have to wait a few months and see though.

Rolando is the first iPhone game i've played that felt like a true to form, full video game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL0yaEaKiSM
 
The iPhone software quality seems much more akin to Xbox Live Community Games, and less like Retail Ones. Yes there are diamonds in the rough, but the platform is still too immature (game wise) to be really put on par with the PSP and DS.
 
Its the only legit mobile phone platform, and it fulfills my gaming needs on the go, since I dont take a train or bus anywhere. But its hardly a competitor to the DS and Wii for "real" games.

Its a control issue, plain and simple. Just like the Wii, the only time iphone games really excel are when theyre iphone specific, so unless its built from the ground up for touch and tilt its going to pretty much suck.

Theres no point in comparing it to the DS or PSP....theyre radically different platforms that serve entirely different purposes. Even rolando, which is supposed be a "real" game, still feels like a glorified flash game, and doesnt play as well as its hype.
 
Originally posted by: BD2003
Its the only legit mobile phone platform, and it fulfills my gaming needs on the go, since I dont take a train or bus anywhere. But its hardly a competitor to the DS and Wii for "real" games.

Its a control issue, plain and simple. Just like the Wii, the only time iphone games really excel are when theyre iphone specific, so unless its built from the ground up for touch and tilt its going to pretty much suck.

Theres no point in comparing it to the DS or PSP....theyre radically different platforms that serve entirely different purposes. Even rolando, which is supposed be a "real" game, still feels like a glorified flash game, and doesnt play as well as its hype.
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+1. Agree Completely. It is a platform, and it will be lucrative for many parties in the future, but it is inherently different than a PSP or DS. The contol is really what limits it, although creative developers will find ways to make it work. Some hardcore titles, though, just won't work with a touch pad.
 
No, not yet. It has some games for it that are good, but there's a lot of stuff out there that is really hurt by the fact it's on the smartphone. Take Hero of Sparta for example. It's a great game... for the iphone. But when you take away the fact that you're playing it on a phone you realize it's not that great. The controls blow ass, the framerate drops pretty often and it still is a poor looking game. I have no idea what I'm fighting most the time as it just looks like dark blobs.
 
I don't think I'd want to use it as such to avoid battery life issues. Especially since if the battery begins to lose it's ability to hold a charge, you have to send it in to get replaced (if I remember correctly). I don't even like using my phone (HTC TyTn II - AT&T Tilt) for mp3 playback because it drains the battery so much. Gaming is just as bad on it 😱. Although at least I can replace the battery 😉.

(Had to take a pop shot 😛)
 
Originally posted by: Aikouka
I don't think I'd want to use it as such to avoid battery life issues. Especially since if the battery begins to lose it's ability to hold a charge, you have to send it in to get replaced (if I remember correctly). I don't even like using my phone (HTC TyTn II - AT&T Tilt) for mp3 playback because it drains the battery so much. Gaming is just as bad on it 😱. Although at least I can replace the battery 😉.

(Had to take a pop shot 😛)
Click to expand...

pot shot maybe?

Anyway that's a valid complaint. The battery life on the iphone sucks ass as it is, and gets even worse when you try to use it 😛
 
Originally posted by: gorcorps
Originally posted by: Aikouka
I don't think I'd want to use it as such to avoid battery life issues. Especially since if the battery begins to lose it's ability to hold a charge, you have to send it in to get replaced (if I remember correctly). I don't even like using my phone (HTC TyTn II - AT&T Tilt) for mp3 playback because it drains the battery so much. Gaming is just as bad on it 😱. Although at least I can replace the battery 😉.

(Had to take a pop shot 😛)
Click to expand...

pot shot maybe?

Anyway that's a valid complaint. The battery life on the iphone sucks ass as it is, and gets even worse when you try to use it 😛
Click to expand...

Playing mp3's on the iphone has amazing battery life. I believe the screen is what really kills the battery life for the ipod. Imagine if they released an OLED version, that would probably help a lot.

Sorry for the off-topic comment. 🙂
 
It's not the screen so much as the wireless radios, especially 3g, although edge will drain it pretty quickly too.

I've got a first gen iphone that I use all day long, and the only time battery life becomes an issue is if I'm listening to a podcast over edge. Otherwise, it'll last for days, an it's almost 2 years old.
 
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