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Why is gaming on Android still lacking and so bad?
Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
NikolaeVarius
Lifer
Never understood gaming on phones. Controls are infuriating to use.
It's like the jump between KB & M and Joystick. Except it goes even futher down the crappy end.
Also, they're all freaking boring. Angry birds and fruit ninja? Those flash game type things don't appeal to me at all.
It's like the jump between KB & M and Joystick. Except it goes even futher down the crappy end.
Also, they're all freaking boring. Angry birds and fruit ninja? Those flash game type things don't appeal to me at all.
Aikouka
Lifer
Runaway, you know they can't miss what they've never experienced 😉.
It depends on the game... some games implement controls well, and some don't. Usually, the best controls seem to be location independent, or at least only respective to a side. For example, in Infinity Field, if I put my finger on the left, wherever I put my finger becomes the movement joystick.
It depends on the game... some games implement controls well, and some don't. Usually, the best controls seem to be location independent, or at least only respective to a side. For example, in Infinity Field, if I put my finger on the left, wherever I put my finger becomes the movement joystick.
Capt Caveman
Lifer
Been spending a lot of time lately playing NBA Elite 2011 on my iPhone. Being able to play games while waiting around or on the bus, subway is a huge bonus.
Saying a smartphone is not a gameboy is silly. Plenty of games are fun to play on a touchscreen smartphone. I'm guessing most haven't had the opportunity to experience it.
zerocool84
Lifer
DivideBYZero
Lifer
This is why gaming is poor on Android:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Android_devices#Smartphones
Too many hardware differentials. As a developer you have to taget one base specification and add features for higher capability, like in the PC world, but this adds complexity and complexity equals time and time equals money. Money you are very unlikely to get back in the Android Market due to low app purchase rates and rampant piracy/sideloading of apps.
With iOS the base hardware specification is known, 80% of the operational phones are the same specification, so you can target and optimize for the platform. On Android that would be comercial suicide to optimize for 30-40 platforms, all of which can be implemented differently by the OEM, with differing RAM, CPU speed, resolution, keyboard/no keyboard etc per individual device.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Android_devices#Smartphones
Too many hardware differentials. As a developer you have to taget one base specification and add features for higher capability, like in the PC world, but this adds complexity and complexity equals time and time equals money. Money you are very unlikely to get back in the Android Market due to low app purchase rates and rampant piracy/sideloading of apps.
With iOS the base hardware specification is known, 80% of the operational phones are the same specification, so you can target and optimize for the platform. On Android that would be comercial suicide to optimize for 30-40 platforms, all of which can be implemented differently by the OEM, with differing RAM, CPU speed, resolution, keyboard/no keyboard etc per individual device.
Monster_Munch
Senior member
If you target an older model like the nexus one and android 2.1 your game will work on the vast majority of hardware out there, but you wont be able to really take advantage of the latest tech.
With iphone the developers can just target the latest 2 models and know that their game will work great on 90% of phones being used.
With iphone the developers can just target the latest 2 models and know that their game will work great on 90% of phones being used.
BenSkywalker
Diamond Member
What exactly are you looking for for gaming? I'm kind of curious as my gaming library is significantly larger for my Android devices then my iOS devices. Right now I'm playing FinalFantasy7, DragonQuest7 with a little bit of Fruit Ninja HD when I need some dumb mindless fun. It's nice to immerse myself in a nigh 100 hour long RPG, playing it on the go and able to pop it up on the big screen using a blue tooth controller when I have time to get a bit more immersed. I also like the fact that the hundreds of games I have acquired over the years that are largely in boxes now I can go back and replay on a portable device. Really a nice setup.
For newer phone exclusive type games, if you are looking for anything impressive, get a Sony or Tegra2 phone. TegraZone and Sony's Play line are pushing some serious incentives for developers to get on board with their respective platforms, this comes at the expense of others but such is the benefit and drawback of a more open system.
Can you link up this EA NBA game that you are talking about on Android? I know EA came out with a port of Jam for iOS, but I haven't seen it for Android anywhere. Since you stated there is a Genesis version with god awful controls I'm sure you can link that up, I'd be very interested in checking it out.
Fixed that for you 🙂
edro
Lifer
That logic will eliminate a company.
Mobile gaming is one of the fastest moving, most popular segments of the tech market.
Puddle Jumper
Platinum Member
First your iPod has a A4/Hummingbird processor which are faster clock for clock than generic Cortex A8 processors like the one found in the Droid. Also the iPod Touch has a PowerVR SGX 535 gpu which if I'm not mistaken is faster than the SGX 530 found in the Droid.
BenSkywalker
Diamond Member
The SGX 535 should be roughly twice as fast the 530, PowerVR's technology scales incredibly well and the 535 has double the theoretical throughput of the 530(same clock speed, double the functional units). In simple terms, the iPhone4 is running a 'SLId' version of the single GPU found in the Droid. There are many people on these forums that seem to be under the impression that an i7 with integrated graphics should wipe the floor with an Athlon x4 running SLId GTX 580s running games- if it doesn't that proves the Athlon is a superior CPU 😛
Red Storm
Lifer
iPhone user here.
Have you guys actually played these poster boy games Infinity Blade and Rage? They look great, but the game play is so poor it's not even funny. It's ridiculously simple minded; I felt like I was playing a game designed around a 6 year old's capabilities. They are nothing more than fantastic looking tech demos.
It's not just limited to those games either, it's a running theme with a lot of mobile games. Fruit Ninja? Again, it looks and sounds nice, but even my 10 year old sister got bored of it pretty quick. Don't even get me started on all those racing games that either auto accelerate and/or turn for you...
Smartphone gaming is highly overrated, regardless of platform.
Have you guys actually played these poster boy games Infinity Blade and Rage? They look great, but the game play is so poor it's not even funny. It's ridiculously simple minded; I felt like I was playing a game designed around a 6 year old's capabilities. They are nothing more than fantastic looking tech demos.
It's not just limited to those games either, it's a running theme with a lot of mobile games. Fruit Ninja? Again, it looks and sounds nice, but even my 10 year old sister got bored of it pretty quick. Don't even get me started on all those racing games that either auto accelerate and/or turn for you...
Smartphone gaming is highly overrated, regardless of platform.
smartpatrol
Senior member
Wow, it seems like Android fanboys have more in common with Apple fanboys than they would like to admit. "If my platform doesn't have it, then I don't want it and neither should anybody else."
this
even Chaos Rings got boring after a while since it was the same thing. Square is bringing the real final fantasy games to iOS but it's taking a while.
most games on iOS are crap and last a day or so. a few like the Lucasarts games can be played for a long time
this is about the official games available. not "pirated" games for emulators
apple reaches out to game devs. not sure about google and htc
purbeast0
No Lifer
haha i was thinking the same thing when reading the replies in this thread.
Ns1
No Lifer
my gf retired her gameboy as soon as she got an iphone
erikistired
Diamond Member
like...a computer?
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