While catching up with some friends through Facebook some nights ago, I decided to check on the guy who has inspired me to blog and greatly influenced my works, Siopao Master, and noticed that he’s status said something like being hooked on Infinity Blade.
Now, for gamers like SM and me, being addicted to a video game is nothing new. But what caught my attention was the fact that SM was getting high on a game that runs on a smartphone.
You see, I’ve had my experiences of playing games on mobile phones – Rayman, Prince of Persia, Ragnarok– but more often than not, these games tend to disappoint. While gaming magazines and advertisements make them look and sound cool, it turns out that these miniature versions of notable titles just didn’t have enough juice in them to make me want to stick around and play more.
After trying my hand at a handful of mobile games, I was left with a sense of dissatisfaction. Punishing my fingers by pressing tiny numeric keypads in order to fight enemies, clear levels and overcome obstacles for some lame ending is not my idea of fun.
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| Rayman 3 for mobile phones |
As time passed by, developers started putting in more thought into games. Gone are the days when a simple plot is suffice to make for a great game. Aside from visuals, sounds and gameplay, complex storylines are now part of a winning recipe.
And while all of this was happening, mobile gaming, though not dead, remained in the background, overshadowed by the PS3, Xbox, Wii, DS and PSP. That is until the rise of the iPhone.
When the iPhone came out, I dismissed it. I preferred to hold onto my LG KP 110 which I bought back in December of 2008 because aside from its sentimental value, I’m a cheap bastard. Besides, the phone is still in good condition (yes, the KP 110 is one durable mofo). Back then, I thought the iPhone doesn’t do anything other smartphones or camera phones can’t. A fusion of a music player, mobile phone and camera with a web browser – so what’s so special about it?
Two years and several upgrades later, the iPhone is now a gaming machine and I should’ve known better. No, it ain’t happy with just running PopCap and other mini games. Along with the iPad, it’s now playing fantastic games, some of which could even be considered the best in the planet.
Baseball Superstars 2010, Angry Birds, Doodle Jump, Real Racing, Zenonia, the list goes on, and longer at that.
Even console hits like Guitar Hero, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and Mirror’s Edge found its way to smartphones.
But it doesn’t stop there. If Infinity Blade and N.O.V.A. 2 is any indication, it seems smartphone manufacturers and game developers are looking to take mobile gaming to a whole new level. And this could spell trouble for portable consoles.
Toe-to-toe, both gadgets have a lot in common. But it’s in the communication department that smartphones leave the portable consoles biting the dust. Smartphones can call and text. It’s as simple as that. Why bother putting that PSP away as you reach for your mobile phone, when an iPhone allows you to take a call or pause a game at the whim of your fingertips?
And while the 3DS has nifty features, I doubt it can survive the changing of the guard.
So for DS and PSP owners, treasure those gadgets now. Because for all you know, this will be the last time you’ll be seeing them.
hmmm but then again bro, smart phone games would always be watered down versions of the games. games are best played when on a platform that focuses primarily on games. and theres a distinction in design based on primary utility/function between smart phones and portable consoles. phones are designed to be somewhat slick and formal, something you can pick up during a corporate meeting. with p.consoles, well you can't brandish a console while you're in a suit in a 5 star hotel (this is not an exhaustive list, i just can't think of any particular examples). at any rate, nothing beats the real thing bro. kinda why our advanced PCs never really took out game consoles(which is weird coz you can experience a console game on the PC just as it is, with a joystick/dpad or whatnot). again just my opinion.
ReplyDeletewell, unfortunately, some major companies don't see it this way. i think their getting worried about the noise iPhone/iPad games are making that's why their making their own phone/consoles (e.g. Sony and the PS Phone).
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