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Apple Arcade Reviews: 'Surprisingly Excellent Game Lineup,' Unique Mechanics and Visuals, Fun Gameplay

H2SO4 said:
It’s a different kind of game that appeals to a different audience. More casual gamers I think. To ‘me’, they look like bad games but I can see how they can appeal to others.
I’d be the type that prefers to pay more, give up a bit of convenience, and stick with a console or a PC.
(When the choice of both is available).
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We'll have to wait and see, but it's now a different world where a game on mobile doesn't mean that it's either a bad or a sub-par experience. The Apple TV, and the iPad Pro specifically, have beefy chips capable of running some really good games, without any sacrifice of making it a light version. And for whatever market reason, they are even more affordable than say on a PS4, Nintendo Switch, or Steam.

Take for example games such as Hitman Go, Dead Cells, Oxenfree, and Hyper Light Drifter (all of these for $5, except Dead Cells at $8 I believe). All of these indie games are well reviewed on PC or traditional console, but now also available on iOS, iPadOS (and sometimes tvOS) as a complete port including proper controller support in iOS 13. Hyper Light Drifter even runs at 120hz on an iPad Pro, arguably making it the better version vs the Nintendo Switch (60hz) if you're using a controller.

The examples are of course indie games - you won't be playing Call of Duty or Borderlands 3 on an Apple TV. And none of these games mentioned will be on Apple Arcade. But Apple Arcade are getting good indie developers to develop games (some in this thread have already mentioned their excitement at this). These indie developers can still release on other platforms, just not other mobile platforms, so good for them to not be completely locked in. Cautiously optimistic, but looks good so far.
 
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I just tried to have a look at the Arcade.

Everyone knows one of the main features of Arcade games is they don't have in-app purchases. Yet I was initially unable to access Arcade because Arcade itself is an in-app purchase, even the "free trial".

So I had to turn on in-app purchases on my iPad just to try in-app-purchase-free games.

What a joke. Also a potential problem for parents who want in-app purchases turned off on kids' iPads.
 
darkslide29 said:
We'll have to wait and see, but it's now a different world where a game on mobile doesn't mean that it's either a bad or a sub-par experience. The Apple TV, and the iPad Pro specifically, have beefy chips capable of running some really good games, without any sacrifice of making it a light version. And for whatever market reason, they are even more affordable than say on a PS4, Nintendo Switch, or Steam.

Take for example games such as Hitman Go, Dead Cells, Oxenfree, and Hyper Light Drifter (all of these for $5, except Dead Cells at $8 I believe). All of these indie games are well reviewed on PC or traditional console, but now also available on iOS, iPadOS (and sometimes tvOS) as a complete port including proper controller support in iOS 13. Hyper Light Drifter even runs at 120hz on an iPad Pro, arguably making it the better version vs the Nintendo Switch (60hz) if you're using a controller.

The examples are of course indie games - you won't be playing Call of Duty or Borderlands 3 on an Apple TV. And none of these games mentioned will be on Apple Arcade. But Apple Arcade are getting good indie developers to develop games (some in this thread have already mentioned their excitement at this). These indie developers can still release on other platforms, just not other mobile platforms, so good for them to not be completely locked in. Cautiously optimistic, but looks good so far.
Click to expand...

On point! Here is hope for a future ATV able to run AAA gaming titles. I guess it all depends on how much money Apple will make from this service and other games in general.
 
I feel like this is the line up of cheap games you would find a flea market lineup. Include some good games. Otherwise the service will just flop.
 
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Khedron said:
I just tried to have a look at the Arcade.

Everyone knows one of the main features of Arcade games is they don't have in-app purchases. Yet I was initially unable to access Arcade because Arcade itself is an in-app purchase, even the "free trial".

So I had to turn on in-app purchases on my iPad just to try in-app-purchase-free games.

What a joke. Also a potential problem for parents who want in-app purchases turned off on kids' iPads.
Click to expand...
sounds like an oversight - have you used the feedback app to report or chat it with Apple support to reported it?
 
TacoChowder said:
There's 100 games. They're not all casual indie story telling. There's some action/adventures, there's some puzzles, there's even a sequel to Enter the Gungeon. I just can't see twitchy FPS working on this platform, but who knows
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There are, yes.
I think they are going for a different ‘feel’ as I alluded to earlier.
I noticed this with the Wi. The games we’re mostly aimed at being fun and we’re therefore less complex and visually less realistic. Ones you can pick up and play very easily.
Traditional console games also major on games that have less fun to them but more exhilaration and story and to me that makes them more immersive, (and better).
 
jlseattle said:
I feel like this is the line up of cheap games you would find a flea market lineup. Include some good games. Otherwise the service will just flop.
Click to expand...

They're just starting. None of these games are available on any other platform, they're exclusive to Apple. Give it some time before you start throwing around words like "flop."
 
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I do consider myself a hard-core gamer and expect that the games I play on my PC will be beautiful, smooth and sophisticated.

But, when my adult kids come over, we play JackBox Games or LEGO titles on the TV with SteamLink.

I anticipate playing some of these instead on my AppleTV with controllers. And when I'm waiting for my oil change, it will be nice to have something decent to play on my phone and maybe even pickup where I left off on my AppleTV.

So, while some hard-core gamers can be snobs, some of us are happy to be casual sometimes serious at other times.

I will be signing up on day one.
 
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The guys that made PixelJunk? They are some of the best game designers ever. For them alone I am intrigued. They made some amazing Playstation games.
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Saipher said:
On point! Here is hope for a future ATV able to run AAA gaming titles. I guess it all depends on how much money Apple will make from this service and other games in general.
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If the Apple TV can stream PSNow it will be an amazing game device. Apple TV for some casual stuff, stream Playstation Now for the AAA stuff.
 
mudflap said:
They're just starting. None of these games are available on any other platform, they're exclusive to Apple. Give it some time before you start throwing around words like "flop."
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Look at Microsoft’s game pass. Great games great price and still not successful. Game subscriptions are kind of stupid if you ask me.
 
I just had a look at the offerings and I haven’t found a single game that interests me enough to try. Maybe I’m not their target audience. (I’m 29M).
 
H2SO4 said:
There are, yes.
I think they are going for a different ‘feel’ as I alluded to earlier.
I noticed this with the Wi. The games we’re mostly aimed at being fun and we’re therefore less complex and visually less realistic. Ones you can pick up and play very easily.
Traditional console games also major on games that have less fun to them but more exhilaration and story and to me that makes them more immersive, (and better).
Click to expand...
This has to be a bit. Major Games wouldn't even let you in his platoon with that kind of hilarious take.

also are you saying all older games are bad because they’re less visually stunning? This argument leads to a link to the past or Pokémon are bad games. Like, holy cow dude
 
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Bring on the new Apple TV with A13+, and increased internal storage, and I’ll bite :)
 
It's available for me too. Just signed up for the free trial.

Edit: Just tried a few games and I think I'm already seeing the whole point of Apple's subscription system. None of the games I tried so far have a signup form, ads, any in-app purchase or any of that sort. All games can be just installed and playable as soon as it's opened.
 
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Looks interesting - as a kid I was a big time gamer - Atari and Nintendo. I play a couple of games now but nothing major.

Now with two kids this could be good. Get Minecraft and it will be an instant buy! My son loves it!

Are these single player games or multi-player games?
 
WRChris said:
Look at Microsoft’s game pass. Great games great price and still not successful. Game subscriptions are kind of stupid if you ask me.
Click to expand...

Microsoft has something like 10 million active phones in the wild. Apple has a billion.

Microsoft's service is $15/month for xbox and pc. Apple's is $5 for Mac, iPad and iPhone.

Remember, Apple device users in general aren't hardcore gamers. Arcade isn't for people looking for huge, complex, GPU-intensive first person shooters running on liquid-cooled graphics cards that cost $500. And most of those games aren't available for Mac anyway (although I use Boot Camp for those games.)

Apple is going to make a KILLING with this. Mark my words.
 
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mudflap said:
Microsoft has something like 10 million active phones in the wild. Apple has a billion.

Microsoft's service is $15/month for xbox and pc. Apple's is $5 for Mac, iPad and iPhone.

Remember, Apple device users in general aren't hardcore gamers. Arcade isn't for people looking for huge, complex, GPU-intensive first person shooters running on liquid-cooled graphics cards that cost $500. And most of those games aren't available for Mac anyway (although I use Boot Camp for those games.)

Apple is going to make a KILLING with this. Mark my words.
Click to expand...
We will never know either way. They will hide earnings/losses in the all encompassing services category. They will make a fortune from people trying to escape IAP’s but personally I stopped installing games like 5 years ago. These games don’t even make me consider the subscription even though it’s priced competitively.
 
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I'm an Xbox gamer who also plays iOS games on the side. The kids will love AA, I feel strongly about that. Therefore, I'm going to sub for the free-trial. I genuinely hope apple entice me to stay sub'd past the free trial.
 
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The biggest ground breaking thing about Arcade is you can play it on any device and resume where you left off on another, for instance if you are taking the subway you can play it on your iPhone or iPad and when you reach home you can continue where you left off on your MacBook or AppleTV, this is ground breaking in my view, which other device or gaming service you know can do that?

I play all my games on playstation, and I have been waiting for this for at least 5-6 yrs since I have been using iPhone.
 
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