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Apple's Greg Joswiak Talks Mobile Gaming

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In a piece covering growing consumer interest in mobile gaming, TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino spoke to Apple's vice president of product marketing, Greg Joswiak, and several prominent game developers to get opinions on the state gaming on iOS.

According to Joswiak, with developers now able to bring full multiplayer console-style experiences to iOS devices, like the recently released Fortnite and PUBG mobile games, mobile gaming is at a tipping point. Platforms like iOS are able to offer unique combinations of hardware and software that see regular updates and improvements, which has led to impressive new gaming technology over the course of the last few years.

"Every year we are able to amp up the tech that we bring to developers," he says, comparing it to the 4-5 year cycle in console gaming hardware. "Before the industry knew it, we were blowing people away [with the tech]. The full gameplay of these titles has woken a lot of people up."
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Joswiak says Apple is able to bring a "very homogenous customer base to developers" with 90 percent of devices running the current version of iOS, which allows developers to introduce new features and target the capabilities of new devices more quickly than on other platforms like Android, giving Apple's App Store a competitive edge.


Ryan Cash, one of the developers behind the newly released Alto's Odyssey game, told TechCrunch that there's a "real and continually growing sense that mobile is a platform to launch compelling, artful experiences."
"This has always been the sentiment among the really amazing community of developers we've been lucky enough to meet. What's most exciting to me, now, though, is hearing this acknowledged by representatives of major console platforms. Having conversations with people about their favorite games from the past year, and seeing that many of them are titles tailor-made for mobile platforms, is really gratifying.
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According to Joswiak, gaming has always been one of the App Store's most popular categories, and the iOS 11 redesign of the App Store that splits gaming into its own category has grown interest in mobile gaming even more. "Traffic to the App Store is up significantly, and with higher traffic, of course, comes higher sales."

One aspect of the new App Store design that developers are appreciative of is the new "Today" tab that provides customers with a look at some of the work that goes into creating a mobile game.

ios-11-app-store-5-800x530.jpg

Dan Gray, one of the developers behind Monument Valley 2, said that it lets people know that indie games really are a "labour of love for a small group of people" and not created by a corporation of 200 people. "Hopefully this leads to players seeing the value in paying up front for games in the future once they can see the craft that goes into something," he said.


SpellTower creator Zach Gage told TechCrunch that games have "never had the cultural reach that they do now" because of the App Store and "these magical devices that are in everyones pockets." He went on to say that people are beginning to recognize that "iOS devices are everywhere" and are "the primary computers of many people," which is leading to more iOS development.

The full interview with comments from Joswiak and several other game developers is over at TechCrunch and is well worth reading for those interested mobile gaming.

Article Link: Apple's Greg Joswiak Talks Mobile Gaming
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/03/21/apples-greg-joswiak-talks-mobile-gaming/
Saipher said:
Apple, could you please turn the Apple TV into a full-fledged gaming console just as capable as a PS4 or Xbox?
Thank you!
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With an iPhone as a controller. It’s already more sophisticated than any other games console controller. Full touch screen, camera, gyro... friends arrive, sync em up or open an app. With some decent thinking you’ll have so much scope for games without needing anything beyond the “hub”/Apple TV to host it.

If they did that and properly committed to it with some great developers & games, I honestly believe they’d rival or even conquer Nintendo for casual home gaming.
 
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WinstonRumfoord said:
I can't get on board with the touch screen controls, far too finicky and inaccurate for any of the kinds of games I enjoy playing.
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I just overall prefer the console experience and certain games are just not available for the iOS platform and never will be. Put me into the catergory of PS4 Pro and XBox One X.
 
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There’s been so much untapped gaming potential on tvOS. AppleTV is quite powerful and with the massive developer universe that has been brought on because of iOS, Apple should be creating a friendly environment for them to develop games.

After years of trying to simplify my setup, trying to use my AppleTV for all of my entertainment, I finally gave in and got a Nintendo Switch because Apple didn't realize that potential.

If there’s something I’d love Apple to totally rip off, it’s the Wii style remote. Those types of casual fun games are a perfect fit for AppleTV. Sell a nunchuk style controller that plugs into the Siri remote for gaming with spacial sensors and an analogue stick. Apple could even sell a game bundle of AppleTV in different colours and bundled with the game remote.

SiriRemote_nunchuk.png
 
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Nope, sorry Greg but Apple dropped the ball on gaming. Yes, Fortnite is very good (on iPhone X is very close to the Xbox One build) but shipped without controller support yet shipped with crossplay (touch screen vs controller vs mouse and keyboard).

Mobile gamers are cheap, we see it on Touch Arcade and have done for years; “That’s too expensive” or “I’ll be wait on the sale (for a £4.99 game)”.

Mobile gamers expect free or dirt cheap and have bred a mentality in mobile gaming that led to ridiculous IAP (Real Racing 3 is a disgrace and continues to be even now) and F2P models.

Until developers target the horsepower of Apple’s devices and target REAL gamers who want to pay top dollar for great games, then mobile gaming will never go anywhere. The Candy Crush generation are here to stay.
 
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CrazyForApple said:
I don't even bother with mobile games anymore. They monetized them into oblivion. It's quite sad actually.
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I’m not a gamer, but someone who checks into gaming tech now and again because frankly it’s interesting.

With my exposure to gaming stated, from my perspective it seems gaming on the whole has been driven to absurd monetization in their respective fields. From the sentiment of consoles gamers I know, it seems the SOP of the console developing giants is to now put out an unfinished game and release the finished product behind an in-game purchase. That or to sell the ability to be the best at the game outright.

Two different platform types, console or mobile, but the common march into new realms of monetizing.
 
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As a heavy iOS gamer, it pisses me off greatly that Apple limits the brightness lower and lower anytime I play an graphically intense game.

What’s the point if I can’t see the enemy because the brightness is so low
 
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This is why Nintendo Switch is so great. It takes what’s great about current mobile hardware and bundles it with great control options and a unique software library.

At some point, it should be as simple as buying a dock for your phone and universal controllers can allow anyone to use their phone like a Switch is used today.

There are still markets for console and pc due to them being able to introduce high end gaming before the tech can be miniaturized for mobile. Mobile is complimentary to existing consoles and PCs and allows typically-non-gamers to have a platform already in their pocket if they find a reason to use it that way.
 
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BritishApple said:
Mobile gamers are cheap, we see it on Touch Arcade and have done for years; “That’s too expensive” or “I’ll be wait on the sale (for a £4.99 game)”.

Mobile gamers expect free or dirt cheap and have bred a mentality in mobile gaming that led to ridiculous IAP (Real Racing 3 is a disgrace and continues to be even now) and F2P models.
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100% this. We have to realize that we control the direction of iOS gaming. Devs are going to follow the money. As long as IAP is where the money is, that's what we're going to get. When we show devs we're willing to pay for quality content to a point where it's sustainable using the single payment model, we'll get the games that we want. 'Til then we will get what I call "toilet gaming" on mobile.

NT1440 said:
I’m not a gamer, but someone who checks into gaming tech now and again because frankly it’s interesting.
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Release and patch later is unfortunately SOP for console and PC gaming. Worse, it seems to have affected other areas of tech as well. It's no longer surprising when a product like the HomePod is release unfinished. Just like some of us accept it in gaming, some of us accept it in tech.
 
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I'll never take iOS gaming seriously until they find a way to stop removing your games from existence on the app store after a few years. When I by a game - I expect it's availably for life, such as is the case with PC gaming and consoles. If I still own an iPhone in 20 years I damn well expect to be able to play all my old games. Because Apple has removed some of the classics I payed good money for - I will no longer support their con market.

iOS gaming is designed as a throwaway market for a throwaway generation. I'm not into that and have already made the mistake of giving Apple to much. I still buy a selection of well designed apps - but that's it. If I game It'll be on my Nintendo 3DS, WiiU, PS Vita, Switch etc. Were I can come back to my catalog continuously.
 
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