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iPhone - not really that good for gaming?

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Sep 13, 2008
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They say iPhone is quickly becoming a big platform for gaming, and with 'premium apps' or whatever they're going to be called, the iPhone could become one of the 'main' portable gaming platforms, next to the DS, PSP etc.

But I really can't see iPhone ever going past basic casual gaming. The reason? Its gimmicks. The accelerometer, and touch controls, mainly. Don't get me wrong, in non-gaming apps, these work great. But in games, rotating your iPhone to steer a car in a racing game? Seems cool and intuitive for about two minutes, then you realise not being able to see the screen every time you steer is a pain, and that a standard d-pad would make things much easier.

The touch screen is by far, no substitute for a real control pad. Games that overlay a control pad onto the touch screen are just one big fail. Every time you want to push a different button, instead of being able to quickly feel for that button, you have to look for it, and make sure you press it, as opposed to just feeling the button depress as you push it on a real control pad, which saves you having to take your eyes off the game. Not to mention with the touch screen controls your fingers block half the screen.

Even if they released a seperate 'controller' for iPhone games, I can't ever see iPhone gaming taking off.

I'd love to hear your views on this.
 
I downloaded Brothers In Arms for iPhone. It's a fun game and not like any other game on the iPhone but it would be a lot more fun with say a PSP. The controls are ok to use but is not the same as having tactile buttons.
 
adameels said:
I downloaded Brothers In Arms for iPhone. It's a fun game and not like any other game on the iPhone but it would be a lot more fun with say a PSP. The controls are ok to use but is not the same as having tactile buttons.
Click to expand...

This is what I mean. Games that could be really good, are being let down and hindered by the restrictions of the hardware.
 
Personally, in pure performance terms, I think the iPhone is sandwiched between the PS1 and PSP(based on the gaming evidence thus far, and not the spec sheet).
Until we see more fully developed games, in the normal way, from the real, big gaming giants(EA, Sega, etc), then I might change my mind on that. I have no problem paying extra, if a game is real PSP quality.
Games developed in the 'normal' way, takes time, of course(a couple of years, I guess), rather than the 7 or 8 months that the App Store has been open for.
I.D's John Carmack said great things, but again, until we see evidence...

As far as the thread title goes, it's damn good for gaming - Ask Gameloft. Sales of their games for the iPhone/iPod touch alone, has dwarfed anything that they receive for all their other devices combined(I read recently).
The genius about the platform, is the distribution method - One place. No myriad of misc websites, that vary in quantity and quality, the vast majority obtainable via the device, with no cartridges/UMD's(urgh) to lug around.
 
Well said - totally agree.

It won't do for hardcore gamers, and people who like proper games, simply because of interface. To compete with proper consoles, it really needs proper controls.

However, the developer attention has been phenomenal with everything from one-man-indie to huge corps like Sega developing. It has an enormous installed user base, and probability of future backwards compatibility.

For iPhone to take off as a proper gaming device, it need some things
1) more long-term development cycles: $5 and $10 games might be fun, but they don't compare to Nintendo/Sony $30 games. Premium apps section is promising.
2) EITHER proper standard controls (+pad, a/b l/r), OR a redefinition of gaming controls as we know them. But touchscreen + accelerometer I really don't think cuts it. Apple needs to provide more gaming friendly controls, or devs need to think hard and innovate so it works.

And I'd love for it to work :D
 
iphone is getting a hardware controller addon soon so it will be good for some light gaming. The guys making the iphone addon are also making an open source linux handheld right now and it will be the most powerful handheld ever made. It has a Cortex A-8 processor and a powerVR gfx chip in it.

http://openpandora.org/
 
i think it is great for gaming its just you need to download the right softwares...
 
I have to say that i have been more than impressed and suprised by the graphics quality of iPhone games, how everything looks so real rather than pixels

I heard somewhere, I think it was a magazine, that future versions of the iPhone or other touch interface devices will have a tactile feel, apparently this makes an interface more bearable and user friendly.

Actually what I'd to see from a future iPhone is four or five tactile buttons on the base, like the third-generation iPod (though those buttons were touch sensitive.)
 
Sorry Adameels but I don't agree at all, this is why,
I think Apple needs to develop a 32 prong controller that plugs straight into the iPhone/iPod Touch and has tactile buttons.
Why compromise the iPhone stunning beauty with buttons?

With Apple growing and the App store rapidly increasing in size and quality of Apps, I think Apple will develop a device that will put yet another twist on the iPhone gaming.


YoshiKing
 
YoshiKing said:
Sorry Adameels but I don't agree at all, this is why,
I think Apple needs to develop a 32 prong controller that plugs straight into the iPhone/iPod Touch and has tactile buttons.
Why compromise the iPhone stunning beauty with buttons?

With Apple growing and the App store rapidly increasing in size and quality of Apps, I think Apple will develop a device that will put yet another twist on the iPhone gaming.


YoshiKing
Click to expand...

No worries, just my two cents. ;)

That said, you're right. A remote control like device that doubles as a game control can be made, of not by Apple, someone else. Also Apple will always find a way to add things without compromising on asthetics, done before with the 3rd gen iPod's four control buttons which I once owned... beauty.
 
Maybe not "hardcore" gaming (whatever that implies), but iDracula and the racing games are pretty good.

I imagine we'll see a 'big' (aka hardcore) game at some point in the future. Story, multiplayer, good gameplay, and all that.

But right now, I will admit that it's mostly "5 minute" kind of games - which is still a good thing! I love me some Word Fu and Lock 'n' Roll.
 
Hero of Sparta, Real Football, Fastlane Street 3d, Rolando, Sway, Warfare Inc, have consoloe quality and made me totally forget my DS...and we are still in beggining...

I doubted it, but i was showed a a full touchscreen device could be a great games machine

Even so, an official Apple add-on with a physical control (optional for games), would undoubtely make things even better
 
The iphone is not going to be as good a gaming platform as the PSP, as good an ebook reader as the kindle, or as useful a GPS as a Garmin. But it does do all of those things, and do them pretty well. Oh yeah, and it has hundreds more functions. All in one pocket-sized device.

To suggest that it can or should be as good as stand-alone devices which are themselves sophisticated, expensive, and (most importantly) dedicated to a single task is asking a bit much, don't you think?
 
QCassidy352 said:
The iphone is not going to be as good a gaming platform as the PSP, as good an ebook reader as the kindle, or as useful a GPS as a Garmin. But it does do all of those things, and do them pretty well. Oh yeah, and it has hundreds more functions. All in one pocket-sized device.

To suggest that it can or should be as good as stand-alone devices which are themselves sophisticated, expensive, and (most importantly) dedicated to a single task is asking a bit much, don't you think?
Click to expand...

Well not really. Just one of many ways to improve a device. The iPhone is however the closest example of Jack of all trades, master of all and hopefully it will be even closer to perfection to join the ranks of devices its not even competing with, like the DS for example.
 
I think its an amazing platform for gaming, just because it opens up to a whole array of new type of games and experiences, kind of like Wii did/does.
 
The iPhone opens up a WHOLE new door into portable Gaming.
At E3 this year, a rumored PSP2 with full touchscreen support is going to be shown. STILL won't have an accelerometer.
In some ways, No, the iPhone isnt the greatest for gaming YET it is, Once further developed the iPhone will be number one.
You must think about all the extra features that the iPhone has too like GPS, 3G and all that other yummy stuff. Its amazing still that Apple fit it all into something as sleek as the iPhone 3G.
I do though enjoy some games, I recommend that Apple see if they can get some old NES/N64/PS1/Gameboy games on the App store. Imagine Duke Nukem on the iPhone!

Once they get something going with Nintendo, games will be at a premium.

Yoshi
 
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