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Jetpack Joyride 2 Comes to Apple Arcade
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Apple has a very long-running policy of rejecting apps that serve as platforms for running other apps because they feel this side-steps their ability to regulate which apps can run on the device. If I remember correctly, this is why things like console emulators can't be on the Store. Apple decided that streaming apps counts as running them, and so they rejected Xbox Game Pass. Silly a policy or not, I don't think they would have been any happier to have Xbox Game Pass on the Store if they weren't making Apple Arcade. Apple Arcade is not really an equivalent kind of service to Xbox Game Pass anyway.
I have played plenty of AAA titles. I certainly have a lot of fun with them. There is something truly special about losing yourself in a serious, immersive, emotionally involved experience with a meaningful, memorable plot. I think such works should be respected as a form of high art. Sometimes though, I don't really feel like I have much time and some simple entertainment is more convenient. I'm currently struggling with the new Spider-Man remaster for Windows because I don't have time to play it often enough to really remember what was happening with the plot when I finally come back. I think that's largely why the casual, mobile style of games became so popular to begin with in a world where people don't really have the kind of time to burn that they used to. I don't think my ability to have fun playing Jetpack Joyride or its sequel is simply because I am too easily amused and somehow haven't seen what games can be instead.
I do agree with you though that it's frustrating how more involved, serious games are lacking on Apple platforms. I don't think the availability of something like Apple Arcade is actively harming that though. On the Mac, I think the problem is Apple's stubbornness about only really supporting Metal which requires rewriting large portions of code in order to make a game available on the Mac and developers don't consider it worth it. On mobile platforms in general, Apple or otherwise, I think people are unrealistic about how much they need to pay for such games. Someone makes a game on a mainstream console that sells well for 80USD. Then they try to port it to iOS for 10USD with another 10USD needed to unlock the same level of functionality. People then whine that's too expensive and refuse to buy it while still being happy to pay full price for it on the consoles. Until people's attitudes about this change I don't think there's much Apple or Google or anyone else can do about it.
For what it's worth I don't feel offended and I do think you are raising issues that deserve attention. Sorry about my own tactlessness in my initial post. I should have put more thought into how I expressed my frustration. I guess I am still angry about other ways in which I feel someone else's preferences have been imposed on me and that came out in my post on this topic.
(Edit: Decided to cut text from the above paragraph to help keep the thread from going off-topic.)
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I'm just grateful that AA provides a place to be able to let my kids play games without strange/inappropriate ads, and bugging for IAPs - the selection isn't huge, but I'm glad it's there.
Yes, that is definitely a mobile gaming model that still exist.
It does though. Minecraft is still a one time purchase of $5. Streets of Rage 4 recently got an iOS port and is only $9. Stardew Valley is a one time buy of $5. Angry Birds got a remaster and that's only $1. Plague Inc is also $1. The GTA 3D Trilogy are all on the store for $5. Papers Please finally got it's iOS port and it's $5. The Five Nights at Freddy's games are all on iOS and are $3 each. Several Total War games are on iOS for $10. The legendary RPG Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic is on iOS for $10.
There are so many amazing games (games that don't have IAP mind you) on the App Store right now brand new you can buy for very little. No ads, no microtransactions, no terrible service you need to subscribe to, no online checkin, just pay once and enjoy greatness.
See, this is where Apple Arcade would succeed better if it followed the Game Pass model for all these amazing paid games, instead of locking them away with no option for purchase.
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These are all games that were released when this was still a common viable model last decade. Yes, Total War and Civ VI are AAA games that you can purchase for actual money, but they are basically iPad only games.
My guy, Papers Please and Streets of Rage 4's iOS ports released a few months ago lmao. The recent iOS ports of Football Manager are still paid.
You don't play games much do you?
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Do you find yourself often commenting on products you don’t use or have interest for?
So I'm max level now, factory is max level too, and working on power ups and garage now!
LOL I've poured so much time I didn't have into it at this point that I'm basically finished. Just a little bit of leveling up of the powerups left. I've been sitting on that for a few days as I'm hoping to have those maxed out before I finish the final level. Otherwise all set to do that.
Apparently, when you use a powerup token, if random chance would normally add cards to something that is already maxed out (Level 10), you get a bonus of coins instead. This almost immediately results in you having more coins than you know what to do with. So I think it's best to prioritize leveling powerups over anything else.
My brother in Christ, Papers Please was released for iOS in 2014. I played and finished it then.
Papers, Please - Wikipedia
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Yup, I've been enjoying the game a lot too, just have a few more powerup cards I'm waiting for and still need to upgrade the medals. so lots of arcade... Kinda hope the next update comes soon otherwise it honestly won't be much fun anymore hahaa