'The Last Campfire' Comes to Apple Arcade

[Spikeboss]

Beautiful game from the creators of No Man Sky

 

[gnipgnop]

Personally, I've always been glad that Apple didn't want to go the "me too" route with Arcade. The selection of games has reminded of the early days of video gaming in terms of having a much wider variety of themes and styles. The obsession with realism for style and grim/gritty for theme on PC and consoles has limited some of the creativity, IMO.

 

[ackmondual]

It's kinda neat to see many games are multi-platform, or end up that way. For example, I see people play something on Switch, but I have the option to get it on PC/Steam since I don't have a Switch. I wouldn't mind getting into Apple Arcade, but 1) I'd need new hardware (rocking an iPod Touch 5, and iPad Air), and 2) already have the typical backlog of game. And "fo'real", some of them are still on my IpT5 and Ipad Air!

 

[gadgetfreak98]

I've subscribed to Apple Arcade since day one, but candidly, I tune any game out immediately when I open the app and there's some high production, thematic video / cut scenes, followed by lots of narrative to get through. That seems to be the bulk of the new selections that get added the last several months. Certainly, I can appreciate the skill and vision of the developers and artists -- but they just are not fun to me.

I just want to play something mindless and move on with my day after the distraction -- without having to deal with ads popping up ever 30 seconds. Maybe it's just time for me to admit to myself I'm not the target audience for Arcade...

 

[rwxx]

On iOS you simply cannot publish a game, or an app, independently.
This is not just just a 30% issue.

Imagine I intended to publish a game, or an App, criticizing China, even mildly. This game will never be published on the App Store, because Apple has business interests in China. And this is ok and understandable.
However, in this case, because the App Store is the one and only way to get software on an iOS device, as a developer, I am encouraged to avoid sensitive topics and taking risk, because if I am out...I am out. For good.

I'm glad some people are starting to see things from this perspective. This is my biggest problem with the single App Store model. Imagine if Apple's model becomes the norm. Ten years from now, there is only the Google Play store on Android. Only the Microsoft Store for Windows. Etc. Four or five massive corporations will have complete and total control over all tech platforms.

Take your China app example. Today, while Apple might yank the app to appease China, on the PC, anyone can still download it. If Apple's model is allowed to stand, other companies will no doubt follow suit and we will one day find ourselves in a world where every platform has a single App Store. In that world, your China app would be pulled from all stores and your voice would be silenced.

I wish more people would see this for the dystopian nightmare that could become reality one day. No platform should be locked down to where one company effectively has a kill switch over the entire platform. That is morally wrong.

 

[whatgift]

I've subscribed to Apple Arcade since day one, but candidly, I tune any game out immediately when I open the app and there's some high production, thematic video / cut scenes, followed by lots of narrative to get through. That seems to be the bulk of the new selections that get added the last several months. Certainly, I can appreciate the skill and vision of the developers and artists -- but they just are not fun to me.

I just want to play something mindless and move on with my day after the distraction -- without having to deal with ads popping up ever 30 seconds. Maybe it's just time for me to admit to myself I'm not the target audience for Arcade...

You would love Stela on Arcade then - you wake up in a room and the game begins, zero introduction! I loved this game, only wish it was longer!

 

[ervingv]

But Epic's whole thing is customer choice and then they sign these exclusive deals that tie games to one store. On top of that Epic doesn't allow all games on their store, which means that you can't launch on Epic unless Epic agrees. So in addition to them forcing timed exclusives if they think your game is good they have repeatedly forced developers to delay competing store launches even after customers have paid for the game on that platform.

And it's not like they don't have multiple PC game stores to launch on. Steam, GOG, and Windows are huge popular stores. uPlay and Origin allow non-Ubisoft and non-EA games on their stores. Options exist for the policy you want.

Maybe exclusives are good. Maybe not. But Epic isn't doing themselves any favors by screaming that about customer choice and than locking games behind their ironically insecure and incomplete launcher.

Many people don't get the big picture. If Apple changes their App Store rules a bit, we can have apps like Xbox Cloud, Stadia, PS Now, Kindle with the store builtin, Comixology with the store, etc. Many apps are currently crippled or not on the store due to the policies.

Everyone wins if the policies are modified. Apple would still make plenty of money. Right now, they are just being stubborn.

 

[Azrael9]

Looks like a nice game. So far I’ve been really enjoying Arcade. Some pretty nice games, especially for the kids.

I like the style of this. Colourful, rich graphics.

Apple Arcade has its own 'casual gamer' style for the games it brings to the service. Easier to pick up play by the looks of things.

Approachable. Good for kids and the young at heart. Family style entertainment.

It might not win out those that want Fortnite, Call of Duty or Doom Internal. But it provides another type of gaming service for many of those that want something different to those.

Hope that powerful ATV hardware unto to the A12 comes soon. Thinking about getting one of those for my Mum and a sub to Apple Arcade.

Azrael.

 

[Azrael9]

I think video gaming is in some sort of awkward teen era of taking themselves rather too seriously. The soundtrack, the attempts at meaningful drama when the character - - pulls a chain and lights a lamp. Ahhh, ok. That changed my life. I just came back to this comment. I feel I need to add - yes the game looks beautiful and I respect the time and effort put into such things. But it seems rather a cliche that is divorced from some sort of meaningful resonance for a player. Cliched? Trying too hard? I don't know...I don't mean to bitc* about the ELEMENTS and the effort. But too many games lately feel like they want us to go breathless into an 'adventure' that is not an adventure in any sense of the word and be overcome with emotion because of shadows or reflections. Those are things that enhance visual storytelling but in and of themselves are not meaningful.

I hear what you're saying. The old chest thumping irony.

There is that *cheap melodrama* think going around. But it's everything...every advert, every tv program, the news... Hollywood movie blockbuster going for such a wide target to make the money. So one movie has to hit 8-65 years of age. A kind of universal '15' rating. (15...being the age where the 'adult' targeting kind of stops.)

A creation by committee tick list of 'winning' ('ha...ha...') funny...serious...(must have some emotion here...and it has to be chest thumpingingly cringe...with a 5 minute confession speech...that squeezes emotion through that mangle...) representation...(check list...)...forced politics...etc. A kind of 'mono-culture' is the end result.

'Serious' gaming. I find the thought somewhat amusing. But it's big money these days. And you can see it's being taken 'more seriously' in the production values.

Azrael.

 

[Azrael9]

PS: I wonder if it's a teen phase, or a hipster one? =)

Probably both.

Azrael.

 

[Azrael9]

On a PC, if Epic wants me out, I can try to publish on Steam. In the worst case I can publish on my own website. There is always an alternative.

It's about choice.

The more choice the better.

I'm quite happy that Apple has entered the fray with more gaming 'choice.'

Like the hand of 'friendship' we accept or brush away.

Azrael.

 

[Azrael9]

Oh Apple.

It’s like they’re run by people who are over the hill with their best days behind them.

the hardware is good.
Mac OS is mostly good.
Apple Music is average since they webified it.

everyting else is bland.

I can see what you're saying.

The iMac I just bought. The design is rather iStale and sterile after 12 years. But they're reaching a lot of people with their stuff. Ironic. 'Here's to the crazy ones.' They were reaching rather less people with the 'bolder' designs in the early noughties...

And yes. Apple is run by a bunch of middle age and higher people.

As for Apple Arcade.

Games can be bland depending on whether you like them or not. Apple have got their demographic for Apple Arcade.

I find the whole 'serious gamer PC...tacky 80s style rainbow colour LED cases...keyboard and mouse....' gamer idea as somewhat amusing. Call of Duty. Doom Latest Version. Very bland and repetitive. Running around. Jumping and shooting. Pretty rinse and repeat. Yes. Some think that's 'serious gaming.' To me? It's just bland. The same thing. Over and over.

Some might think that about Apple Arcade. However, I find the games quite different. There is that inoffensive overall house style. But I quite like the styles of graphics, quite different to one another. I'm glad we're in an age of graphics where by games can be everything from expressive, abstract, cartoony, simple or 'realistic.'

I think they're going for that Nintendo simple and fun whilst approachable for kids and parents casual thing. Must be working though. As Apple haven't closed the service yet and appear to be sticking with it. It's very pick up and play. Compared to 'The Last of Us...' (which I have played on the PS3. Good graphics and all...but I find the interface a bit frustrating...and I get bored after 20 minutes. I call it one of these 'wander around' time sinks.)

Azrael.

 

[vladimirc]

FYI. This is another game that Epic paid to not be released on Steam.

It's all about consumer choice. Remember?

I think you are confounding exclusivity with monopoly. There is no problem with content being exclusive for one platform. No one complains that For all mankind is available on Apple TV+ only or iMessage being apple only, This is annoying for consumers but legitimate behaviour. The problem is that apple doesn't allow competitors to publish on their system, unless they pay an unacceptable cut, or prevents services from working on iOS that would compete with their own, such as xCloud

 

[4jasontv]

I think you are confounding exclusivity with monopoly. There is no problem with content being exclusive for one platform. No one complains that For all mankind is available on Apple TV+ only or iMessage being apple only, This is annoying for consumers but legitimate behaviour. The problem is that apple doesn't allow competitors to publish on their system, unless they pay an unacceptable cut, or prevents services from working on iOS that would compete with their own, such as xCloud

Im not confusing anything. Epic made a stink about customer choice and than has locked games behind an insecure and incomplete launcher. It’s hypocritical. The best way to show epic that their behaviors are wrong, are making developers lose money because they teamed up with them. Once a few studios fold no one will want to be an epic store exclusive.

 

[Azrael9]

Personally, I've always been glad that Apple didn't want to go the "me too" route with Arcade. The selection of games has reminded of the early days of video gaming in terms of having a much wider variety of themes and styles. The obsession with realism for style and grim/gritty for theme on PC and consoles has limited some of the creativity, IMO.

Well said.

That's what I was 'trying' to say.

Azrael.

 

[4jasontv]

Many people don't get the big picture. If Apple changes their App Store rules a bit, we can have apps like Xbox Cloud, Stadia, PS Now, Kindle with the store builtin, Comixology with the store, etc. Many apps are currently crippled or not on the store due to the policies.

Everyone wins if the policies are modified. Apple would still make plenty of money. Right now, they are just being stubborn.

The big picture is if you disagree with Epic's behavior you need to avoid this game on all platforms because this studio has associated themselves closely with Epic. Considering the studio already had a game become something of a controversy due to how it was released they don't seem to learn.

 

[Azrael9]

I don't know why Epic don't just include it on their own store.

Then they don't have to pay any commission. Just the costs of running their own store.

Azrael.