radioheadrule83 said:
I don't think I know a single person who games heavily who would do their bulk of handheld gaming on an IOS or Android device. I don't know all that many people actually who are glued to Angry Birds or even the likes of Farmville...
This annoys me every time i hear it. I'm currently playing an EXCELLENT version of Final Fantasy III on my iPAD, purchased for 15 bucks and no complaints. When i want a faster paced RPG lite, Battlehearts (2.99), the Warcraft-copy MMORPG Order and Chaos (6.99), the BRILLIANT strategy games, Civilization Revolution (6.99), Land Air Sea Warfare (4.99), Plants V. Zombies (arguably the BEST version of the game), and StarFront HD (6.99), do nicely. I haven't touched on some of the more robust games like Dead Space HD, Babylon Twins, Max and The Magic Marker, or Galaxy on Fire 2 yet...ALL under 10 bucks.
So whenever i hear people say stuff like the above, I can't help but think that it's NO wonder that Iwata and half of the industry didn't see this coming. iDevice gaming isn't all about one dollar quick fixes, although they ARE there. iDevice gaming is broader than ANY handheld device that I've ever owned, and being a gamer for over twenty years, i've owned them ALL.
It's not about cheap crap games, even though many flood the market. It's about the discovery of big titles AND small titles, instant gratification, and great prices with gaming that doesn't just look 'good enough', but SPECTACULAR in many cases. It's about feeding the machine of the big industry looking for a new market, as well as the smaller guys who really just started finding a voice on these new distribution models like XBL, PSN, Android, and iOS. The guys who made Battlehearts, Infinity Field HD, and Galcon Fusion? Ask them how their titles would've probably been completely overlooked at forty bucks on INSERT JAPANESE PORTABLE HARDWARE HERE. Trust me, they're doing FINE and making great games AND MONEY.
But the argument that irks me most, is the one saying that REAL HARDCORE gamers reject the new devices. Is the iOS tablet/phone perfect? Of course not. When someone finally comes out with a blue-tooth controller, it's Game-fucking-OVER. As is, however, the games that are made with the control scheme in mind are incredible. Do i wish that my Rainbow Six had real input? sure. However, i'm thrilled that a near console-calibur game is playable - online no less - on the go.
The ugly truth is that as long as the Japanese fail to understand the changing online game space and newly evolved distribution structure, any future console released is in serious trouble. The fact that, say, PSN is only JUST catching up to XBL is saying a lot. The fact that Nintendo honestly believed that they could put out that 40 dollar submarine game (or the 40 dollar bust a groove) on the 3DS, when you can get the same thing on the iOS is a GROSS misunderstanding of the marketplace, bordering on arrogance.
I love Nintendo product. I miss Mario and Zelda. That said, Apple has been a helluva pebble. Make no mistake, Nintendo was/is, and remains Goliath.