As I am sure you are aware due to Alex’s shameless plugging, there is a new site in town called AppTilt. It’s about gaming, naturally, but focuses on iDevice game reviews. Because Alex wanted the quality of the reviews to appear to be better he asked me to write some. I obliged, and he emailed me to say, “Hey, now your reviews are on the site, the other reviews do appear to be much better quality – thanks.”
One good thing to have come out of this humiliation is that I’ve been playing a few more iPhone games of late. On my new iPhone 4, if you must know. I know you didn’t need to know, but knowing you now know and are, in all likelihood a bit jealous, gives me a nice, warm feeling, you know.
Now, as this is Sunday Thoughts I have been thoughting, I mean thinking, about some of the best iPhone games and what makes them so special and comparing that to some of the AAA games we play on our home consoles. For years console games have been shedding some of the old-skool gameplay conventions. I’m thoughting, I mean thinking – is this joke tedious yet, what do you thought, I mean think? – of things like “lives” and “continues” and “no flippin’ story to speak of whatsoever”.
It’s good that they’ve started to die out, right? “Lives” and “continues” are all well and good as a way of adding challenge, but checkpoints and recharging health are better. Here’s the rub: A lot of the best iPhone games seem to embrace the old-skool, dress it up in shiny new touch controls, and then sell bucketloads for 59p. And despite having been a gamer for so long and witnessing the emergence of new and better ways of gaming, I’m finding the retro mechanics of many an iPhone game absolutely charming.
It’s because “One more go” gaming has gone mobile that the concept of “lives” and “continues” isn’t as soul-destroying as it once was. Many of these games are short and sharp, and even if you do have to start again it’s not as big a disaster as it would be in, say Killzone or Halo. I’ve recently been enjoying MX Mayhem and in the review I lament the fact that it features the concept of “lives” and that it can be frustrating.
However, it’s never so frustrating as to render the game unplayable. I’m always up for a quick 5-minute blast while waiting for my girlfriend to try on new shoes. And because there’s no story or real progression to get in the way, it’s just plain fun to replay the courses over and over. But, if this were for a console I’d never bother to boot up such a game.
iDevice gaming has also brought interface design smack-bang into the forefront of gaming again. And the effect? There are many developers that just don’t understand a touch interface and their games highlight this. And then there are the Firemint’s and PopCap’s of this world, who create such perfect breedings of game and interface that they make my eyes drip tears of blood whenever I have cause to play something that requires one of those cumbersome joypads.
It’s not all fun and games though, is it? I mean, it is obviously all fun and games, because even when Apple mess up and sell a phone that doesn’t actually work as a phone if you hold it, they can pass this off as nothing more than a wonky software algorithm. Wait, what?
What I’m hoping for is that the release of Move and Kinect will usher in another new era of gaming, where the sublime UI of Touch Control is wedded to the depth and graphical fidelity of AAA console games and we end up with…well, with Wii Tennis that looks a bit realistic.
And so like Englishmen clutching at goal-line technology as a route to winning the World Cup, I’m hoping that one day all games will be made this way.
ericzap
I always like a quick game of Doodle Jump or something. Them I always have an ongoing game of Tetris and Solitare. I like how load times are basically nil so you can justify sneaking a quick game in here or there.
PoisonedMonkey
I think that’s the key. My iPhone is always switched on, always in my pocket. If I want a quick game of, using your example, Doodle Jump it can be loaded in seconds. A couple of quick games later you can stop and put the phone away again. Total time, about 2 minutes.
It takes me that long to find the TV remote, find a PS3 controller and get everything switched on… sure, the experience on the PS3 is more satisfying but it’s a different type of gaming. A “quick go” on the PS3 is 15 minutes at least, but on the iPhone it’s about 2.
bunimomike
Great article, fella.
I have a mahoosive problem with touch controls when there are “pretend” buttons on-screen to press. I simply cannot stand the total lack of real buttons. I’m not sure I’ve played a game for more than a few minutes with such controls. Then, on the flip side, we have pure joy in the likes of PvZ or Angry Birds or Azkend or … the list goes on.
What truly astounds me is that the iPhone is making more money (in gaming) than the PSP! Was reading about it only today.
Thankfully, all this technology isn’t restricted by the manufacturer’s games. They’re delivered in devkit form to all the developers around the world and they usually do something incredible. Hopefully, we’ll see Move and Kinect create some wonderful user interfaces and gaming. Kinect will potentially innovate and Move has the accuracy to bring motion-based gaming into the next decade.
bunimomike
Regarding AppTilt. I’d love a submissions page on the site. Maybe a simple thread for us to post general comments on.
haza103
Best of both worlds here. If i’m playing a game where load times take the mik a bit (Take S.T.A.L.K.E.R on PC for example, 6 mins +, no joke) i tend to sneak in a quick game of Doodlejump or bejewelled. Saying that It tends to only be S.T.A.L.K.E.R that does it… I would rant about it, but that’s a whole other story!
DJ-Katy
And that’s why everyone should be buying games like Coconut Dodge and Soldner-X 2 for their PS3s/PSPs. Simple is often the best.
But leaving that aside, I think I am going to start an advocacy war on TSA. I have spent some years slamming the iPhone and the swathes of “OMG ITS APPLE IT LOOKS COOL I MUST HAZ IT!” sheep who bought it. I agree, iPhone 4 is much better, but, yeah.
Unfortunately when I started all that there was no good alternative, well there was, I mean, every modern phone on the market which did everything the iPhone did and more, so we’re really just talking about the touch screen, the interface and the apps. Luckily, now we have Android – the choice of discerning technophiles – so I think it’s about time an Xbox 360 vs PS3-style iPhone vs Android trolling war should take place :D
jacklum
I just got an Android recently – the games on it, bar a handful of exceptions, are pretty dismal though. I found a C64 emulator for it though, so I can play Laser Squad. Good enough for me…
Danza Di Fuoco
I had never shown a interest to the Iphone I did’nt know it would play games or would be a gaming device but now it gets appealing but low if they’re premium flash with MS paint graphics.
I like lives and I like continues but realistically I just like platformers imagine Littlebigplanet without checkpoints it wouldn’t feel right if you were to recharge your health after being stabbed by your self-made bot with a spike at its side… every non-live-continue game would be just much better with lives.
YOURMUMANDME
Who edited this then ? Was nofi not happy with it :D
TSBonyman
Indeed, i was just going to .. *rest of comment has been edited by TSBonyman*.. ;)
freezebug2
Get real I say and save the bucks….tinternet was always meant for the bigscreen and no mobile titchy website will ever make the grade. Sooo much money for feck all basically.
bunimomike
The ability to take the internet (and/or gaming) with you is surely the defining factor here.
minerwilly
Dont forget the Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire . Still both better than the new iphone and it has all the games you mentioned (and angry birds is in the works )
gazzagb
I normally use my iTouch for just 5min games, the App store is brilliant. My PS3 is still my gaming console of choice though, and I play it most evenings.