Android
This week’s question stems from many conversations that seem to have sprung up as of late. To start, if you listen to the EvilCast, you will know that a few of us tend to play iOS games on a fairly regular basis.
The next place this question comes from is Twitter. Unless you happen to be a hermit, Nintendo’s latest handheld recently hit store shelves this past weekend. While there were plenty of people posting how they loved the new device, there was another group of people posting something that really struck me. These were the folks pointing out that 3DS games are expensive compared to iOS and Android. This fact really stuck out in my mind.
The question for discussion is now how much iOS and Android are affecting portable gaming? Starting with cost, games on these platforms are cheaper. Just look at Final Fantasy III which recently hit iOS. It comes in at a whopping $15 for iOS where it is $40 on the DS. Let’s not forget that it looks better on iOS as well. People can often spend $0.99 – $4.99 without even thinking twice about it. However, when a game approaches the $40 point, there is a bit of debate if this is something worth buying.
Games are also more readily available on the Apple and Google platforms. You can be sitting in your cubicle working while your device is downloading games. It’s damn near seamless. No heading to several stores hoping one of them is carrying a game (I’m talking to you Des Moines, Iowa and your lack of carrying Tactics Ogre). This availability equals a massive market to sell too.
Say what you will, but games on the Apple and Google platforms are also pushing new gaming grounds. Yeah, there is a sea of crap on their respective stores. However, popular games are simple, addicting, and wildly varied in the experiences they offer. It is as if developers in this arena are not afraid to take chances and push gaming to new and better places.
iPhone 4
Finally, let’s just face it. Many of us always have a phone on us. It is so engrained to grab car keys and your phone before you head out the door. How often do you seriously keep a PSP or DS on that list of must grabs before running out to the restaurant? Again, gaming convenience.
What do you think? Are Apple and Google really going to force the big companies like Sony and Nintendo to step up their portable offerings? Sure, the 3DS offers 3D that requires no glasses, but what else is there to it? The NGP looks promising, but for the cost why not get a phone that is every bit as capable of delivering a great gaming experience? Where do you see portable gaming heading?
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