Game of SpaceWar Jim?
Handheld gaming specialist site Modojo ran an interesting feature yesterday, simply asking ‘Why do gamers not like mobile phone games?’ Aside from the obvious reason (i.e., they are shit) read on to find out more about one of the fastest growing and most critically-maligned sectors of today’s games industry.
To put things in context, we have to remember that mobile gaming is now big business, meaning that in 2005, global revenues from mobile games were in excess of $1.5 billion dollars. Nokia’s botched N-Gage project aside, this market is only going to continue to grow in the near future. The increasing number of new mobile games companies that seem to pop up each week is testament to this.
This is why mobile gaming is not simply going to ‘go away’ as many gamers might wish it would, going simply by the quality of seemingly 99% of games produced for mobile phones. SPOnG is of course guestimating here, but if any readers have discovered the magic, amazing 1% of games which are actually playable, then please tell us what they are in the forums below.
Firstly, Modojo identify the casual nature of the affair and claim that mobile games “...aren't traditionally the type of title that generates message board threads or that a fan evangelizes to his or her friends.”
Secondly, and rightfully, they have a pop at the mobile phone game makers. As they say: “The fact is there are a lot of really bad mobile titles out there.”
Mobile games companies are looking to target casual, older consumers looking to spend a few dollars or pounds on a ‘time-killer’ as opposed to a quality game which they might want to return to play over and over again.
So, as the article succinctly puts it, “While casual gamers may enable this lack of quality, the hardcore community doesn't. They avoid and ignore this shovelware.” Indeed we do.
What then is the solution to this crisis in mobile gaming, if indeed it is a crisis, to anyone other than people who actually care about the quality of the games they are playing? Modojo suggests that the “...current generation of preview-reading, PS3-pre-ordering gamers will be excited about mobile gaming when it presents them with videogame opportunities they can't get anywhere else…Games that utilize GPS and camera capabilities…. that take advantage of the fact that 100% of its players are connected to a network”.
Now we're talking. These are surely the areas in which mobile games developers should be working in: developing games which don't try to emulate console games (as they will only continue to be consoles' poorer, toothless cousins) but making use of the unique features available on mobile phones, plus taking into account how and why people use mobile phones. Let us know your thoughts and ideas in the forum below.
To put things in context, we have to remember that mobile gaming is now big business, meaning that in 2005, global revenues from mobile games were in excess of $1.5 billion dollars. Nokia’s botched N-Gage project aside, this market is only going to continue to grow in the near future. The increasing number of new mobile games companies that seem to pop up each week is testament to this.
This is why mobile gaming is not simply going to ‘go away’ as many gamers might wish it would, going simply by the quality of seemingly 99% of games produced for mobile phones. SPOnG is of course guestimating here, but if any readers have discovered the magic, amazing 1% of games which are actually playable, then please tell us what they are in the forums below.
Firstly, Modojo identify the casual nature of the affair and claim that mobile games “...aren't traditionally the type of title that generates message board threads or that a fan evangelizes to his or her friends.”
Secondly, and rightfully, they have a pop at the mobile phone game makers. As they say: “The fact is there are a lot of really bad mobile titles out there.”
Mobile games companies are looking to target casual, older consumers looking to spend a few dollars or pounds on a ‘time-killer’ as opposed to a quality game which they might want to return to play over and over again.
So, as the article succinctly puts it, “While casual gamers may enable this lack of quality, the hardcore community doesn't. They avoid and ignore this shovelware.” Indeed we do.
What then is the solution to this crisis in mobile gaming, if indeed it is a crisis, to anyone other than people who actually care about the quality of the games they are playing? Modojo suggests that the “...current generation of preview-reading, PS3-pre-ordering gamers will be excited about mobile gaming when it presents them with videogame opportunities they can't get anywhere else…Games that utilize GPS and camera capabilities…. that take advantage of the fact that 100% of its players are connected to a network”.
Now we're talking. These are surely the areas in which mobile games developers should be working in: developing games which don't try to emulate console games (as they will only continue to be consoles' poorer, toothless cousins) but making use of the unique features available on mobile phones, plus taking into account how and why people use mobile phones. Let us know your thoughts and ideas in the forum below.
Companies:
Nokia
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Comments
danj3ris 21 Feb 2006 18:04
1/5
Doom RPG. I claim it is one of those mere 1% of good mobile games. However, it does indeed feel like a stripped-down version of a console game. Turn-based Doom is plain old twisted.
Now if ID had somehow allowed MULTIPLAYER on this game, that would be sick and twisted and lovely indeed.
Now if ID had somehow allowed MULTIPLAYER on this game, that would be sick and twisted and lovely indeed.
Patmos 21 Feb 2006 19:11
2/5
Well as a certified designer and artist for cellular games by day, I will tell you this, you are mostly right, but not our fault. Basically the market has already eaten itself alive in a sea of liscenses and sequels ,just like normal games. I spent 3 months developing and action platformer that actually worked and played well on the contrainsts a cell phone has; only to have it shot down by Verizon because it didnt have a property attached to it. and if I wanted to put it up on a J2me site with 360,000 other games, not a lot of chance that enough people would find it to make a profit (which you need or I lose my job). So you get mindless crud, based on ubisoft games (p.s Splinter Cell on mobile sux the damn game plays itself pratically). Even in crap games carriers don't want innovation, several companies including my own have gone to US providers looking to do socketed multiplayer games not quite fast enough for something like Pong but good enough for turn based and timed things, and GPS location based games, years ago!!! even before bluetooth would allow it to be easier and you know what? THEY SAID NO, for the most part they only what something if it will ring up tons of minutes on your phone bill, which socketing won't (probably a minute or 2 per game at best). Big developers like gameloft and JAMdat could do it they basically get whatever they want put up on the carriers but thats not where the money is so they don't. Also take into account that the technology in most phones isn't there, that I can generally display at least Super Nintendo quality graphics but most applications need to be under 400k to make submission guildlines, hell most phones can't even handle mutliple key presses at the same time! Look I know these might not seem like valid excuses but the fact reamains that carriers don't see games as anything but a diversion so they won't take inovative or risky games not when crappy summer blockbuster movie cell game still makes them money, and those internet sites have too many games up to make it worthwhile. Most small cell game developers are gamers too, and a lot of them are either being crushed or a trying to find a way out! Hopefully the market will change and we can get some good games out there or we can sneak one in there(I have a couple in the pipe I am very proud of) but most likely you'll see the small guys jump ship to things like web games and X-box live arcade, and hopefully then you'll get to judge if we are worth your hatred or praise.
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emperorsamoth 21 Feb 2006 20:34
3/5
Laugh all you want, but I love my Nokia NGage QD. I only play Sega Master System and Genesis games on it and it's great.
soanso 22 Feb 2006 00:47
4/5
I'm a gamer. I like mobile games yet I don't like mobile phone games.
Why not?
Well the way I see it. I don't like the controls.
A handheld console has nice controls. reasonable good ergonomics and should (in theorie) let you play for hours without feeling like your fingers have been mangled.
Plaing games on mobile phones feels like, well it feels like playing games on a mobile phone.
I can't see people like them unless that changes.
Why not?
Well the way I see it. I don't like the controls.
A handheld console has nice controls. reasonable good ergonomics and should (in theorie) let you play for hours without feeling like your fingers have been mangled.
Plaing games on mobile phones feels like, well it feels like playing games on a mobile phone.
I can't see people like them unless that changes.
way 22 Feb 2006 16:12
5/5
The problem is that there has never been a good gaming mobile I can remember (and that includes Ncaged).
Mobile manufacturers shot themselves in the foot, and if your standing too close, in your crutch too, what a way to treat customers.
No proper controls, vertical screen door displays (what was that that was trying to shoot me 20% off centre). Slow, cumbersome bulky Taco filled, nightmares. What were they thinking with the ncage mobile function, do they think that people using a phone like that find it more entertaining than those watching them use it?
Solutions Hardware:
A horizontal gaming mode, like a PDA on it's side, or a mini GBA. Cute, stylish, but above all, good controls that feel very good. Because, even if it has early 80's graphics, its not much fun without proper control. The controls can be integrated into the look of the phone, so as not to detract from them marketability to non gaming users.
Company bosses, get guts, kick the executives, and hire somebody that knows how to make something that feels good. Examine recent coverage in Time magazine, of how Steve Jobs got the the IPOD designed, by changing staff. If you have people that treat gaming as a joke, or don't appreciate how to do it, then that maybe what they design. Be prepared to fly the flag for a cross platform standard, and spend the millions on a good phone hardware. Even the slack little mini GBA is better than most phones.
Sell cheap, with 3D. Yes, a sub $100 gaming mobile makes sense compared to a GBA etc, a $400 does not.
PDA functions, slide out keyboard, touch screen, still sub $100. These functions cost very little, but makes the phone desirable. Do you think people will drop there DS's, just for a phone with DS like performance.
Adopt something Like Taos Elate as a gaming virtual machine. Good Java, plus better it's own.
My designs tend to be much better than what's on the market, so obviously something is wrong at home in your business. Look at www.neonode.com fro inspiration (not a gaming mobile, but an extra control would make it be).
Distribution and marketing of software:
Firstly cheap gaming, second no restrictions of where people get there games, thirdly your own Internet/mobile accessible portal site to sell/on sell the games. Forums, talk forums, chat on games, promotions, rating of games so people can find there way away from shovel ware, promotion of games. Sing up new games directly, and other gaming distribution sites, to sell their games on your site. Small, simple, fees. One or two button, directly to the site. Cheap, simple subscription magazine/e-zine.
Most games for upto $5, Super Games upto $10. really the best games, upto $20 for top of the line console like FPS etc. Freeware games.
You sell, they own for ever service.
What does this formula give you:
- Nice playable hardware
- Marketing of
- Nice playable games
- Cheap
- Easy access for game developers/programmers
- Easy marketing and distribution of their games
- Break down control that pushes bad games based on licensed content
- Easy access to good gaming content for users
Secondary political maneuvers:
Keep service providers happy by offering them their own versions of your portal, where they collect small fees on sales.
Note: Written quickly, might not be the best logic.
Mobile manufacturers shot themselves in the foot, and if your standing too close, in your crutch too, what a way to treat customers.
No proper controls, vertical screen door displays (what was that that was trying to shoot me 20% off centre). Slow, cumbersome bulky Taco filled, nightmares. What were they thinking with the ncage mobile function, do they think that people using a phone like that find it more entertaining than those watching them use it?
Solutions Hardware:
A horizontal gaming mode, like a PDA on it's side, or a mini GBA. Cute, stylish, but above all, good controls that feel very good. Because, even if it has early 80's graphics, its not much fun without proper control. The controls can be integrated into the look of the phone, so as not to detract from them marketability to non gaming users.
Company bosses, get guts, kick the executives, and hire somebody that knows how to make something that feels good. Examine recent coverage in Time magazine, of how Steve Jobs got the the IPOD designed, by changing staff. If you have people that treat gaming as a joke, or don't appreciate how to do it, then that maybe what they design. Be prepared to fly the flag for a cross platform standard, and spend the millions on a good phone hardware. Even the slack little mini GBA is better than most phones.
Sell cheap, with 3D. Yes, a sub $100 gaming mobile makes sense compared to a GBA etc, a $400 does not.
PDA functions, slide out keyboard, touch screen, still sub $100. These functions cost very little, but makes the phone desirable. Do you think people will drop there DS's, just for a phone with DS like performance.
Adopt something Like Taos Elate as a gaming virtual machine. Good Java, plus better it's own.
My designs tend to be much better than what's on the market, so obviously something is wrong at home in your business. Look at www.neonode.com fro inspiration (not a gaming mobile, but an extra control would make it be).
Distribution and marketing of software:
Firstly cheap gaming, second no restrictions of where people get there games, thirdly your own Internet/mobile accessible portal site to sell/on sell the games. Forums, talk forums, chat on games, promotions, rating of games so people can find there way away from shovel ware, promotion of games. Sing up new games directly, and other gaming distribution sites, to sell their games on your site. Small, simple, fees. One or two button, directly to the site. Cheap, simple subscription magazine/e-zine.
Most games for upto $5, Super Games upto $10. really the best games, upto $20 for top of the line console like FPS etc. Freeware games.
You sell, they own for ever service.
What does this formula give you:
- Nice playable hardware
- Marketing of
- Nice playable games
- Cheap
- Easy access for game developers/programmers
- Easy marketing and distribution of their games
- Break down control that pushes bad games based on licensed content
- Easy access to good gaming content for users
Secondary political maneuvers:
Keep service providers happy by offering them their own versions of your portal, where they collect small fees on sales.
Note: Written quickly, might not be the best logic.