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So You Want to Make Games

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Re: So You Want to Make Games

#21

Post by jads »

swsieber wrote: post #16
maccard wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself That's a sweeping generalisation. Mobile games are not "focused more on money than the game itself". There are plenty of examples of PC games which are straight up cash cows, just as there are plenty of examples of mobile games which are deeply rewarding and fun to play. To make statements like that is ins…

But I think he has a point - the mobile game industry , in general, is more focused on money than good games. Sweeping generalization? Yes. Holds true for the most commonly installed games - I think so?

But is that because mobile game developers made a conscious effort to just focus on making money from IAPs, or because the economy on mobile is so badly skewed?

A $10 game on Xbox, PlayStation, or even Steam is considered fairly low-cost. On iOS or Android? Very few people are going to buy that.

Re: So You Want to Make Games

#23

Post by maccard »

dagenleg wrote: post #15
maccard wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself That's a sweeping generalisation. Mobile games are not "focused more on money than the game itself". There are plenty of examples of PC games which are straight up cash cows, just as there are plenty of examples of mobile games which are deeply rewarding and fun to play. To make statements like that is ins…

>plenty of examples of mobile games which are deeply rewarding and fun to play Really?

Sure. Reigns, Hopiko, Alto's Adventure, You must build a boat, Monument Valley, Hearthstone(arguable), Clash Royale(again arguable), Vainglory, Crashlands. That's what I've got installed on my phone, I'm sure there are plenty more.

Re: So You Want to Make Games

#24

Post by SimbaOnSteroids »

swsieber wrote: post #18
SimbaOnSteroids wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Then isn't there a market for mobile games targeted at the more traditional gamer? Example being hearthstone for mobile.

I think there's a market for the traditional gamer. I think mobile games geared towards them get drowned out in the sea of ... optimized filth.

I think AR headsets like Hololens will offer an opportunity to appeal to more traditional gamers first before, as you so humorously put it, "optimized filth" becomes the mainstay. This is due to, what I think, is a positive correlation between people that are early adopters and people that are gamers.

Re: So You Want to Make Games

#25

Post by emsy »

jads wrote: post #19
madshiva wrote: post #8

Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself, they are for dumb users (sorry I don't have other word for, and it's not even casual) making game like this is more commercial than a passion for gaming. There's plenty exemple of sucessful game that have only few developper and are better than AAA. I personnaly have started to make game because I like it t…

> Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself I'd argue that this focus isn't necessarily to just make money, but to make money that mobile users simply refuse to pay up front. Most people don't think twice about paying anywhere from $10-$60 for a game on PC or consoles. Yet many will leave complain about an app or game because it costs $5. Take the N…

While I disagree with the word dumb and find "ignorant" more suitable, your Candy Crush comparison is bad.

Jonathan Blow nailed it in this presentation: https://youtu.be/AxFzf6yIfcc?t=2436

Re: So You Want to Make Games

#26

Post by LSCanaan »

maccard wrote: post #13
madshiva wrote: post #8

Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself, they are for dumb users (sorry I don't have other word for, and it's not even casual) making game like this is more commercial than a passion for gaming. There's plenty exemple of sucessful game that have only few developper and are better than AAA. I personnaly have started to make game because I like it t…

> Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself That's a sweeping generalisation. Mobile games are not "focused more on money than the game itself". There are plenty of examples of PC games which are straight up cash cows, just as there are plenty of examples of mobile games which are deeply rewarding and fun to play. To make statements like that is ins…

That's not the way to refute an argument. Generalizations are convenient because exceptions always exist and outliers are no way to disprove a trend.

Re: So You Want to Make Games

#27

Post by ungzd »

madshiva wrote: post #8

Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself, they are for dumb users (sorry I don't have other word for, and it's not even casual) making game like this is more commercial than a passion for gaming. There's plenty exemple of sucessful game that have only few developper and are better than AAA. I personnaly have started to make game because I like it t…

Mobile games are focused on exploiting addiction on people vulnerable to them. There are no interesting gameplay process, no nice graphics, no art.

Traditional games vs mobile is the same as journalism vs clickbait. Mobile games are in the same league as downloaders, browser toolbars, doorway pages.

Re: So You Want to Make Games

#28

Post by swsieber »

ungzd wrote: post #27
madshiva wrote: post #8

Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself, they are for dumb users (sorry I don't have other word for, and it's not even casual) making game like this is more commercial than a passion for gaming. There's plenty exemple of sucessful game that have only few developper and are better than AAA. I personnaly have started to make game because I like it t…

Mobile games are focused on exploiting addiction on people vulnerable to them. There are no interesting gameplay process, no nice graphics, no art. Traditional games vs mobile is the same as journalism vs clickbait. Mobile games are in the same league as downloaders, browser toolbars, doorway pages.

I would say that the top games have good gameplay process, nice graphics and good art.

I've played some where I've thought - "oh, this game would be so much better if it wasn't stuck in a IAP addiction mode".

I never get very far in these games due to the artificial IAP barriers.

Re: So You Want to Make Games

#29

Post by debacle »

ungzd wrote: post #27
madshiva wrote: post #8

Mobile industrie are not the same than game for PC, they are really focused more on money than the game itself, they are for dumb users (sorry I don't have other word for, and it's not even casual) making game like this is more commercial than a passion for gaming. There's plenty exemple of sucessful game that have only few developper and are better than AAA. I personnaly have started to make game because I like it t…

Mobile games are focused on exploiting addiction on people vulnerable to them. There are no interesting gameplay process, no nice graphics, no art. Traditional games vs mobile is the same as journalism vs clickbait. Mobile games are in the same league as downloaders, browser toolbars, doorway pages.

You're thinking of free to play games, or games with IAP. While they may be less successful, there are plenty of paid mobile games that are great.

Re: So You Want to Make Games

#30

Post by lfowles »

clarry wrote: post #14
animal531 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much this. It's far more difficult to gain recognition and get word of mouth going on the app store (due to volume), combined with the lower selling point as compared to desktop (for example $1 vs $15). People don't want to pay up front for games and the race to the bottom on prices have really hurt the little guy. All graphs I've seen of sales on the app store show an inordinate amount of sales for the top se…

And then I guess mobile gamers don't feel so excited and invested in their $1 break time distraction that they would talk about it on chats, streams, forums, or with friends. Heck I don't think I've ever seriously heard people discuss a mobile game, whereas discussions or passing mentions of PC & console games (both old and new) happen all the time on various media.

The only two examples of that I can think of are Puzzle&Dragons and Clash of Clans. I suspect it definitely contributes to them being so large.
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