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Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

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Re: Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

#31

Post by MBCook »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #19
hajile wrote: post #18

Paying big prices for old AAA games on a substandard UI isn't a winning proposition. Most people already have those old games on Steam or their console if they want them. While we're on that topic, using the App store generally sucks compared to Steam and isn't cross-platform, so people are WAY more likely to buy a game on Steam instead.

I’m a little surprised that the iPad with Magic Keyboard isn’t a viable option - perhaps because it’s too niche. I have right now one of the newer iPad Airs with the M2 chip, combined with the Magic Keyboard, and I could totally see gaming on this thing. I tried NVIDIA GeForce Now, but I couldn’t get the mouse to move in Windows greatly limiting the utility. It said I would need a gamepad, but by the time I’m bringin…

For what it’s worth the Magic Keyboard is very expensive for gaming and has a tiny trackpad I wouldn’t want to use for gaming. So you’re keyboard + touchscreen at that point, which isn’t ideal.

You’ll have a far better experience just using a Xbox/PS5/MiFi controller for a lot less money. I’ve done it, works great.

Re: Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

#34

Post by 39896880 »

kibwen wrote: post #5
NoPicklez wrote: post #2

Playing desktop style AAA games in the form factor of a smartphone just sucks, its awkward and clunky, unless you have a handheld cradle or controller mount.

Let's face it, doing basically anything in the form factor of a smartphone just sucks. For "consumption" devices they're absolutely terrible UX even for consumption, with literally their only selling point being that they're portable and fit in your pocket. A disheartening technological regression.

David Lynch agrees. https://youtu.be/wKiIroiCvZ0?si=TCMRYUW-k6ayfIHl

Re: Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

#35

Post by kstenerud »

fastball wrote: post #14
NoPicklez wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree, there's plenty of things I think a small form factor excels at. Do I enjoy using Word on my phone to write a document? No. Do I enjoy writing texts and messages on my phone? Yes. Would I get my laptop out to write a text message or make a call all the time? No. The fact it's portable and can fit in your pocket, is the exact point and I can navigate the entire device with two thumbs.

I'm not entirely sure you disagreed. It sounds like mostly what you value is indeed the portability ("I don't want to get my laptop out"). But the actual experience of writing a text on your laptop is better (at least for me). If I ever need to write a long message or many messages, I do get my laptop out because the hassle of that is outweighed by how much faster I can type on a computer than on my phone.

If I were on my laptop and didn't have the particular IM app up on the laptop, I'd reach for my phone.

For reading articles, I'd just use whatever device is closest at hand.

For writing long things or coding or photo editing, I'd reach for a full computer.

For answering this post, I'm using my phone because it's closer.

Re: Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

#36

Post by Findecanor »

fastball wrote: post #14
NoPicklez wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disagree, there's plenty of things I think a small form factor excels at. Do I enjoy using Word on my phone to write a document? No. Do I enjoy writing texts and messages on my phone? Yes. Would I get my laptop out to write a text message or make a call all the time? No. The fact it's portable and can fit in your pocket, is the exact point and I can navigate the entire device with two thumbs.

I'm not entirely sure you disagreed. It sounds like mostly what you value is indeed the portability ("I don't want to get my laptop out"). But the actual experience of writing a text on your laptop is better (at least for me). If I ever need to write a long message or many messages, I do get my laptop out because the hassle of that is outweighed by how much faster I can type on a computer than on my phone.

I wish I could do phone calls and text messages using a 8" tablet, but that functionality is not offered — directly. It is possible to do those things on a tablet but only if you first tether the tablet to a smartphone over WiFi, even if the tablet has cellular connectivity.

This seems like a useless artificial limitation to me. Why not give users the choice if they want it?

Re: Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

#37

Post by fastball »

smohare wrote: post #28
fastball wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not entirely sure you disagreed. It sounds like mostly what you value is indeed the portability ("I don't want to get my laptop out"). But the actual experience of writing a text on your laptop is better (at least for me). If I ever need to write a long message or many messages, I do get my laptop out because the hassle of that is outweighed by how much faster I can type on a computer than on my phone.

I’d caution against trying to project too much. The portability is almost equivalent to the form factor itself, in many cases. To the point you’re responding to, I can actually think of numerous scenarios where my phone is the preferred device to “send texts.” This activity is not simply the single dimension of “length.”

Could you give an example?

I think kurthr made a great point in a parallel comment – in what scenario would you switch to your phone to answer a message if you are already sat in front of your computer (assuming the relevant apps are on both devices)?

Re: Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

#38

Post by firecall »

The thing is….

If I want to play a AAA game, and can afford it, and the latest fancy iPhone to play it, then there is a good chance I have. Gaming PC or Console only it on!

And for people that can’t afford or don’t have a Gaming PC or console, it seems unlikely they want to drop $100 on a game for their iPhone that can’t even run it!

Also, you can get the latest XBox or PS5 for a 3rd of the price of the latest iPhone Pro required for the latest AAA games!

There just isn’t basic product market for at the price points demanded by publishers :-/

People played Fortnite on iOS and iPadOS because it was free and synched to their main accounts!

Re: Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

#39

Post by smittywerben »

kurthr wrote: post #24
fastball wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not entirely sure you disagreed. It sounds like mostly what you value is indeed the portability ("I don't want to get my laptop out"). But the actual experience of writing a text on your laptop is better (at least for me). If I ever need to write a long message or many messages, I do get my laptop out because the hassle of that is outweighed by how much faster I can type on a computer than on my phone.

The key point is that, if you were already at the laptop and could message (iMessage, Discord,Slack), would you switch to a phone to tap out the text with your thumbs or keep typing on the keyboard. We all know the answer. The only advantage of mobile devices is their size, mobility, and convenience. For actual winning (development, drawing, design, modeling) you want a larger screen and better UI.

It doesn't have to be mutually exclusive but perhaps with the current options for mobile devices on the market, they are. To this day, I still miss the Blackberry keyboard. And while I'm on this triggering topic, I also miss QNX, a real-time operating system that won't prioritize Candy Crush over a 911 call. Don't get me started about the removable batteries. I'm about to have another graveyard of Apple chargers in my drawer when I replace my last Lightning devices with USB-C. And in 2008 you didn't need a surgical lab clean room to replace your phone's battery. I could throw my blackberry against a concrete floor like I'm goddamn Billy Mays and the battery pops right out. Now it's a glass sheet with a yearly battery subscription. Even the self-hosted Blackberry messenger is now NSA-hosted iMessage. They won't let a private company have that much power again. Oh well, at least it's simpler now on the surface.

Edit: To top this off, here are some references and further reading.

[1] Android apps jamming up 911 functions, "Android phones have a bug that stops them calling the police, Google warns (2021)" https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/google-android-microsoft-...

[2] Blackberry lasts 3 days per charge of normal usage, "BlackBerry Bold 9780: Not So Bold (2011)" https://www.anandtech.com/show/4228/blackberry-bold-9780-not...

[3] The surgical room to replace batteries, "Apple shipped me a 79-pound iPhone repair kit to fix a 1.1-ounce battery (2022)" https://www.theverge.com/2022/5/21/23079058/apple-self-servi...

[4] The government suing itself to stop Blackberry's injunction because they all used Blackberry phones, "Fed Agencies Side With BlackBerry (2006)" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4672844.stm

[5] Related: Today's HN discussion on bugs in QNX. Comments mention Blackberry's acquisition and why they use Android now, "The weirdest QNX bug I've encountered (2021)" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40837411

Re: Report shows that AAA games for iPhone and iPad aren't a hit with users

#40

Post by IgorPartola »

NoPicklez wrote: post #2

Playing desktop style AAA games in the form factor of a smartphone just sucks, its awkward and clunky, unless you have a handheld cradle or controller mount.

They just keep picking the wrong games. Fallout 1 and 2 would be perfect on a phone/tablet.

Civilization style games do really well also.

Heroes of Might and Magic is basically designed for mobile first.

The XCom game I played at one point was really good. It did well to capture the feel of the original games.

Anything turn based with a mostly mouse/cursor driven input is a decent experience. The issue is that publishers keep pushing action games where lack of physical controls ruins the experience. Also any game where sound is important will be a poor experience since you can’t always play with sound on.

Lastly, for casual but high quality games there just aren’t enough portrait mode games out there. And like for no good reason: Out There is an excellent game with a ton of replay value but you can’t play portrait so it just doesn’t work super well for me.

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