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I have a mixed view on mobile gaming.

I think there's a little bias in everyone from all sectors regardless if they like Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, or PC. I'm making games atm in GameMaker Studio, I wanna publish on Mobile and start a company and even I feel half-hostile to mobile gaming when I compare my console collection to the type of games that come out for mobiles.

Mobile games aren't as effective on a smaller screen when playing a game that was designed to be immersive. Most mobile games are extremely casual yet tend to have wacky themes (e.g Flappy Birds). There's also Micro-transaction based apps disguised as games too. There are no buttons so game developed for the touch screen are limited, on-screen buttons don't do action-based combat justice. The percentage of art, story, Immersion, AAA games is significantly larger on PS4/XboxOne/Switch per game. These things harm the mobile industry's reputation.

Although, I'm not 100% hostile to the mobile industry as basic casual games can be addicting, I found the impossible game fun. Also, there are games aimed at more hardcore audience such as strategy/tactics games & even games that AAA developers create like Fall out Shelter.

I making bit n pieces of games/mechanics for years. I haven't managed to complete a full project yet, I always get far but then start a new one lol but I have a handful of games that are half complete. 1 of them is extremely close to completion, there's just 1 item-ability that I need to add, plus iron out some glitches, and do the level designs for the rest of the game as the main mechanic is done. I might do some new art for it too to keep the levels fresh and distinctive, but that will be quick & easy cos its a pixel-looking game anyway. I've made a main theme tune using MuseScore 2.0, I might make tunes throughout the game too. Then the game will be complete.

Hopefully be putting my first one on the App Store & Google Store (& possibly browser .HTML5 version too). A mobile has way limitations when developing for it but at the same time there are things that can be better on mobile for example- The touch screen is perfect for basic rhythm-based games in particular. I actually prefer tapping the screen for rhythm-based games over using a games controller. Whereas I would rather play a games that require an analogue stick (like GTA) on a console with a controller.

Mobile development is like all platforms - ideas are as endless as the controller/device that your developing for and there's no fancy buttons on a mobile such as analogue sticks, shoulder buttons/triggers, action buttons or D-Pad, so it has created new limitations for developers.
But at the same time mobiles have a touch screen, mic, rumble, gyroscope, Camera, AR technology & internet. So the design of the games need to be different and there must be a lot of untapped ideas for mobiles. Pokemon go was revolutionary as it combined google-maps, internet, 3D character models and AR technology. Elements that are rare to see, nevermind all together in one game.

There's loads more I wanted to criticise and complement about mobile gaming. So anyway, my main point is that I feel a bit both optimistic and hostile about the future of the mobile industry. A crazy mixture of good, bad and ugly.



I have (or have/had in the household): ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amiga, NES, Sega Master System, Super Nintendo, Sega Megadrive, Gameboy, Playstation, Nintendo 64, Windows 95, Gameboy Colour, Windows 98, Sega Dreamcast, Gameboy Advance, PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, Windows XP, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, Windows Vista, iPhone, Windows 7, 3DS, Wii U, PS4, Windows 10, PSVR, Switch, PS5 & PSVR2. :D

and I Don't have: Magnovox Odyssey, Any Atari's, Any Macintosh computers, Sega Gamegear, Virtual Boy, Sega Saturn, N-gage, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PSP, PSVita & Andoid Phone. Plus any non-main-stream consoles/platforms I haven't mentioned.