Exactly why are we ignorant because we haven't seen a single mobile game, that can compare to anything we (really) enjoy on the PC? Unless you're talking about 10-15 year old adventure games that we played in our youth.
I have to say I'm curious where all these brilliant games are hiding?
Yeah, I have friends with iPhones - and co-workers. All I've seen are cute little toys, or exceedingly inferior Diablo clones and what not. I don't really feel ignorant for saying that, I must say
Especially regarding the "evolution of gaming" - that's rich!
I keep a close eye on every single gaming platform in the world, because I'm platform neutral when it all comes down to it. I've seen plenty of iPhone games that made me curious, and that I consider interesting - but that's missing my point ENTIRELY. I'm saying what would those games have been on the PC - with power and a proper interface. If that's evolution, then you have the concept backwards, my friend.
For one, you assume that a developer spending time on an iPhone game could be spending it on a PC game. Sure, maybe, if the developer wanted it. But it's exactly the capablilities of the iPhone, the SDK provided by Apple and the distribution model that are drawing developers to the platform, indies and professionals alike!
There's an ongoing discussion between iPhone gamers over whether it should play games that are pick-up and play or that it's just as well-suited for full games as well. That's purely subjective, of course. However, if you consider the PSP and NDS games comparable in gaming enjoyment potential to early consoles (PS, PS2, Xbox, etc.), then the iPhone deserves a mention, too.
Many people still believe that the game offering on PSP and NDS are of higher quality than the iPhone. To some extent they are right, but it's an industry problem, not technological. That said, some of the best games, offering 50+ hours of gameplay, are available on iPhone. For example:
- GTA: China Town Wars
- Puzzle Quest
- Crimson Gem Saga
- Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney
Furthermore, iPhone has seen light of day for games like:
- Chaos Rings
- Space Miner
- Sword of Fargoal
- N.O.V.A.
- Unowar
- Mecho Wars
- Rogue Planet
- Critter Crunch
- Warpgate
Just a small selection worth checking out. Do they compare to PC games? Probably not 1-on-1, but they play to, or show, the strenghts of the platform. There are asynchronous turn-based multi-player games, multi-player online first-person shooters, games that would never work on another platform, and developers that could never have hoped to make a dent in the gaming industry without the iPhone's existence.
Take a little game like Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor. I have only read the reviews and played a Lite, which showed off some gameplay, but it's a great example of how the touchscreen adds to the experience. Angry Birds is a huge success with solid gameplay—and the movie industry has shown an interest for turning it into a feature film.
These all go far beyond mere ScummVM adventure games. You're looking at the wrong device, I'm thinking. Not that those aren't a blast to play on your phone.
But the best thing, I think, about all of this, is that small developers actually have a chance of making it on the iPhone. Maybe that's a money-oriented goal, but it's a real one. It says nothing about their willingness to make the best game they can. They compete on the same level as the big boys, even though their game will probably sell for $1.
And that's the bad thing about it. Gamers expect their games to be dirt cheap. Full, complete games, that cost $40 on other platforms.
Update to your update:
Playing games "on-the-go"? Well, I guess that's where we differ. I'm not much on the go, and the last thing I want from a game is something that I don't have to invest in at all. I'd rather have a conversation, or simply stare into thin air, contemplating life - than playing some kind of throwback to the ancient days when gaming was something else
But that's very subjective, isn't it? That *you* do not want such games, does not invalidate mobile or hand-held platforms as a good place for games—casual or hardcore.
