Game Industry News, Game Review

Mobile and console gaming line is blurred once again at a new level

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With better graphics and greater proliferation of mobile and tablet devices, more and more people are finding themselves hooked onto mobile gaming. Furthermore the plethora of free-to-play (not free) game are release almost everyday or week. Today we had our hands on Assassin’s Creed Pirate on an iPad Air.

The mobile experience redefined

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Gone are the days where graphic on console is superior to the sprite graphic on mobile. Assassin’s Creed Pirates (ACP) boosts wonderful graphic comparable to that of last-gen PS3 and Xbox 360. Although PC and Console graphics are still superior, the gap is definitely narrowed. The beautiful rendered water and sunset in ACP will for a while make you lost in this new world that you can once only experience on PC and console. Of course, this is not the first game that boost wonderful graphics. Infinity blade series, FIFA and many other games boost similar quality. Console cycle is typically a few years. It will be a matter of time when mobile gaming overtake it in terms of graphical prowess. Oh and did I mention that I did not hear any noisy fan whirling typical of consoles and some PC?

No more on screen soft button

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In the past, game ported from console to mobile is often perceived as inferior given that the latter almost always feature those weirdly place on screen soft button. ACP a on the other hand, while not a port over, greatly make use of the touch interface of a move device and incorporate it into the game smoothly. Drag and swipe to steer your ship, tap and hold to fire cannon of your ship. Such actions are no performed by soft button of up, down, left and right. You can even pinch and zoom to get different level of perspective when you are on board your pirate ship.

Free-to-play but not free

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ACP a is free-to-play. It is a free download on the iOS AppStore. The entry barrier to playing this game is almost zero with the exception that you need to first get an smartphone or tablet. While game is free to download, there is an option to buy coins with real money to give you an head start in the game. Mobile gamers are very used to ‘free’ games, however economic 101 tells us that the developers would still have to be paid in some way. Thus far, in app purchase seems to be the best way for this developer. Of course such trends has created some rogue developers who build games aiming at maximising revenue. The true spirit of building game to entertain and challenge players may be place in the back seat in some of the free games we see today. In ACP, while in-app purchase exists, we still find the game truly enjoyable.

What’s next for PC, Console and Mobile gaming?

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PC and Console games have been consolidated. Today most games are published on multiple platforms cutting across the PC and consoles realm. Of course, there exists some games like Metal Gear Solid and Destiny that are strictly for consoles. However, these day may be short lived. Coupled by the strong competition in mobile gaming, the 50-99 dollars console game that you need to purchase may not be as attractive any more compared to the zero dollar mobile game.

Here at GameTrader.SG, we would love to see console gaming evolved to a new stage. The current generation of consoles of better graphic maybe losing its luster. We need something interesting and revolutionary to get people back to console game.

General

Is the Latest Generation of Consoles Suffering from the Rise of Mobile Gaming? 

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We’ve heard about it for ages – have mobile games brought the death of the console?

 

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Early last year, there were talks about how mobile gaming had killed the console gaming industry, The PS3, for all its merits, died at the hands of Smartphones, and as gaming began to take a life of its own in the mobile industry, so too did the mobile industry start to become dependent on gaming.

It’s this relationship that has pushed many developers into acknowledging the fact that mobile gaming posed a threat to the already-established platforms of PC and console gaming. Everyone had such high hopes for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, thinking that this latest generation of consoles would revive the console market, and for a while, the future seemed bright, with the PS4 sells 4.2 million units in 2013.

This year, however, tells of a different story. Most experts predict that while video game spending is expected to rise by 10% this year, only $4 of every $10 spent on video games will come from console gaming. The thriving mobile industry is said to be the culprit, and if console manufacturers don’t start adapting to the threat of mobile gaming, they’re bound to be left in the dust.

Why exactly is the mobile gaming industry killing consoles? It’s all quite simple: as one veteran games developer told TechCrunch, “The PS4/XB1 is the first generation to have technology worse than what is already out there.” O2 explains that there had always been two areas where consoles had the upper hand over Smartphones and mobile gaming devices: graphics and power. The latest generation of Smartphones, however, has become much more advanced, to the point that they can run high-end games without lag thanks to 64-bit processors.

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Console-style games have also made their way onto Smartphones, and thanks to the limitless amount of accessories available, the gaming experience can be as close to console gaming as one would imagine. Smartphones can now be mirrored on widescreen TVs, and accessories like the Moga controller have also made console-like controls available to smartphone gamers.

There’s also the question of practicality. When the PS4/XB1 were released, they set gamers back by about $400 per console, and these consoles were hardly better for much else than playing games and watching videos. On the other hand, a good smartphone – which can do everything from play games, access social networking websites, take photos, read email, open and edit documents, send messages and make calls – will cost you no more than $200. As for the games themselves, the average PS4 game costs $60 brand new – a price unheard of in mobile gaming. Most mobile games cost nothing more than $0.99, and for the price of a PS4 game, a mobile gamer could download dozens of games, as well as get a head start with in-app purchases.

Let’s not forget that the mobile industry is also much friendlier to independent developers, and the cost of developing an app or mobile game is much cheaper than developing games for consoles – a process that could take years. This has led to literally over a million apps being born into the mobile markets, appealing to all niches. The casual aspect of mobile gaming also means that it’s much easier for players to launch and end their games. After all, all you’d really have to do is bring out your smartphone – no matter where you are – flick to the game you want to play, and start playing. To pause the game, all you’d have to do is lock your phone again. But as for console games, a player would have to go to where his console is installed, wait for the console to boot up, load a disc, and wait for the disc to be read. Ending the game would require properly shutting down your console, and in today’s fast-paced world, not everyone has time for that.

Do you think that consoles stand a chance against the mobile market, or have you been sucked into the Smartphone trend as well? Let us know in the comments below!

Game News, Game Tech news, General

Morrowind vs Skyrim : which is better?

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Today, Callie Payne, our entertainment expert at PricePanda, is going to compare for you the well loved games with their previous generations, to see if they live up to their name.

Every gamer, casual or extreme, knows the mix of excitement and trepidation that comes when a new game is added to a beloved series. Everyone, for instance, knows that Final Fantasy VII is the pinnacle of the RPG series, and that all else that came after was an almighty let down (only joking, kind of). Heated forum debates emerge in the weeks, and sometimes years, following a new release with each camp producing convincing arguments and opinions about the new game. Is there a way to objectively compare a new release, with its updated graphics and (presumably) larger budget with an older, less technologically advanced game? Or do some new games really “sell-out” by dumbing down and catering to the masses and its new popularity. If something is a huge cult hit, (see above FF7 example) can that experience legitimately be reproduced in an entirely new storyline, new characters, new world? Let’s take a look at one of the more controversial comparisons of classic versus modern gaming.

 

Argonian!

 

 

 

While both are hugely popular games, Skyrim enjoyed much more mainstream success, with core gamers standing resolutely by Morrowind, despite drastically aged graphics and an unfinished feel in certain aspects such as inner cities, and between locations. Graphics aside, players cite the better atmosphere, better writing and more freedom in the RPG world to create your own story line as reasons why Morrowind is better. However, undoubtedly, Skyrim is a better made game. The cities are vast, beautiful and detailed. The developers had more time and money, which is why the cities in Morrowind have that empty shell feel. Morrowind also suffers from a slow beginning, with initial restricted travelling speeds, and a complicated character class system, something that more casual game players do not have the patience for. Skyrim is a good example of a game series that has simplified game play in order to satisfy a larger appeal, the result being that quests can become quite dull and repetitive. The Elder Scrolls fans will still buy and enjoy the game, though they may find the game lacking in richness and immersiveness that the previous games created by offering more intricate side quests, deeper character involvement through better quality writing and a greater sense of challenge. As a solution to this conundrum, TES fans are remaking Morrowind in a Skyrim engine: it’s called Skywind.

If you haven’t heard of it, and you loved Skyrim and are craving for more but can’t face the dated graphics of the older Elder Scrolls game, then Skywind is the solution for you. You need both games to be able to play, as it truly is a merger of both of the worlds. The outdated graphics, especially in the mesh and texture areas have had a complete artistic overhaul and users will be able to take advantage of all the updates and improvements of the Skyrim system, while enjoying the detailed quests and characters of the Morrowind landscape.

 

The landscape is beautiful

 

PricePanda Verdict: Diehard fans testify that Morrowind is so good they rebuilt it in the superior Skyrim engine, resulting in Skywind being the winner! (Is that cheating? Why choose when you can combine!)

Want to get Skyrim? Check it out at GameTrader.SG

You can also check out our partner, PricePanda games section for price comparisons and expert reviews on games and consoles.

Finally, watch this video “Main Quest Comparison: Skyrim & Morrowind”