The iOS gaming thread

[sir stiff_one]

"Monetising boredom" is how I saw someone on Twitter eloquently put it a few weeks back.

Yeah I saw that too. Some indie developer cocking a snook at iOS with the whole "I make real games not just crap to monetise bored people." vibe. A vibe that is prevalent amongst traditional gamers and game developers.

You fucking head in the sand gamers need to get your cocks out of your own faces and recognise that people play a lot a lot a lot of different shit, and that's ok. It's ok that people play shit that you don't personally like or approve of or deem a 'real' game in your own little protective game ghetto. It's as tiresome as when people talk about how boring and shit The X Factor is, or how terrible McDonald's food is. Who is your message for? It's for no one except yourself and people who already agree and serves no benefit apart from drawing a line in the playground dirt and announcing that anyone who isn't on this side stinks of piss.

It's 100 times more interesting to think about why 'shit' games become popular and what qualities shit like coin drop and doodle jump and possibly these new other ones have that makes them so obviously compelling to such a large number of people.

[Massive Invisible Dog]

They really do stink of piss, though.

[Clipper]

The problem is that alot of the so called hardcore don't even realise what a video game is ... Those who use phrases like monetizing boredom or decrying iOS games for lacking story or progression etc are missing the point.

When games were invented they had no story or progression as we understand it now. Space invaders , pacman, asteroids defender tempest etc etc all the original classics were simple score attack games.

I'm not putting down modern video games.. Even the intreractive storybooks of heavy rain and Alan wake can be fun. The elaborate choose your own adventure style of mass effect and fallout 3 are massively compelling to play.

But denigrating the principles behind simpler iOS games is to ignore the core principle of the video game. And never forget that all video games , in the end, monetize boredom

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

Jetpack's goal is distance, and nothing you do adds to the distance you can achieve beyond what you could do on your first few goes.

Absolutely untrue. Your goals are different with every game if you truly want to get the best possible score, because you need to earn lots of money to buy second chances and bomb blasts which can increase your distance massively. And you earn lots of money by completing the missions.

[Camel]

The problem is that alot of the so called hardcore don't even realise what a video game is ... Those who use phrases like monetizing boredom or decrying iOS games for lacking story or progression etc are missing the point.

When games were invented they had no story or progression as we understand it now. Space invaders , pacman, asteroids defender tempest etc etc all the original classics were simple score attack games.

I'm not putting down modern video games.. Even the intreractive storybooks of heavy rain and Alan wake can be fun. The elaborate choose your own adventure style of mass effect and fallout 3 are massively compelling to play.

But denigrating the principles behind simpler iOS games is to ignore the core principle of the video game. And never forget that all video games , in the end, monetize boredom

Massive +1. Same with all this casual/hardcore nonsense. By today's definitions, Pac-Man is a casual game. Well, colour me casual..

[Vemsie]

Managed to cross the 6 km in Jetpack Joyride. Number 100 in the world a few minutes ago. It's an addictive little fucker. Only 2 achievements left, but l suck at using the Teleporter.

[toythatkills]

Absolutely untrue. Your goals are different with every game if you truly want to get the best possible score, because you need to earn lots of money to buy second chances and bomb blasts which can increase your distance massively. And you earn lots of money by completing the missions.

This actually sounds rubbish. So when you get the game there's absolutely no point trying to set high scores for ages because it's literally impossible to achieve them until you grind for ages?

It's the one thing I don't like about Tiny Wings, too.

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

This actually sounds rubbish. So when you get the game there's absolutely no point trying to set high scores for ages because it's literally impossible to achieve them until you grind for ages?

No, certainly not in any way impossible. Just harder.

[Vemsie]

This actually sounds rubbish. So when you get the game there's absolutely no point trying to set high scores for ages because it's literally impossible to achieve them until you grind for ages?

It's the one thing I don't like about Tiny Wings, too.

Well, l got my high score without buying any items. If you do well in a game, you'll net a lot of coins for the slot machine and the more coins you have, the bigger the chance of getting big blasts and second chances. You certainly don't have to grind to get a good score.

[sir stiff_one]

Stupid argument. The more you play Bayonetta the better you get and the more weapons and abilities you can get which you can use to get higher and higher scores.

This is one of the worst things about gaming, the people. You've got people who accuse things of not having a point wtf. The point as with all digital entertainment is whether you get something from it, be it enjoyment, challenge, that it's tapped into some compulsive part of your personality etc. In this thread you've got an advocate of Tiny Tower now accusing another iOS game of sounding like it's rubbish because you need to grind? Jesus. Imagine if the internet had been here in the Spectrum days.

[ZOK]

I've done all the levels of Jetpack Joyride, cashed them in and gone back to beginner level twice now. Go me!

[letsbook]

I've done all the levels of Jetpack Joyride, cashed them in and gone back to beginner level twice now. Go me!

HEATHEN! Burn him with twigs and berries!

[shock33]

I'm quite enjoying Sprinkle, the controls can be a bit frustrating, but I'm a sucker for water based physics fun!

[Dudley]

Managed to cross the 6 km in Jetpack Joyride. Number 100 in the world a few minutes ago. It's an addictive little fucker. Only 2 achievements left, but l suck at using the Teleporter.

The teleporter is kinda handy because it also propels you forward a little, so you can use it "jump" zappers.

[toythatkills]

Stupid argument. The more you play Bayonetta the better you get and the more weapons and abilities you can get which you can use to get higher and higher scores.

That arguments works if you see Bayonetta as purely a game in which the goal is to get higher scores, but that is not what Bayonetta is to 99% of the people that play it, or more.

The Tiny Tower comparison doesn't work, either. I'm not criticising the game for it being a grind. I'm criticising it because of what the grind leads to, which is a game that does not have a level playing field. If you give two players of equal skill a copy of the game, and one of them plays a fresh copy and one of them plays a copy that's been pre-played for hours, the second person will get a higher score despite not being any better at the game.

[Massive Invisible Dog]

To be fair, all the powerups you buy only affect how many coins you collect and a headstart which really just skips past the boring slow start. Neither will have a great effect on the maximum distance leaderboards.

[Cheeko]

You fucking head in the sand gamers need to get your cocks out of your own faces and recognise that people play a lot a lot a lot of different shit, and that's ok. It's ok that people play shit that you don't personally like or approve of or deem a 'real' game in your own little protective game ghetto. It's as tiresome as when people talk about how boring and shit The X Factor is, or how terrible McDonald's food is. Who is your message for? It's for no one except yourself and people who already agree and serves no benefit apart from drawing a line in the playground dirt and announcing that anyone who isn't on this side stinks of piss.

It's 100 times more interesting to think about why 'shit' games become popular and what qualities shit like coin drop and doodle jump and possibly these new other ones have that makes them so obviously compelling to such a large number of people.

You seem to be condemning people for their attitude towards something, because it disagrees with your attitude, seems a little hypocritical to me.

I don't mind people playing shit games - I've spent some time with Jetpack and had enjoyment out of it - as long as they accept what is shit about them and don't try and pretend that it's anything more than it is.

Supporting shallow games just promotes more shallow games being made and sold(I wouldn't have paid for Jetpack had I known what it's actually like), same as eating at McDonalds just promotes bad health and diet, and watching X factor encourages filling a load of wannabes with false hope of a shortcut to a music career instead of working hard and earning one. What is being said probably seems tiresome to you because you aren't willing to accept the truth of it.

[ZOK]

If you give two players of equal skill a copy of the game, and one of them plays a fresh copy and one of them plays a copy that's been pre-played for hours, the second person will get a higher score despite not being any better at the game.

This isn't correct, unless you buy boosts.

To qualify that, I've clocked the level ladder twice now, and the only times I've bought boosts is on the couple of occasions that you get stars for doing so (to move you up the ladder).

[Stanley]

Anyone who likes X Factor, and eats at McDonalds - in the words of Bill Hicks, kill yourselves. Seriously. Suck on an exhaust or whatever.

[Alex W.]

You know what bothers me about people quoting Bill Hicks? Hicks was a hugely successful raconteur whose mastery of discourse, sharp wit and uncompromising courage meant he'd earned the right to say whatever he pleased however he pleased. Whereas most of the people echoing him are just your common or garden dicks who think they can make up for the complete failure in their own lives by looking down on others.

No offense.

[sir stiff_one]

[Stanley]

I just dont buy the idea that because people like shit its ok. We shouldn't debate it, or have any kind of negative opinion because that's their choice. In fact we should embrace and accept that it's the future.

The whole point of art exists as an elitist statement. and without it we may as well just go back to being cave men

Ugga ugga.

[Alex W.]

I just dont buy the idea that because people like shit its ok. We shouldn't debate it, or have any kind of negative opinion because that's their choice. In fact we should embrace and accept that it's the future.

The whole point of art exists as an elitist statement. and without it we may as well just go back to being cave men

Ugga ugga.

Well, sometimes the discourse needs a little more than a trite paraphrase of a great man.

[Stanley]

Well, sometimes the discourse needs a little more than a trite paraphrase of a great man.

Fine, but your aim was to put me down rather than perpetuate any kind of further intellectual "discourse". So what if I quote Bill Hicks? You're doing exactly what you accused me of.

[Alex W.]

I'm making a point about the value of original thought in arguing an emotive issue, you're telling people to go die in a fire because Bill Hicks said so. I think that's the crux of it.

[Stanley]

Im making a point about X factor, McDonalds and their iOS equivalents. You're focussing on Bill Hicks here buddy, not me.

[Rev. Stuart Campbell]

I just dont buy the idea that because people like shit its ok. We shouldn't debate it, or have any kind of negative opinion because that's their choice. In fact we should embrace and accept that it's the future.

The whole point of art exists as an elitist statement. and without it we may as well just go back to being cave men

Videogames aren't art. That's why they're not called "videoart".

[The Bag]

Yeah I saw that too. Some indie developer cocking a snook at iOS with the whole "I make real games not just crap to monetise bored people." vibe. A vibe that is prevalent amongst traditional gamers and game developers.

My main issue is, games which are nothing more than a Skinner box with some fancy graphics have become the way to make money for (small) developers on mobile platforms. Some games are 'good games' and have reasonable IAPs but most IAPs are just like Farmvile (a skinner box) where you're paying to be able to continue playing or to shorten the length of time something takes. As a game developer I don't want to include stupid IAPs or advertising to be able to make a living out of developing games but the way things are going on mobile platforms unless you're a breakout hit charging one price for your game isn't that viable any more.

[DoctorEggo]

The whole point of art exists as an elitist statement. and without it we may as well just go back to being cave men

Except that this is a thread about videogames. Videogames are, first and foremost, toys. Fun. Entertainment. Certainly entertainment can be art, just as art can be entertainment, but there is no requirement for everything to be both; God forbid there ever should be.

Edit: What Rev said.

[K]

“Are videogames art?”

Fucking hell; retro arguments on rllmuk. How very old this makes me feel. Anyway, I like Scott McCloud’s definition of art, which is something along the lines of “Art is anything a person does that isn’t directly connected to either reproduction or survival”. It’s a clever definition, because it’s so very broad, which allows you to neatly and efficiently discount any and all tedious arguments about whether something is art or not, and cut straight to the more productive discussions over whether something is good or bad art, and most importantly, why?