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Here's a top 5 list of what I feel game developers should address when making games on the iPhone and iPod touch platform. I am not downplaying the greatness of the App Store, as I use it every day and enjoy the creativity of some developers out there making some fascinating games. I'm interested in learning and sharing my thoughts about such a new gaming medium. Let us know if there are any other essential features that you think should be in the top 5 with your comments below!
5. Stable Frame Rates
With Apple having iterative business models for the iPhone and iPod touch, there are new upgrades every year. With each new model, come new specifications and capabilities that the previous ones could never dream up. This is most evident with the 3GS model of the iPhone. The processor is so much better than the 3G and EDGE versions that some games designed on the 3GS are barely playable. I don’t know if this is the fault of the developers, but it just proves that more testing and quality control are necessary by both parties, including Apple. I can understand releasing an App or game that only work while on the internet, but for only one model (the 3GS for example) is dumb and splits the markets. Personally, I would never want to segment my market because the more people that touch my game, the more people that would purchase it.
4. Custom Music Options
As a person that listens to 20+ podcasts during a normal week, I want to be able to listen to them while playing games. The first thing that I test when trying out a game for purchase is seeing if I can hit the “Home” button twice and play my own music. This is my platform and I purchased my game, so why are you forcing me to listen to your music? Is it because you spent time making it? If I am waiting in line for my lunch, or anywhere, I should have the ability to play my own music!
3. Conserve Battery Life
If I play a game for five minutes, it should not cut my battery life by half. Unfortunately, with Apple products of late, you can’t replace your own batteries. So, if you have an older model iPhone/iPod Touch, then your battery probably doesn’t hold a charge when it is in standby mode. Playing any game does sacrifice more battery life, but it shouldn’t kill it. If you want me to play your game and give you a good review, then find ways to maximize the battery life, while still giving me the experience you want me to have.
2. The Right Price
This is one of the toughest things to get right in the fat, bloated, and confusing market also known as the App Store’s games section. With major video game publishers throwing out quick ports at massively overpriced rates and great games releasing for only a buck, where is the middle? Finding the correct pricing structure is difficult in a market that has such drastic differences in quality and quantity of gaming experiences. One example of the good side of pricing is the recent release of Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition by LucasArts. For a small entry price of $8, you can play the entire game on your iPhone or iPod touch. This is almost half the cost of the same version available on Xbox LIVE or Steam. Maybe the pricing should be made on the size of the screen? I kid, I kid. Seriously, when will it feel right? I have no idea, but we will let the universal forces of supply and demand figure it out for us. Just take my advice developers. Don’t overprice your game or give us “a special price for release promo” that conveniently never goes up.
1. Persistent Save System
You would think that this is a “no brainer” because developers of these games know that you don’t sit on your couch to play these games. You should be able to play each game for 15 seconds, get a call and have to quit to answer it. Some smart ones have left this out of their game and should receive a one star review because of it.
/rant
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Yes!
Written by Guest on 2009-08-03 20:06:14
Totally agree on the battery life and Stable Frame rates! A pet peeve of mine on iPhone games are D-Pads taking up screen real-estate. Wish there was an option to dim or turn some off, or give me a d-pad! | I agree
Written by Guest on 2009-08-04 10:01:57
D-pads on the screen is basically just allowing ports to become easier. I wish devs would take the time and consider how the game could be framed better. | Written by Guest on 2009-08-07 05:48:20
 help!..... | Dsiflash channel (homebrew)
Written by Guest on 2009-08-07 05:48:11
I'v created six months ago Dsiflash. It's now clear and you can download in my site. It wil enable java,music,flashplayer and you can download things on the browser. Download it! (it's only for dsi and no flashcard needed!) |
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