Square Enix tells us what to expect from now on.

[Kohan]

Maybe, if the mobile gaming genre had games that rival the quality of consoles or portables, but it doesn't.

It absolutely does. There are many perfectly legitimate old school-style RPGs on mobile platforms, and titles [IGN LINK]. If you want to see more, [IGN LINK]. As for JRPGs in particular, here's Kemco's Android offerings.

[Correction]

Maybe, if the mobile gaming genre had games that rival the quality of consoles or portables, but it doesn't. If it does, its a rerelease of a console game optimized for touch screens. Too bad there's only a handful of those.

If you look at SE's Japanese output you won't find it littered with the types of games that require twitch reflexes. A touchscreen is just fine for Final Fantasy Tactis, mang.

[Salodin]

And I'm sorry, but I'm not going to carry a six axis in one pocket and tablet with kickstand in the other just so I can portable game, in a sense. If I'm really hard up to play something, a gaming designed box works better all around. I have a cell phone if I need to look up something.

And on the subject of games, occasionally I do find a gem or two on the mobile platform, but the real support I'm looking for isn't there. I want Metroid, I want Super Mario, I want Castlevania. I can't get those on a tablet or phone with out sacrificing what I want, freedom to roam and play with out cramped hands.

If I can't lay on my back in bed and play it comfortably, it isn't portable. Imo.

[Kohan]

And on the subject of games, occasionally I do find a gem or two on the mobile platform, but the real support I'm looking for isn't there. I want Metroid, I want Super Mario, I want Castlevania.

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/07/cas...da-all-in-one/

I can't get those on a tablet or phone with out sacrificing what I want, freedom to roam and play with out cramped hands.

You want name brands. Naturally, you can't get those on mobiles. The type of gameplay that those name brands are associated with, though? That's all over the place. Those specific franchises that you've mentioned fit perfectly on the smart device platform.

If you don't want to use a smart device, that's your choice, but to state that they don't have the same support as dedicated devices is incorrect.

[Shiyo]

[links]

Show me monster hunter, tales of the abyss, or RE: revelations on a mobile.

[Lucavi]

Dammit Kohan, stop making semi-sense.

[Kohan]

[IGN quote/link removed]

http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhon...ws.asp?c=47735

Tales of the World: Tactics Union has made the journey from Android to iOS... though you'll still need to live in Japan to play either version.

Obviously, these titles are not 100% identical to their console siblings. TotW:TU is a tactical title, for example. That's not for wanting what a dedicated device provides, though; as emulators of older consoles prove (in terms of ability to operate on the hardware), the only reason a "proper" Tales game isn't on that platform is because Namco hasn't developed it yet.

Whatever limitations that smart device titles have when compared to their dedicated device counterparts are only temporary. The quality of titles continues to improve, and as the power of the devices does too, their ceiling will grow.

Dammit Kohan, stop making semi-sense.

I apologize, but it's what I must do.

[Elcura]

Dammit Kohan, stop making semi-sense.

It makes sense but it's also true that mobile gaming won't have traditional handheld or console style controls or gameplay. You can have brands on a mobile, but the type of game is always going to be simplified compared to other platforms because otherwise it loses purpose. You wanna appeal to a lot of people and make money? Simple controls. No doubt they can increase the ceiling eventually, but it won't be near normal standards for a while.

So it's still a tragedy for gamers, but it makes money so whatevs.

[Salodin]

You want name brands. Naturally, you can't get those on mobiles. The type of gameplay that those name brands are associated with, though? That's all over the place. Those specific franchises that you've mentioned fit perfectly on the smart device platform.

If you don't want to use a smart device, that's your choice, but to state that they don't have the same support as dedicated devices is incorrect.

No, I want sequels to games and plots I'm already vested in. I can't get that on current mobile platforms. I understand some games are there, but the support from the companies I already trust to give me what I want aren't developing for tablets, they're developing for 3ds and consoles. The quality number of titles that have what I want are far fewer on mobile then handheld. Don't know why were discussing this any more, tablets are just another avenue to game on; it just pales in comparison to handhelds Imo.

Damn it stop posting answers to my comments while I type. The controller thing is still the biggest killer for me though. I can't hold this tablet up for long with how heavy it is. Especially if I'm gaming.

[Kohan]

It makes sense but it's also true that mobile gaming won't have traditional handheld or console style controls or gameplay. You can have brands on a mobile, but the type of game is always going to be simplified compared to other platforms because otherwise it loses purpose. You wanna appeal to a lot of people and make money? Simple controls. No doubt they can increase the ceiling eventually, but it won't be near normal standards for a while.

This depends upon the type of game. Old-school RPGs, like Kemco's, are exactly like their console counterparts. (I own a few of them.) Also, "simplified controls" isn't necessarily a negative, as streamlining a title can work in its favor. As for the gameplay itself, there are plenty of titles that are already the same. Resident Evil knock-offs that play just like Resident Evil, for example.

Or, you know, Resident Evil itself.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/resi...322523436?mt=8

No, I want sequels to games and plots I'm already vested in.

You want to hear more about the deep and significant lore of the Mushroom Kingdom? You cared about the significant amount of dialogue and character development in the original "Metroid" (or the, er, "greatness" of Other M)?

I can't get that on current mobile platforms. I understand some games are there, but the support from the companies I already trust to give me what I want aren't developing for tablets, they're developing for 3ds and consoles. The quality number of titles that have what I want are far fewer on mobile then handheld. Don't know why were discussing this any more, tablets are just another avenue to game on; it just pales in comparison to handhelds Imo.

That you don't enjoy the smart device platform is certainly a matter of opinion, and there's nothing wrong with that. Your enjoyment is yours, and you'll have it wherever you do. What was originally being debated, however, was whether there are quality titles on the iOS and Android platforms or not. There are, and that is not a matter of opinion.

[Kaisha]

Absolutely. Everyone can't have "Angry Birds," but "Angry Birds" generated enough money to start a whole new and multifaceted media franchise. It didn't cost millions of dollars to develop, either. Major console titles do, and they may not make that back. This is why smart device titles are substantially more profitable and sustainable.

I'm not that fluent on the voracious marketplace that is the smart phone app stores. Would you say it'd be difficult for an existing company to try and fallback onto that market for sustainable income? I just want to know if even smaller stuff is worth a shot, outside of them being low-risk due to low capital needed for the standards those platforms have for short, quick, 'addictive' (I hate that word) games.

All the things I read just make the iTunes Appstore seem extremely trend based, and that 'sales' to a dollar or free is how you get your app from unnoticed, to potentially in the top-10 if you're able to market it right, or get word of mouth to bring it up, like Words w/ Friends.

[Kohan]

I'm not that fluent on the voracious marketplace that is the smart phone app stores. Would you say it'd be difficult for an existing company to try and fallback onto that market for sustainable income?

In terms of operating costs and profitability, consider this article (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...ostlier.html):

Capcom Co., the creator of the “Resident Evil” and “Street Fighter” video games, said improvements in smartphones are making it more expensive to develop games.
Creating a multiplayer game for mobile devices now costs at least 100 million yen ($1.1 million) because of the need for greater complexity, such as better graphics, and rising labor costs, Chief Operating Officer Haruhiro Tsujimoto said in an interview in Tokyo yesterday. That compares with “a few tens of million” yen for games on basic mobile phones, he said.

Capcom is racing to catch up in mobile gaming as users increasingly shun consoles in favor of playing cheaper online games using Apple Inc. iPhones and Samsung Electronics Co. devices. The Osaka-based company generated 12 percent of sales from mobile content in the nine months ended Dec. 31, compared with 45 percent from packaged software.

“We were a bit late in mobile games,” said Tsujimoto, the 48-year-old son of Capcom founder Kenzo Tsujimoto. “We have to show some achievement this year.”

The company is hiring more programmers after unifying development for online and console titles to support its mobile-gaming push. Its games are also offered on Nintendo Co.’s Wii U, Sony Corp.’s PlayStation and Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360.

Capcom’s sales of online content including games for mobile devices and personal computers surged 53 percent to 16.7 billion yen in the nine months ended Dec. 31. Packaged-software sales rose 33 percent to 33 billion yen.

An important part of that article is that Capcom is actually citing how much more smart device development costs are increasing, and yet, the number is absolutely microscopic. One million is nothing when put up against AAA console/PC development. Just a drop in the bucket, and yet, that's currently considered an apt budget for a top-of-the-line smart device title.

[Shiyo]

That looks horrible to play. My fingers are already telling me they want to jump off my hands and run away to another person if I ever attempt to play something like that. I mean yeah, this is really cool and a great concept, but as has been said numerous times in this thread, the controls look like complete shit. It also looks like it would be incredibly boring, and so limited due to the controls and stuff, I mean look at how slow the gameplay is...wtf.

[Charismatic]

LMAO! That RE looks absolutely dreadful to play! ...And looks like we're back to the slow RE 1 & 2 type zombies due to the shit controls.
I honestly swore the zombie at 1:20ish stopped for Leon to shoot him!

I was beginning to think it was a turn-based RE or some shit.

[Shiyo]

LMAO! That RE looks absolutely dreadful to play! ...And looks like we're back to the slow RE 1 & 2 type zombies due to the shit controls.
I honestly swore the zombie at 1:20ish stopped for Leon to shoot him!

I was beginning to think it was a turn-based RE or some shit.

Wow, I didn't even notice that. The zombie literally stops, the hell? LMAO

[DeathbySnoosnoo]

[links]

Most of those games are just terrible for anything more than mindless time wasting while your standing in a line or waiting for a bus or something. Anything from Kemco is basically the same game. While there are a few mobile game worth playing they are very few and far between. And in SE's case they are super pricey lol.

[Charismatic]

I'm not gonna lie, Resident Evil x Valkyria Chronicles would be tight... but clearly that's not what they are going for here.
Oops! I don't know if this is a game I'd want to point out as a quality title or anything based on what I'm seeing here. Hoping that I'm wrong (actually I'm not 'cause I'll never play it on this platform)

[Kohan]

That looks horrible to play. My fingers are already telling me they want to jump off my hands and run away to another person if I ever attempt to play something like that. I mean yeah, this is really cool and a great concept, but as has been said numerous times in this thread, the controls look like complete shit. It also looks like it would be incredibly boring, and so limited due to the controls and stuff, I mean look at how slow the gameplay is...wtf.

Amusingly enough, the knock-offs tend to be better than the name brand titles. Part of this is due to console developers simply shoehorning their existing titles into the smart devices they're porting them to. The reason this demonstration is nonetheless important, however, is due to its showcasing that this is in fact where these games are going, and that's not going to stop anytime soon. As experienced developers like Capcom learn to be better at creating (or porting) titles on smart devices, the quality will improve, and perhaps eventually catch up with entries created by the more dedicated developers that are far ahead of them.

This brings us back to the original topic, that being Square Enix. They've spent all of their operating funds. What they have left can't safely finance major console development, but it can finance smart devices, and that's why that's where they're going. It, along with their MMO presence, can fund whatever else they want to make, if they do it right.

[Corrderio]

Unless it's something very simple or a puzzle game, I steer the hell away from for mobile. My rule is if it's something I can't play using only my mouse, it's a no go for me. Sure you can do something like that RE vid, but it's still going to be clunky and awkward to use compared to a regular game pad.

[Madeline]

Just looking at that RE vid I have no idea how people play games on something like that.

Especially for more than 5 minutes at a time. Looking at the pad control on that then looking at my smart phone I just don't see how that would in any way work fluidly. I'll agree, puzzle and stuff like that are fine. Anything that can dumb down to that point and not suffer for it really. Shit like RE? That's just crayola.