The era when the rage-quitting Flappy Bird flue invaded all our phones is a distant memory of the past. Mobile phones can now handle PlayStation-like graphics and gameplay; everything that a console can do, your iPhone or Android emulates with success.
We all are guilty or victims of perpetually deleting almost all the games we download after just a few minutes or, at best, days of playing. Worst of all, dumpster fire is not only present but accepted as the most common turn of events after downloading a game – there’s no time even to be disappointed as the next download is already halfway!
“Have things changed that much for the worst in mobile gaming, or has my and your generation just “outgrown” gaming?”
The Modern Economics of Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming faces the same challenge as every other creative industry – the choices the economics of the internet ‘forces’ upon creators and the microtransaction-based business model that lurks in every corner. The games might be ‘small,’ however, the mobile market is now making almost twice the profit of the console market! This is without counting in mobile browser-based gaming, where for users playing slots online on their phones represents just another way of passing the time despite the different form, while for companies, it is an additional revenue stream. So why would they change their ways?
Ironically, to expand the market for users who don’t have powerful enough phones that handle impressive graphics – games are starting to look ‘worse.’ The faster the download and more accessible the game, the more chances there are for in-game purchases, which ultimately favors the ‘paying’ team to win the Call Of Duty deathmatch you put so much effort into!
The thin line between pay-to-win and fair competition has dimmed, and even devs are unsure how to balance it out, now that millions are willing to pay cents.
The Death of Smart & Simple
Adding elements does not necessarily mean improvement, and there are logistical issues with phones due to the design of the device. There’s just so much you can cramp into a few inches, and about only 3% of gamers use special joysticks that stick on the screens for an almost sneaky ‘aim-assist.’
Plus, it’s hard to be simple when Blizzard releases a million-dollar animated video to promote Diablo Immortal for mobile, one of the next-in-line fan-disappointing franchises ruined by monetization.
On this topic, when did the last flashy teaser videos ever deliver when the game came out?
Lack of Legends
The competition in Mobile gaming is frightening, but the lack of barriers is even more scary. With hundreds of games coming out daily, how will a quality old-style game stand out? Also, why would developers spend years on a game that might get lost in the Play Store’s attic?
The tactic to avoid bankruptcy is simple: make the game look as good as the others, upload it, and hope for the best. If you can, make a bunch of games so that one sticks. It is practically the same thing that any tech company does with business software, which first needs user feedback before the big money is thrown.
It’s not just you deleting games; mobile developers also pull the plug on their projects daily.
When a Game Becomes a Chore
Overall, everything falls down to us losing interest in a game – whether it’s our short attention span, the fault of the industry, or a combination of both. Besides taking baby steps into rekindling our interest, what can we, as players, do to bring the good days back?
Blaming the industry is not a solution, yet it helped me realize there are things I can change in my approach to mobile games.
- Sometimes, We ask too much of mobile games. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but mobile games are now more expandable, and we have to take them for what they are – carefree, relaxing, and, at times, competitive fun. They’re not supposed to stay long on the phone; otherwise, the relief from playing a game on the Subway when there’s no internet to scroll your socials becomes a chore.
- We can’t change the industry, but we can take a risk. As gaming has taught us, there is a way to beat any boss or escape a tight situation.
No download is truly free, but we sometimes fall prey to the ‘freemium’ trick. It’s easier to download a game for free and fall for in-game purchases rather than going to the store’s premium games sector and paying for a game upfront, taking the risk of it not being great.
After all, what’s that what we did a decade ago when buying a CD we could not return cause the game was terrible?
It’s hard to get back to the days of Snake Mobile, Angry Birds, or Plants vs. Zombies – but as with art, there are people out there who share your same frustration and decide to create what the mainstream lacks. It’s true that both the industry and we, the players, have changed, but the fact that you read this article means you long for a gaming experience that will surely be back.
