Apologies if there's a mobile thread, I couldn't find it.
Anyone tried Apple Arcade? I think they may have fixed mobile gaming in one fell swoop.
It's a subscription like Game Pass, fiver a month with your first month free. It's got some reasonably big name developers, about 70 games, and they're all Actually Free (once you've paid the sub). No microtransactions, no gems. All of the games have been designed, from the ground up, as whole experiences, and it's such a refreshing change.
Some of the games are crap, don't get me wrong. But they're all bespoke, complete experiences. And some of them are bloody wonderful.
Even if you're not interested, get the free trial and give Grindstone a go. Srsly.
I’ve just cancelled my free trial. Been signed up for, what 3 weeks? And have instead been carrying on with Fire Emblem Heroes and Mario Kart.
I’m ashamed of myself!
Yeah. I tried it and its a great idea. However, I found it difficult to find any of the sort of games I like. I play mostly point and click on my mobile, the Rusty Lake games and stuff like that.
That and Mariokart Tour came out. Can't say I like the game but for some reason can't stop logging in everyday.
Will look at dipping in to this again in the future.
I'd like to know what the developers get paid and whether this is a good channel for them.
Can’t get on with mobile gaming, probably never will. Small screen, big thumb blocking what you’re looking at, no proper control options and a battery life that doesn’t last till the end of the day even under normal usage all contribute to making this a pretty unenjoyable experience. And the fact everything seems to require a permanent internet connection these days makes phone gaming useless for the one time I might actually appreciate it, ie on the Tube. I’ll wait till the handful of good games on this service inevitably make their way to the Switch.
Yeah. I tried it and its a great idea. However, I found it difficult to find any of the sort of games I like. I play mostly point and click on my mobile, the Rusty Lake games and stuff like that.
That and Mariokart Tour came out. Can't say I like the game but for some reason can't stop logging in everyday.
Will look at dipping in to this again in the future.
I'd like to know what the developers get paid and whether this is a good channel for them.
Pilgrims is a lovely point and click game from the makers of Machinarium. I'd recommend that if your trial is still active.
Can’t get on with mobile gaming, probably never will. Small screen, big thumb blocking what you’re looking at, no proper control options and a battery life that doesn’t last till the end of the day even under normal usage all contribute to making this a pretty unenjoyable experience. And the fact everything seems to require a permanent internet connection these days makes phone gaming useless for the one time I might actually appreciate it, ie on the Tube. I’ll wait till the handful of good games on this service inevitably make their way to the Switch.
I think one of the main reasons that Apple Arcade works is that it's nothing like 'normal' mobile gaming. Every game is the full download, the complete package, no network connection needed. And I've found some absolute gems in one evening.
The aforementioned Grindstone is Candy Crush with vikings (and even better than that sounds). Pilgrims is lovely. What The Golf? is a work of absolute genius, and one of the funniest games I've played in years. Patterned is a lovely, chilled jigsaw-like with beautiful illustrations. Assemble with Care, from the Monument Valley guys, is a game in which you fix broken Walkmans (with added narrative heft).
It's the sheer variety of the service that's so impressive. Some website (The Verge?) called it the best platform launch ever.
It's not a Playstation killer, but it's not trying to be. It is an Android killer, for me personally. I'll definitely make my next phone an iPhone because of this service.
Thus far, I've found the whole thing to be worth it just for What the Golf, Cricket Through the Ages, and Grindstone, though I've also played and enjoyed a few of the others (Assemble with Care, Chu Chu Rocket). and have a few more I want to try (Shinsekai, Dread Nautical, Mutazione), which will probably be enough to carry me on past the trial, even if it's not all quite so appealing as the aforementioned.
It's obviously going to come down to how well they keep supporting it in the future, but they have my attention.
