The developers of World of Tanks Blitz (Free), a game I personally enjoy quite a bit, have finally decided to push the game’s multiplayer elements further, a welcome change in a game that allowed organized play for at most two players. In the 2.0 update, which went live this week, WOT Blitz introduced clans, groups of up to 50 players which will make it easier to team-up with friends. While Wargaming.net claims to have big future plans for clans, this initial version focuses more on the basics like creating and managing clans, a move quite characteristic of a developer that always tries to ease players into new features. As you can see in the video below, creating and managing clans is very simple, and it will definitely help bring more players together.
The update also brings some changes to maps, especially the Oasis map that has been overhauled to enable more action and less hiding. In addition to tweaking maps, Wargaming.net continues to work on balancing vehicles, mainly with some changes in dispersion and turret traversal that will change how some vehicles fight while in motion. Finally, the update introduced extensive graphics settings that let players adjust the level of detail to suit their devices. To celebrate the new update, the developers are offering two days of free premium account to anyone who plays at least one battle this weekend, so here’s your chance to get that higher tier tank you’ve been eyeing for some time now.
Everyone has a smartphone. Not everyone has a console. Most will try a game if it's free or a dollar, not everyone is willing to invest $60 in a game they may or may not enjoy.
That simple, really!
Sad thing about this, good and polished 60$ games are gone
Games can be polished at a mobile price point. Most serious gamers will invest 10-20$ for a polished game.
Casual/mobile gamers are going to bring development of games for hardcore gamers to a halt soon.
Either that, or the hardcore gamers will follow the trends as well and play free-to-play games with the same level of hardcore dedication. Have you seen what it takes to play such a game without spending a single cent and yet still be competitive? It's a lot of planning and strategy and time management that leads to mastery. It could also be a badge of honor: they play the game so well they have "earned" the right to play it for free and be honored for that accomplishment. Sure, not all games allow themselves to be played that way, but those that do will see this influx of "hardcore" players.
You've almost highlighted the exact problem with F2P right there though. MANAGING to play the game with out spending money. I'd rather know how much to spend without the risk of being scalped further down the line, and not have to MANAGE my spending mechanics in order to be able to actually play. When managing HOW you play the game becomes just as important as playing the game, something's wrong. (Granted, I agree, not all F2P games are like this).
Sorry I don't want to spend 99c for a health potion because the game is balanced to ensure my character takes extra damage to use one. I don't want timers or any of the other manipulative mechanics I see in too many f2p mobile games. Compare Peggle to Peggle 2 for an example. No thanks. I'll enjoy my PS4 and my 60$ games and supplement with mobile games as needed.
And to clarify: I don't mind paying for content. I consume content and want more of what I like but not behind blatantly manipulative mechanics. I want a game not a skinner box.
There might be a halt for a bit, and companies might stop funding larger budget games. However, there will be a demand from hardcore gamers, and even if the budget is lower, games will still be made for hardcore gamers.
NIS is an example of this [Disgaea 5]
Of course they will, I don't think that's any bit a rational thought but falls in perfectly with the hardcore gamer's assumption their corner of gaming is about to be laid to waste by some lesser yet larger group.
Im surprised this surprises them. Some people have been saying for years its stupid to ignore mobile games. Had they invested heavy early, some could have totally cornered the market (at least in visibility)
Great story, now all Square needs to do is keep those pricey apps up to date. The bragging is nice, but they need to back it up with more consistent updates.
The pricey ones are not the ones they're making money on, I don't think. :(
exactly! Still hoping for an episode 5 in Chaos Rings 3.
As long as premium priced decent games get released, I'm fine. They don't even need to make new games if they keep porting their good stuff once in a while. Like, they could use their FTP games to earn money and invest that money into porting good games. That way, they'll make everyone happy, since they'll cover FTP and premium at the same time.
I understand the relevance of the article. It's good news. But the rest is debatably subjective (Is it good for gaming? Is it good for Konami?- short term yes, definitely. Long term, who knows, casual gamers can be fickle). But what grates the most is the fanboy attitude in the article. It's unnecessary and sours the TA experience.
What gets me with these articles is they seem to push a perspective without much thoughtful analysis. Whatever gives a mobile thumbs up has to be jumped on, with an added angle decrying the existence of console gaming. Look at this article. It makes its claim on the back of a report from a time when the company hasn't generated much content in the console space, and backs itself up with an article from May. This seems to run contrary to what the company has put forth, with E3 having happened since then. Since then, they have announced or given updates on numerous console titles (Deus Ex, FF 7 remake, Star Ocean, NIER sequel, Tomb Raider, KH 3, FF 15, World of Final Fantasy, Just Cause 3, DQ 8 on 3ds and not the mobile version, DQ Heroes, DQ 10 ports, DQ 11), there's possible Nintendo NX support, and debuted a new studio. Plus Bravely Second is on the international horizon. They also discussed Tomb Raider Go, another port of the existing FF 7, and KH Unchained Key on the mobile side... so I guess consoles are dead now lol.
I agree. I mainly play mobile games, but I wouldn't stop playing current console/legacy games anytime soon or probably ever. I could play Chrono Trigger on my phone, (which I bought) or I could play an emulator with a PS3 controller on my computer. Console gaming won't have the market share but people will still play console games. It will never fully die, the Virtual Boy is dead. I would defend mobile gaming to anyone, but it seems like this site doesn't like the blowback from competitors that don't take mobile gaming seriously. We get it, mobile gaming is the future, let's move on.
You have some good points, but remember what site you're on. It makes sense that they laud growth on mobile gaming because that's this site's sole reason for existing. The time may well be coming - soon - when one can get a $60 game on iOS and have it be as immersive, lush, and deep as anything before. Consoles don't even have to die to see that day, but they do have to weaken.
And that day is why this site continues to exist. You came today to read about Angry Birds 2, you'll (hopefully) come 4 years from now to read about Final Fantasy 18, the iOS exclusive.
I disagree. Why does console have to change at all? Die, weaken or otherwise? Why can't it co-exist? What is the desire for something to suffer for another thing to do well? This is my point. To evangelise a single platform and decry others is fanboy behaviour and is unhelpful (and it doesn't make you particularly trust worthy since you base of advice/opinion is one sided). To concentrate your time and efforts on one platform, but retain an appreciation for all gaming is far more in keeping with the ethos of what it is to be a 'gamer'. You then become reliable with valued opinions based on a broad range of gaming knowledge.
Imagine if the article stated something like 'Square Enix's mobile division shows profits. Mobile grows stronger and stronger as a competitor in the video games industry'; that's the good news reported, mobile given a bit of a praise boost and it removes any of the sour 'consoles are sterile' fanboy comments.
There may be a large percentage of the TA community that are just iOS gamers. But I reckon a large percentage are also 'gamers' in the original and broader sense. It's not nice to be told that the time and effort I put into the other avenues of my hobby are 'sterile' when it is flat out incorrect. It makes reading these sort of TA articles frustrating (because TA is otherwise very good!).
Generally one author. :)
Console has to weaken and mobile rise, not because I want it to, but because people have limited time and resources. Time and money spent on one doesn't generally go over to the other. The game developers see that and will pour the majority of their resources into whatever makes them the most money for less effort. That seems to be mobile.
Also, as another poster pointed out, damn near everyone has a smartphone or three. I do. What I don't have is a console, and haven't since my beloved Xbox and Dreamcast. I don't have the time to sit in front of a monitor and bang out a couple hours or so of gaming like I used to. Hell, I have trouble playing KOTOR on iOS for more thean 30 minutes at a time. Too many demands. But I'm very happy to have that ability.
I suspect more and more people are like me. No time for a sit-down, but many small chances to pull out a phone and ride a chocobo. When physical controllers become totally integrated into iOS and lag-free wireless "big screen" abilities come round, this may not even be a discussion. Consoles will naturally integrate into mobile and vice versa.
Well, I'm a fan of Hitman Go! More like that, please.
Yes, yes, yes. Brilliant game. I'm quite looking forward to Lara Croft Go as a result of that game.
Cool--I didn't even know that was a thing! I don't care much about Lara Croft... but the same is true for the Hitman series, so I won't let that stop me.
I just looked up Lara Croft Go, and sadly it doesn't appear to have the awesome "diorama" art style of Hitman, but it does have its own nice look anyway.
Yeah, I think it's more the 'puzzle' mechanic that's going to define the 'Go!' series. As you say, Hitman was done well so that's enough for me to set my spidey sense's to 'tingle' for this one.
WHO the heck is negging my comment about Hitman Go! being good and anticipating Lara Croft Go! as a result? Do you not know how good these games are/look?
F2p as it stands on mobile now is like cancer (It might be spreading fast but that does not mean that it is a good thing). The f2p games that make the most on mobile are exploitative and should not be encouraged.
The ones square Enix make are great
TA seems to love rubbing these articles in 'hard core' gamers faces
I think they're just showing that mobile gaming will survive, they should report on the industry even if it tells hardcore gamers something they don't want to hear. They're a precious delicate bunch with hairtrigger self-righteous rage so tread lightly.
I don't think S.E. has a bad rep amongst mobile gamers, rather on the contrary.
TWEWY?
They fixed it and sales are way up on TWEWY.
Seriously? It took them long enough - don't know how that could foster a good relationship for them.
Change of times, $60 for a game just sounds stupid, then if you want to maximize your experience you need to buy DLC. Plus to play this game you most likely can only play it home. The people today that used to buy console games don't exist anymore or too few to matter and thats the parents of millennials. Most of these kids are now grown and the price of these games which used to be to do the laundry, clean the dishes, mow or rake the lawn has become $60 hard cash or almost a full day's work by today's minimum wage standard, which we all know is split up between the high cable, high phone, and high gas prices (and i do mean high because prices were not like this years ago). Buying a console game is not a careless decision any more and mobile games offer that car free attitude where $1 for fun is much more satisfying than $60 of disappointment.
I never understand this side of the argument?
"You have to spend money on something you enjoy doing! Herpy derpy!"
I mean, does anyone realise how cheap console gaming even is compared to other hobbies? A good set of Golf Clubs can run you back three times what an Xbox One or PS4 costs - likewise with a solid DSLR for photography (and paper for printing, an actual photo-quality printer etc. etc.). How is £60 (or $, €, ¥ whatever) expensive for something you *enjoy* doing? Not sure about anyone else, but I only tend to buy games I *like* to play - crazy eh? And if I get more of that world/story through DLC? Why would I cry at that? That's like loving a movie that comes out, and then hating the idea of an associated book launch or TV series - more of what you love is surely a good thing? Or is everyone so self-entitled these days that all games should be £20 and all DLC should be free? For the record, I'm so, so glad I don't work in the games industry (as a developer).
Mobile gaming is a good distraction, it has some solid games out for it and more to come. But that's all it is (at the moment) - a distraction. People don't spend £60 on a mobile game because right now it isn't worth it. I mean, you have the PC scene where people spend huge amounts of money just to squeeze out a couple more FPS - if the quality was there on Mobile, people would pay the price, as many people who would buy it for a £1 or less? No, but then it doesn't need to.
Millennials go as far back as people born in the early 80s so your assessment of parents of millennials are the last of console gamers is off. Also, I remember N64 games were $60+. Game prices have actually not changed much and if anything should really be viewed as cheaper now considering how much higher pay is.
They expanded mobile development, but hardly "shifted from" consoles. They have a number of high profile AAA titles on the horizon. Last three months? They've put out an expansion to FF XIV. And that's about it. For the year overall they're mostly working off some portable titles that haven't left Japan yet, and Type Of (enhanced port of a portable title that didn't leave Japan lol). This isn't the most comprehensive look. Why don't we compare when they have Tomb Raider, Devs Ep, and FF XV out to market?
I always think it's funny how angry people get at articles like this. TA is a mobile gaming site reporting on mobile gaming news. It's big news that major companies like SE have shifted towards mobile and so it should be no surprise that TA reports on the progress of that move.
Hardcore console gaming will continue to exist. I don't know why people continue to get so defensive about this. Look at SE upcoming console slate. They can exist in both the console and mobile world.
I think most gamers no longer feel that Square Enix's games are worth $60, but find the $15-20 they charge on mobile a lot more agreeable.
How are people getting -1 ?
For some reason, the comments section on the app is tied to your TA/forum account, but when using Safari or a computer the comments section is actually run through DISQUS, which has an up arrow and down arrow for each comment made. The down arrow leads to a -1. You can also use the comments through Facebook and Google, but I don't use those for my posts.
My first comment being from the TA app, where I can't tie it to DISQUS, and this comment from Safari where I logged in through DISQUS to comment. Weird thing is I can't comment through TA account on these comments sections through Safari, but only in the app. So confusing, having two comment accounts for one site.
Was the "right move." Lol. The idea that a mobile game is anything more than a two second distraction is funny.
I do not see how this is the right choice. First off I would argue that these freemium games are a bubble and eventually people will tire of them if the pricing models keep being so unfairly balanced towards developers/publishers. So I'd say it's the wrong move as a business, a steady buck always beats a fast one. Second though these games are nowhere near as good as what they have been known to put out for years and years and years(not that square has been truly great in some time). So it's the wrong choice when it comes to making the industry better as an art form and a culture.
Sorry but to me cheapening the industry, the process and the art chasing a quick buck overpricing your games and making greedy freemium ones is faaaar from the right choice. Square is one of the companies I don't boycott(don't believe in it) but I go out of my way to buy their games used or avoid them if I'm not dying for them(even if I could skip KH3 my wife wouldn't let me!!!)
i just wish they'd hurry up and release FF7 on ios as my wife made me uninstall it from the laptop so she could dload some crappy housewives show, beginning to regret that one more and more with each passing minute now!! there's always my psn version tho to keep me from going totally nuts but dont want to play it too much as it will spoil the impact of playing on my phone, sorry for going off topic but every time i see 'Square-Enix' innan article, my hopes of release go atomic!!
Square Enix's shift towards mobile is quite understandable, but it's great they're putting the effort in with the traditional systems.
It will be interesting to see how their upcoming titles (eg. FFXV and KH3) sell.
Perspective and objectivity is in order here... Sales decreased over the past three month period compared to last year because there hasn't been anything newly released from Square/Enix of note on console over the past three months. Also, FTP games will generate money because they are designed to, so it's no shock that their mobile games are making money when several of them have newly released in various markets over this time period. Many console and PC games are still in development (as noted in other posts) so it is just the way the sheets lay now. Come next year it will look different and so on as these things ebb and wane as content development and release ebb and wane. Both markets can and will exist... I don't get why TA is insistent on implying the demise of Console and PC gaming in their articles lately. Knee jerk reactions need to be contained in both sides of the fence. Mobile IS growing. consoles and PC AREN'T going anywhere. Let's all relax and stop insisting that the others side preferred platform is invalid...
It would be nice if they'd use some of the profits on updating their games once in a while.
Pay to win is here to stay.
Aren't we ignoring that most of their mobile games require a healthy console lineage? The majority of their mobile content consists of legacy ports, nostalgia heart-tuggers like Record Keeper, and mobile tie-ins to larger franchises. There are a couple others, but it should be noted that the always-online stuff often gets yanked within a yr and banished to non-existence.
My point is- if a vast majority of their mobile focus is retro-inspired nostalgia, how is that "the future?" That well is being filled by console gamers looking for quickly accessible trips down Memory Lane. And eventually, under the current model, it will run dry.
Unfortunately SE's post launch support for their games is atrocious. Takes months up months to get simple bugfix updates done. And in some cases they just stop updating entirely. *cough* multitask crash bug for FF3 & FF4 *cough*.
Glad to see them making money porting old console games to mobile and that's not sarcasm. I really mean it. I never played FF3 until iOS and it was one of my favorite gaming experiences prior to the crash bug when it was introduced.
Wtf is a hardcore gamer. Most of these self proclaimed hardcore gamers are midcore at best. True hardcore gamer cares not what platform a game is. He or she tries all manner of interactive entertainment and does not hold a bias toward a platform.
Jesus what are you even on about?! There isn't a true gamer of any kind, not their stupid definitions and certainly not yours it's just people playing games not a unifed culture.
Fine with me as long as we still get the big budget games they make and publish. Tomb raider, deus ex, final fantasy 15, kingdom hearts 3 are among some of my most anticipated titles.
I don't think it would make a difference the gaming world is booming due to technology itself let's not be false advetisers!!!!!