Nexon and Big Huge Games’ DomiNations (Free) has just turned one year old, and it’s gotten a big content update for its anniversary, bringing the Global Age to the game, the 10th historical era in the game. World War II is the focus of the Global Age content, with new units like paratroopers, mortars, and bazookas. As well, some in-game events centered around World War II battles will be added to the game over time. If you haven’t gotten close to unlocking anything from the Global Age, don’t fret – supply drops that bring more late-game content to players will start dropping.
Now, one thought might be that DomiNations is quickly running into an issue where they’ll start to catch up, to, well, reality. They made it from the entirety of human history to World War II in a year. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. Tim Train says that they can start to slow down how they focus on future content updates from here on out, because technological advances and advances in warfare have sped up dramatically since World War II. So, similar to how a Civilization game shrinks down its units of time as you get further in the game, that’s the plan with DomiNations. Future ages can potentially be of similar leaps in technological ability as previous ages, but as smaller jumps in time. Train tells me that they won’t reach a point where they have to consider, say, doing what Call of Duty has done with the Advanced Warfare and futuristic Black Ops games, for a few more years. Essentially, if they have that problem, it’s a good thing because the game has had the longevity to get to that point.
I also asked Tim Train about his thoughts on mobile gaming and the attitudes around it, having made big, deep desktop games and successful free-to-play games (over 20 million downloads so far, a consistent grossing rank in the top 200 on iPhone and top 150 on iPad in the US, with Nexon having acquired Big Huge Games earlier this year). He says that while he sees them as different experiences – that something like DomiNations is meant to fit into the nooks and crannies of a player’s day where they can hop in at different points and check in on their base, and attack players when they get a few free moments. Some people enjoy the bigger, sit-down experiences for hours at a time (and I’d love to see mobile be a better environment for those, personally), but Train says if you enjoy those games, go play those. Mobile games like DomiNations aren’t necessarily meant for you, they’re for players who want something different out of their gaming experiences, or something that supplements everything else they do.
These are bad news. I love mobile platform, but sometimes it really sucks! Hope they will support their games on iOS for a little longer. Don't worry guys, I will stick with you on desktop.
Thank for the article Tasos. It is a sad issue that Slitherine is moving away from ios. I love Slitherine games, Battle Academy and Pike & Shot are awesome. Pike & Shot could use a "shot" in the graphics department, but somehow, it is an excellent game (and no, it is not anymore complicated than any other tbs), and there are literally hours and hours of campaigns.
I didn't like the idea of pushing blocks around, and it looked super complicated, but I gave Pike and Shot a go after reading Andrew's review several times. I think someone put in a comment comparing price points with buying McDonald's or something, and it is one of the greatest comments ever created.
If you paid $12 for, and was disappointed by, SM Starships, Slitherine's Star Hammer is better, and worth your money.
Vietnam '65 is freaking awesome! I love it! It is a totally different strategy experience that is well-worth the investment.
Slitherine is one of my favorite developers... please don't leave us!
Saddened, but not remotely shocked.
What do you mean by the future of "premium wargaming"? Did you mean the future of war games in general don't look too rosy on iOS? Does the future of F2P wargaming look better?
Well I guess I can forget about Victory and Glory along with Order of Battle Pacific coming to IOS...Besides Battle Academy, Pike and Shot will also probably become unplayable since it uses the BA engine...that will truly suck.
What about new indies like Wartile or Warbands:Bushido? Both aiming for iOS definitely and maybe android too. Both look rosy enough I guess)
Still it's a shame about Slitherine.
Didn't Wartile get canned?
Well, I don't think so. They've already spent a couple of years on Wartile. So they can cut their costs, reconsider some game features, find some additional funding or publisher.. Kickstarter is not that "do or die" platform after all)
This is exactly why I have but almost quit gaming on my iPad. The best games I have played on the iPad are PC ports (Baldur's Gate, Legend of Grimrock, This War of Mine, X-Com, and so forth). Seeing how these ,and premium IOS quality games like Autumn Dynasty, WQ, and Space Marshal, are thinning, my time using the iPad has come to an end.
I just bought a new PC, something I never thought I would do, and I was stunned how many A games are released every week. I do not see myself returning to mobile gaming any time soon.
And games you'll most likely be able to play ten years from now. I got an iPad to up my mobile gaming enjoyment, which it has, but it's also really upped my awareness of how much Apple is creating an environment that's anathema to gaming.
As long as the public goes apoplectic at a $9.95 price point for a game that costs $40 on PC the market for high quality product on iOS will tank. And Android is in even worse shape owing to the rampant piracy.