I think the lack of physical controls reduces the fun factor in some games, for me. I really dig Killzone: Liberation on my PSP, Zelda & CivRev on my DS (I do own CivRev for my iPhone but haven't played it much) and too many on my 360 to list. Every system has it's plusses and minuses, and all will have exclusives, so figure out what games / game types you want to play and get the system that best supports them.
I disagree. I think the lack of physical controls increases the fun factor. I mean, there have been some really innovative games released over the year that use the touch screen to it's full potential. And games such as 'MC: Sandstorm' have proven that you don't need physical controls to play 'proper' console games. I have owned all 3 devices, and I prefer my iPhone by far. The PSP and DS are good, but they don't beat the iPhone IMO because I can't contain everything I want (phone, media, games etc) all in one device. And there have been some really great games released over the past year (particulary by Gameloft) and all of which are just a fraction of the price of console games.
We already had this thread. Only a kid who doesn't know much about gaming could think that the iPhone games are something "incredible". The platform simply can't compete with the PSP, even less with the Nintendo DS. Most iPhone games have terrible controls and are just frustrating experiences. There's a few games that are really good, but when you think about it, these games are only good for iPhone standards (and because of the low prices). I think the iPhone is an interesting system and have a great future if developers start developing stuff that works for the strengths of the platform, like Spider, but if developers just keep trying to make watered down "console-like" games like anything Gameloft has developed, then we are in trouble. I would rather pay $35 to play one incredible game with fantastic graphics, music, gameplay and super polished like Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story for DS than buying 35 games for the iPhone that are going to be fun for a few seconds and after that I'm going to completely forget about them.
It's not the same though, that is based upon the hacking of a system against the manufacturers intent. The pool of support won't be the same as an officially supported public dev kit. Then again, homebrew has the advantage of making the platform open source, something the outdated manufacturers still don't get (in that it is superior).
Different markets blah blah blah iPhone touch mobile platform, PSP/DS portable game system blah blah blah broken record etc., etc. and so forth, topic is as useless as comparing console gaming to PC gaming to arcade gaming blah blah blah yakkity smackity. But, to play along: GDSage pointed out the lack of tactile controls on iPhone/touch, and I agree that the lack of such controls do make the experience different and hinder SOME games. BUT... ...there are games that actually do control best with a multitouch screen and/or acclerometer. I don't think I could ever play Eliss in quite the same instantaneous fashion on PSP or even DS with the same level of control as on iPhone/touch. I do think that Fieldrunners and Minigore are both not going to control as well on PSP as they do on iPhone/touch even with physical controls. In the case of Minigore one can point to the lack of second analog stick on PSP as a reason, but that would ignore the feel of faster control via virtual onscreen control wheels vs. dual analogs (swiping a thumb across the wheel on a smooth glass surface proves faster than moving an analog stick to the opposite direction, and in multidirectional shooters, like most shooters, every second counts). In the case of Fieldrunners I don't really see how the faster and more furious higher levels are going to be as manic but still completely controllable as they were on the touch screen using an analog stick, dpad and a few physical buttons. On other forums GDS has pointed out the idea that in racers an analog stick is preferable to accelerometer controls, to which I vehemently disagree. Tactile controls are a "loss", and their absence is very much felt when starting to play iPhone/touch racers, but, after a while...there's really no going back once I "got" accelerometer controls that are well implemented. Once one learns the intricacies of the control method, how far to tilt to go how far, it becomes second nature, and, IMHO, provides a better more immersive experience than an analog stick can every give in such a genre. I would say, however, that I do wish Apple would implement rumble into each of the iPhone/touch devices, as that would help alleviate some of the feedback concerns that some have while controlling racers with the accelerometer. There are various genres that work better on PSP and DS than on iPhone/touch. But, by the same token, there are games on iPhone/touch that work better than on PSP or even DS. That the games in question are usually not as "full" or "epic" as those on PSP and DS doesn't really point out any deficiency on the part of the iPhone/touch platform's control interfaces, but rather the differences I pointed out in the beginning of this post. They exist in different markets. Most mobile platform games are not as "deep" nor long lasting as those on portable game systems, just as most games on the portable game systems aren't as "deep" or long lasting as those on home video game consoles. But even when looking at the "deeper" longer lasting games on iPhone/touch that stack up with some on PSP and DS, we find the same differences in terms of some genres working better on the iPhone/touch interface and some working better on DS and PSPs more physical controls.
I completely disagree with everything you said. I haven't got time to go into detail, but I just thougt I'd mention that.
I like DS best That is a good point, the constant flow and the freedom means there is something for everyone, but lot's are terrible The fact that more big companies is a plus side, but the best games i find tend to be the mid sized, small team ones, and the appstore could be creating an inhospitable environment I have a lot of good DS games, and "Scribblenauts" is in the Top 5 games of all time for me, out of all the games I have for the Touch, none are as good as my DS games. You have to realise, iTunes and the App Store weren't the first of their kind, just the most popular, and if you take something from a rival and make it better, are you ripping it off? (Not saying the other stores are better, but it's a truth) just like to say, when you use a- , . ? ! leave a space after, please?
When you mentioned Scribblenauts, you gained my respect, but then you had to blow it by mentioning "iPotch". Seriously...iPotch sounds like some damned STD or something. I still say if you want to shorten iPhone/iPod touch, use "iPhone/touch" or, if you want it even shorter, shoot for "itone" or something. At least itone doesn't sound like something I need to call former partners about to give them the heads up that they need to go to the clinic.
How can a formless control option be better at replicating a self-centering control device (steering wheel in a car) than an actual self-centering control mechanism? That's like saying motion controls is better for jet fighter games than an actual stick. It isn't possible, you feel more and get more back from a mechanism that is actually taking after the control device. With this considered, how is it possible for tilting to provide a more immersive experience? That's not the case for portables this generation, though. Most of the long-lasting games (RPG's, action) are on PSP and DS. As for other genres many games are just as fully-featured as their console counterparts. Indeed, with the success of Monster Hunter and its following bandwagon (Phantasy Star Portable, DW Strikeforce, DQIX, Blood of Bahamut), most of the long-lasting / content featured games this generation are on portables. Well, I would say most work better on DS and PSP, whilst just some work better on iPhone.
Well my basic answer is that all 3 of them play games what else is there than that really? If you want a more basic reasoning then ask which you would rather carry around with you... but even though the idea of a portable gaming device is to be portable there are many people like myself that still play these games at home chilling out and playing for a few hours at a time. I guess the biggest call to action are what games do you want to play? That in its own right is subjective to the max and only the individual can answer. I have all 3 of these devices and I can say I spend more time playing DS but I even play the DS more than the home consoles mainly because I love RPGs and the DS holds the crown on RPGs. Then when you think about it the iDevice does pretty much all the PSP does multitasking wise and it fits in your pocket better but if you don't put skyp on your PSP then no talky for you but if you just have a iPod Touch then bully for you as well. So I guess after all the jibbering my thoughts on the matter is DS, iPhone, then PSP in terms of stature in the gaming world. I'll have to add that the PSP does have games I love to play that cannot be found on the iDevice or DS but that's few and far between.
To even compare iDevice to PSP is absurd. EA still treats it as a cell phone. Our main games are the PSP mini's. We have an over crowded app store with deflating prices. If prices don't increase there will be no app store. What is hard to understand? iPod Touch is a mobile gaming platform and the others are handheld gaming. sigh......spiffy?
I don't think it's to absurd really but as always it's all subjective. Sure the games cost more and have a bigger budget but the quality and overall joy you find in any game is how that one person feels.
I like the iPhone/iPod Touch because it has great graphics, the games are downloadable so you don't have to go to the store to buy'em, the games are pretty cheap, it makes use of both touch screen and accelorometer controls, etc. Though, I like the PSP and DS because it has actual buttons and I think they can handle more and have better graphics but I might be wrong... But overall, I think that the iPhone is the best out of all of them.
Not yet another thread on this... PSP/DS >>>>>>>>>>iPhone. When it comes to gaming. (hardware, titles, etc.). PSP/DS > iPhone. When it comes to overall capabilities. I'm a hardcore gamer and I'm 'into' the category the iPhone would fall in, but, I do use my iPhone more however, because the only time I use portable Gaming Systems is when I am out of my home- because I use the real consoles then.
iPhone/iTouch is the best because of the appstore and the cheapness of the games. However, anyone who says the actual quality of the games on an iDevice (regardless of price) is greater than the DS is an idiot.
One day people will stop spouting this ridiculously stupid garbage. What a happy day that day will be.
It's not absurd at all. If the iDevices are taking business away from the DS and PSP than they are indeed comparable.
