Gamers are quite the demanding sorts, and when asked if they can imagine mobile gaming being able to gain a core audience among gamers, they usually scoff the whole idea as being ludicrous.
And one can understand why. Though there are some exceptional games on smartphone, the platform poses some major limitations. However, a lot of recent market trends have the experts claiming that smartphones could be overtaking consoles by the end of 2016. While even we were skeptical at first, it got us thinking.. Could it?
So lets first talk about what limits true blue gaming on smartphones. The very first thing, ironically, is what makes smartphones so handy in the first place. Their small and compact size. For video games to be immersive and comfortable, there needs to be a large viewing screen, so that the user/gamer can just sit back with his favorite games, and be lost in the experience. A small screen makes that literally impossible.
Even an exceptionally artistic, and quite clever Indie title, Monument Valley, has been looked down upon by some gamers who have better experiences to look forward to in games like Journey or even Fez. Its not that Monument Valley is a bad game, its an excellent game, held back by the platform that it is on. However, Monument Valley still manages good presentation with a minimal interface, and intuitive UI. Shooting games are downright messy on the small screen, with the touch controls taking up half the screen.
Which brings us to the controls. If you’ve ever played shooters or racing games on smartphones you’ll realize that, while they make for some passing fun, its nothing to write home about. The controls are usually clunky, with numerous tutorials and what-not popping up all over the screen. And not every game can pull a Leo’s Fortune.
And then there’s the graphics. Yes, smartphones have a come a long way from the days of Snake. Games like Lara Croft GO, Republique, Monument Valley, etc are a testament to how much a power a small device can pack. The fact remains though that they are still greatly lacking when compared to console or PC graphics.
However, with the advent of Virtual Reality, and console grade controllers for smartphones that could easily change.
The Gear VR, albeit expensive like any other VR equipment, delivers a mind blowing experience. 360 videos looks absolutely stunning, and very immersive. It could very well surpass the 55″ screen or even the theater experience. Playing Video Games on such a platform can truly surpass the experience we have today. While consoles remain stagnant in terms of hardware for a cycle of 5-7 years, smartphones are constantly evolving, and could deliver high end graphics. We have smartphones today that boast liquid cooling and 4K display capability. Given the right push, developers can find a huge audience waiting to be hooked on to an immersive gaming experience.
And with good controllers, something akin to the Xbox One controller, developed for smartphones, we finally could have quality gaming on the go!
Maybe I am being wishful, but imagine playing something like GTA VI on a VR hooked to your smartphone, and a controller in your hands. You could be right there in that world!
Smartphones are also a lot more functional than consoles, with a huge array apps that help make day to day tasks a lot more convenient. And then we have virtual assistants like Siri and Cortana, who if used the right way, are extremely powerful tools. Plus, in this day and age, you need a smartphone more than a PC or a console. They also have the advantage of being a lot more affordable.
So I guess the question isn’t whether smartphones can overtake consoles, but if they can surpass PCs?
For more wishful thinking, be sure to check back at Gaming Central.
