Over 70% Of The Games At The Tokyo Game Show Are For Phones And Tablets

Kotaku: There has been a lot of news coming from the Tokyo Game Show this year. We’ve heard about Metal Gear and Phoenix Wright and a host of other games for and from Sony and Nintendo, as we have come to expect.

And yet the console and handheld games that so many of us are fans of make up just a tiny minority of what’s on display at the TGS this year. IGN broke down the numbers, and created a list outlining how many games are at the show by platform. The numbers are surprising

[Trunkz]

It's easier to make cheap games and show them off, so of course there will be more, does not make them better tho.

[Wigriff]

Precisely.

[NewMonday]

if they want to make tablet/phone games then fine, but make good ones

turn based JRPGs and adventure games like Ace Attorney/Professor Lyton/999 don't need physical controls so at least bring us games like these, not wast time and money looking for the next Angry Birds

[crxss]

well now, this is an interesting statistic.

[t0mmyb0y]

It's kind of like the Wii (compared to PS3/360). How many people own a 360/Wii/PS3 compared to Smart Phones? If you can make cheap games and millions of people buy it because it's cheap your going to want to take advantage of that business.

[killerhog]

Yup it's exactly how dedicated console gaming started. Devs were making cheap console games; and people bought it, but now, it's expensive to develope on consoles. So now games cost more money as well. I notice people are less willing to buy games more than 99 cents for mobile devices though; and its only going to get more expensive developing on mobile as well. Which means, more money to develope and games costing more, and even less people buying them.

[TronEOL]

And this is exactly why you'll see more developers move to these types of small games as their primary source. Especially in the current age of developers dying off, and everyone wanting money.

What sounds better?
Developing a game for 25-50 million dollars that either is a hit or miss.
Or
Making a game for far less with less people needed to develop, have less content, and have plenty of micro-transactions?

This could either just be a small phase, or it could be something that will effect the gaming industry in a much bigger way.

[SolidStoner]

@ killerhog

that long time ago, simple small games wasn't cheap or simple little games! :)

[dredgewalker]

Games were much more expensive back then when they used cartridges which were very expensive to make.

[XB1_PS4]

They probably had one Ipad, and one Iphone on a table in a corner with 365 games on them.. Lol

[princejb134]

exactly
im not a big fan of mobile gaming
for example the zenonia games on iphone and android can be very addicting and are excellent
but the touch screen controls don't suit it very well
sometimes i try to turn right only for my character to go up instead

il stick to my console gaming and real handheld gaming like the vita and 3ds

[Slapshot82]

If you enjoyed Zenonia and want a great iOS RPG, give Dragon Fantasy a try. It throws the static virtual D-pad in the garbage and ops for one that can be used anywhere on the screen, just slide your finger where you want to go. It works really well and the sequel, Dragon Fantasy: Book II, is coming to Vita early next year.

It's well worth it's $2.99 asking price.

[Infiny]

Agreed, but the main "problem" is that a lot of developers are leaving traditional console/handheld development for Mobile Development precisely because it's cheaper.

And for consoles/handheld, that's a real issue.

[Wintersun616]

True, but at the same time new spots and opportunities are opened for new developers to step up. I'm sure there's plenty of very capable and gifted people who want to develop games for dedicated gaming systems.

[princejb134]

that sucks
well if they want to can move to mobile gaming
but they not getting my money

[neogeo]

I'm really enjoying the Ipad 3 with it's powerful quad core GPU. It's got 2x times higher res then 1080p

PRO's: Real racing 2 makes froza or GT5 look like ps2 games. It's mind blowing. Also tons of exclusives Apple has locked in are on the way.

Cons: 1.I still want buttons and not ONLY a touch screen.
2. Even though some of the graphics rival PS3 games they still feel like demos and uncompleted.
3. You become stuck with the empire of Apple and I don't like there slavery/take over the world ideals.

[one2thr]

And this is an Ipad game you speak of?...
"Hey let's play this IPad game with 15 other peopple and do a 200 lap endurance race, oh wait... nevermind" fml
Let's keep smartphone and super smartphone gaming separate from REAL gaming shall we... No 99 cent game can keep my interest longer than a game that I can play on a REAL console(including handheld consoles as well Vita, 3ds...)

[neogeo]

I disagree with Neogeo.

[Slapshot82]

Apple simply allows developers to put their games on their marketplace. Developers flock to the iOS platform(s), because it's a powerful, stable platform that has a massive install base and it also doesn't update with new hardware on a weekly basis like Android.

Try being an Android developer and keeping up with all the new devices releasing, let alone keeping your game(s) running on all of them -- it's ludicrous.

[XB1_PS4]

The only thing that looks half way good in Real Racing 2 is the cars.. The scenery looks like pixely poo. -_-

[LackTrue4K]

yep....a ps3/xbox game new run up to worth 60 dollars (glad i got my borderlands 2) and on the iphone there....what? like 1.99?? they need to sell 30 iphone games to TRY and get the same value as 60 games.
"witch in IMO, they never will be of the same value"

[monkey602]

Except that 60$ you speak of is not pofit. A full blown console game can require millions of dollars and years to make. An IOS game can be made in a much shorter time frame by a lot less staff and the budget is a fraction. If a mobile game sells quick enough it can turn a profit very fast and it is much more accessible to a much larger install base. Unfortunately you can see why developers are moving over.

[Ethereal]

That's bs.

[dirthurts]

Tablet/phone gaming will never replace console gaming. Developers know this, and they'll keep cranking out games as long as the consumers are paying for them.
If anything, it's simply more competition, and that is always good for the consumer.
I say bring it on!

[Ethereal]

Should be more focus on console platforms imo.

[dirthurts]

You're suggesting that small teams of 1 to 5 people should instead of making mobile games, dedicate themselves to bigbox titles for the major consoles?
Exactly where, and how would a small team (if there is even more than one person) come up with the resources to do that?
Most mobile games are made by a single person, or a very small team of about 5. There is no way these tiny studios (if you can call them that) could ever pull off a console game.

[schlanz]

cloud gaming will replace console gaming. and you can utilize the cloud on a tablet/phone, hook it up to your tv and use a bluetooth controller. game/set/match

[Slapshot82]

I couldn't agree with you more. Tablet/Smartphone game has an install base that's all but insurmountable. While it will most likely never "take over" the gaming market as a whole, it is here to stay and it is changing the gaming industry as a whole.

While Nintendo has a niche that won't be broken any time soon with it's incredible first party games that greet a new generation of gamers with each new consoles release, Sony and Microsoft both have to be really smart with every move they make to stay competitive and viable in this new shift of the industry.

Independent gaming is literally taking the world by storm. C++ experts are getting younger by the day and getting more value for you money is never a bad thing for the consumer. There are great games on mobile platforms (e.g. Real Racing, Reckless Racing 2, Dragon Fantasy, Super Hexagon, etc.), but you have to pay real money to get them, like you should.

[Ethereal]

I never said anything about small teams working on mobile games. I realize the market it there, but the console industry will wither and die without the indie developers. The industry needs innovation not yearly installments of cod.

[Jazz4108]

Sounds like the Toyko game show this year and gamerscon is going down hill fast for console gamers when no one is wanting to even go to those two shows anymore.

[yesmynameissumo]

100% of the coverage has been consoles and portables.

[Summons75]

if this is true then I weep for the future of the gaming industry

[StrawHatPatriot]

Wii U already started it, I think consoles in the future might make they're controllers be all-purpose devices that you can bring anywhere.

[Summons75]

but the WiiU's controller only has a range of 30 feet or something like that it's not a handheld system on the side.

Although if the WiiU's controller is used to it's fullest potential, I wouldn't mind seeing Sony or MS adopt the idea too. That's only IF developers can use the potential of console gaming with a normal tv and touchscreen controller.

[TongkatAli]

I'm hoping Sony rips off Nintendo tablet controller for ps4. Its a brilliant idea.

[t0mmyb0y]

I'm giving you neg bubbles for grammar.

*their

And consoles don't make controllers, people do :D

[ninjabake]

Negative bubble for immaturity.

I'm pretty sure you knew what he meant. Don't be nitpicky about it.

[Wintersun616]

If you were supposed to bubble people down for bad grammar, then there would be a button for it. Bad language is not for that purpose.

[t0mmyb0y]

Some people take things to seriously lol Did you guys not see the big smiley face

[RFornillos4]

@StrawHatPatriot, totally agree. And with more and more dev engines coming in to support Wii U, developing games for tablets/smartphones with touch capabilities would be totally logical to port over to Wii U through Nintendo eShop, benefits both parties. Game Devs gets a piece of the pie of console gamers, and Nintendo gets 3rd party indie support as well as increased user-base.

Perhaps Miiverse, as the main social component of Wii U, in the future will also host online games like those of Zynga in Facebook.

[dkgshiz]

Over 70% of the games shown at TGS were bad. Can you guess the platform they were on?

[PirateThom]

Smartphone games have their place, it's when you have a couple of minutes to kill waiting for friends or there's a couple of spare minutes between classes. I think certain games miss this when they try to bring "full" experiences to smartphones, it's the wrong market. It needs to be quick, pick up and play.

They do not replace handhelds and, honestly, I think handhelds offering more console-like experiences is the way to do, longer distance travel, sitting around, playing against friends even. Equally, I think a few smartphone games could carry across quite nicely, but they shouldn't be a handheld's bread and butter.

It's two different markets that someone, somewhere seems keen to overlap.

[wnek9]

mobile phone market has always been huge there

[ChunkyLover53]

Well as much as I hate to admit it, those types of games are popular with a certain crowd, and to an extent maybe even some gamer's play them that play home consoles, but those types of easily accessible games will never take the place of consoles.

[Instigator]

I'm far from a mobile gamer, but I would be lying if I said none of the games interest me. The problem is the lack of buttons. If those games came out as downloadables on DS or PSP I'd buy them without a doubt. If the price is right, that is.

[metsgaming]

thats disgusting

[OllieBoy]

Depressing stuff. No wonder why I wasn't hyped for TGS.

[GrahamGolden]

i dont care i still have my AAA exlcusives games for console only

i couldnt give a crap about phones...

[ajax17]

What a waste of talent... such bullshit.

[Bimkoblerutso]

Yeah....it's very telling that the console/PC indie scene is probably the most exciting area in the industry right now.

Not that there aren't ANY exciting games coming out, but in general mainstream portable/PC/console gaming is a generic, cash-grabbing mess right now.

[Psychotica]

I have an Ipad 2 and Iphone 4S and I can't stand playing games on them. The controls are just to awkward and clunky unless you are playing something slow like chess.

[urwifeminder]

This is great new for phone heads shame i dont use one.

[synce]

I don't think you can count most of the iOS stuff on display as games. I would wager there's a good bit of game based apps in there.

But console gaming is dying there's no doubt about that. Thank the publishers that keep abusing DLC and re-releasing old games, and the dickholes that keep lapping it up. Also the focus on graphics and high production values has all but killed diversity in game design.

[taquito]

consoles vs mobile games = pc vs console games

the succession of complexity dwindles

pc
consoles
handhelds/mobile

pc has and can do all that consoles do, with much better visuals, plus immensly complex games that are impossible on console and mobile like crusader kings 2, shogun 2, sins of a solar empire, x3 terran ect

consoles can do all that mobile can at much higher fidelity plus fairy complex games like dragon age origins, mgs4 ect

mobile games are getting closer by the day to console quality, and visually, on my iphone 4s i would say some games surpass the quality of 90% of console games, but i have yet to see a mobile game rival god of war 3, it will hapen very, very soon though

this is coming from someone who owns and games almost daily on a few of;

ps3/360/wii/ds/psp/vita/iphon e/android tab and 3 gaming rigs (2 fully modern)

[Zha1tan]

I will never game on those devices until they have the level of features a dedicated gaming platform can offer us.