Is Mobile the Future of Gaming?

MasonicGamer.com - EA just released the first trailer for Real Racing 3, an upcoming game for iOS and Android, and boy it looks impressive! It’s incredible how fast mobile gaming is advancing, from simple 2D puzzlers to full 3D epics in such a short space of time. Home consoles have taken decades to make this kind of evolution, which leaves me wondering, will mobile gaming surpass console gaming before long?

Let’s look at consoles for a moment. Atari released the 2600 in 1977 – 35 years ago – which allowed us to play some very basic-looking titles (by today’s standards). Soon after, we entered the 8-bit era, then the 16-bit, eventually landing in the age of 3D gaming. Now, two more generations after that, we are seeing some amazing-looking games, with improvements coming every time developers learn to tap a little bit more of the systems’ power. 35 years is not long for such an advancement, but it seems like a snail’s pace compared to mobile technology.

[decrypt]

Hell no. Its a bit like this:

Hardcore/casual - PC
Mainstream - console
Casual - Handhelds (specifically phones, pads etc).

[Amazingmrbrock]

I think it may actually be the future of handheld gaming. Mobile gaming is pretty much in its infancy but it'll grow and evolve until it has 'hardcore' games on it.

It's not the be all end all future of gaming thats for sure. Sometimes I'm out and I'll game on my phone or on a handheld. When I'm home sitting on the couch however I'm using my pc or ps3. Mobile definitely won't kill consoles or anything silly that media sites keep yammering on about.

[Hisiru]

I want to die before it happens.

[PoSTedUP]

it needs better controls, i wont touch such a horror of a game with those controls. the sony ericsson phone had it done pretty well.

[schlanz]

And when you simply stream your mobile to your TV with graphics that surpass what we see in today's games?

Mobile is the future of gaming, and those who deny it are short-sighted. No one is suggesting it will eliminate consoles or PCs in 5 years. But 10 or 15 years, definitely a possibility.

[Amazingmrbrock]

Then it won't be mobile anymore it'll be something else. By that point it'll likely be accessing a home server constantly or cloud streaming.

[bintarok]

Up to this day, there's only one mobile (tablet) device that no other mobiles could mimic its' multitasking horsepower:

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

But again, it all depends to game developers too, just like any other hardware company. It's still a little early to claim mobiles will be the future of gaming.

[Thatguy-310]

simple answer no. If handheld didn't have much of the affects on consoles what makes people think phones are?

[WeskerChildReborned]

I don't think it will.

[Firebird360]

Controls are terrible on phones, not to mention this game looks good but will be shallow trash. Phone games may look good but they'll never match a dedicated Machine like the vita or 3ds.

[schlanz]

You are only thinking in terms of today's mobile capabilities and today's development for them. With time and the advancement of technology it is perfectly conceivable that mobile devices will have graphical capabilities that surpass anything that consoles and PCs can do today. There will come a point where the extra power does little to change the experience of gaming; diminishing returns if you will. If the technology doesn't stop gaming progress then development costs surely will.

As for "terrible" controls, at least recognize the fact that you can pair a controller via bluetooth. I have emulators on my Transformer Prime for NES, SNES, PS1, N64, Neo-geo, GBA and Genesis and can play them all with a PS3 controller while the tablet is mirrored on my HDTV via hdmi. I can even map the controller to android games that simulate traditional controls.

[swat_teem]

but what about the future of ALL the other devices in the future its not just the phones advancing in tech in the future

[schlanz]

quoting myself here, "There will come a point where the extra power does little to change the experience of gaming; diminishing returns if you will. If the technology doesn't stop gaming progress then development costs surely will."

Really at this point the only thing left is to shrink the tech down. Personally I highly doubt that consoles will always have a leg up on phones, just because they are larger does not mean they will be powerful enough to the point where the difference in capabilities is significant to warrant their existence in the market.

[MysticStrummer]

Sorry but you're just assuming consoles will stay about the same as today, while phones continue to advance? I see your reply to this already and it makes no sense. Tech will keep advancing for all platforms. New phone models come out much more frequently than consoles, with a wider difference in capability. That alone would make consoles more attractive for developers when it comes to "big" games. Controls are another huge issue if you're talking about bringing most major console titles to a phone. Mobile gaming has a great future, but it's not THE future of gaming.

[Hufandpuf]

You judge before you even try it. Real Racing 2 was a really good game, it had car customization, tuning, amazing locations and LOTS of cars to choose from, not to mention a robust career mode. It was a complete game.

[Drummerdude41]

No, the future of gaming is wherever their is a great game regardless of platform!

[AO1JMM]

Controls are terrible so no. The games are usually pretty limited in scope as well.

[oldfriend86]

I don't like iPhone games. The short and simple ones are good to pass the time, but not something worth while.

If I had to recommend a few long term games, the Ace Attorney and Ghost Trick ports from Capcom were worth getting for iPhone/iPod touch.

[remanutd55]

guys the majority of us ( if not all) are gonna say no because we are hardcore gamers but if you ask a casual gamer, most of them are happy to play on their phones.

[oldfriend86]

Actually, even among casual gamers, they complain about the controls, while others who don't have an iPad, can't really see on the iPhone screen (especially when you have your thumbs all over it). Granted, they probably don't care as much as we do.

[CommonSenseGamer]

Give me a phone that is the nebulous to my gaming experience. On the move its a mobile gamer, docked next to my tv at home its now the centre of my media and gaming hub.

[schlanz]

This. People need to recognize the change doesn't happen overnight. When people hear the idea of a phone replacing a console they balk in disgust as if we are seeing the best a phone could ever hope to do. Not even close. Look at the best mobile games released in 2007-2008 and the best released in the last year; it's a world of difference, and another 5 years are going to change things even more dramatically.

The thought that your living room console can be put in your pocket, used for every kind of media you could desire, used with every kind of accessory, controller, and headset via bluetooth, be able to be mirrored on another display wirelessly, and making virtually every other dedicated gadget obsolete should be something we ALL want.

[Hicken]

The problem is as MysticStrummer explained to you earlier: you supporters of "mobile is the future!" ignorantly- and happily- forget that mobile isn't the only thing improving.

As it is, mobile gaming isn't on par with what's done on dedicated handhelds. A tablet here or there may have a little more power, but they lack portability(can you put a tablet in your pocket? for all the complaints, my Vita still fits in the pocket of pretty much every pair of pants or shorts I own), and because they're multi-use devices, they suffer from things like dedicated controls(which can be amended with a controller or keypad, but that's not very portable), and they have the same battery life- if not worse- as a dedicated device... only you won't lose the ability to make phone calls if your 3DS goes dead.

Dedicated handhelds will become more of a "replacement" for consoles long before smartphones or tablets will; this is evident with the Vita, as opposed to every mobile device out there being behind last gen's handhelds in ACTUAL, ALL-AROUND gaming capability(that means controls, graphics, gameplay, etc). The next set of consoles will blow dedicated handhelds away, though, thus maintaining a balance of sorts.

If and when mobile gaming replaces consoles, it will be because consoles will have been replaced by dedicated handhelds. That's not gonna be realistically possible for another 20+ years, barring some revolutions in battery and other related technology, so what makes you think mobile gaming will pull it off any time soon?

In a far-thinking way, it's possible that mobile is the future of gaming. But the people saying that now aren't thinking as far off as they should be. You, for example, talk about the best mobile games from 5 years ago; what about the best handheld games, or console games? Is there not a massive leap in these arenas as well?

[BrutallyBlunt]

When you continually see the same people in so many articles about smartphones and tablets not being a serious contender to gaming, you know the reality is they feel very threatened by them.

We are seeing more advancements in the smartphone and tablet technology than we do in consoles and dedeicated gaming handheld devices. Console sales are not thriving because the lifespan is near the end of the cycle. Look at the growth in smartphone and tablet sales by comparison.

http://www.cultofmac.com/16...

Now compare that to last year for console sales and software sales for them. It's no wonder we have people who constantly want to downplay tablets and smartphones as gaming devices.

In 5 years the Vita will look awfully basic next to what a smartphone and tablet will provide. Cloud gaming will also have an impact as it too can be viewed as portable. Having games only playable on the 3DS or Vita really limits your market. Perhaps Sony's acquisition of Gaika will open that up. Only a few games are also able to cross-play between the Vita and PS3 and even fewer only require one purchase.

Things are changing and some people just don't like change.

[UltraVegito]

sick and tired of all these incoherent,ignorant articles...

iphone/ipod,ect. will never be able to replace the experience of a quality handheld titles on DEDICATED handheld devices like the 3ds and vita lol not to mention they have NO buttons whatsoever to make it even close to being tolerated for playing.
honestly if i had 1$ for each article like this i'd be facebook level rich by now.

[CommonSenseGamer]

You may get sick of it but smartphone and tablet devices are being embraced by the masses. Like it or not its where the money is for developers as well.

[IRetrouk]

I bought an xperia play just so I could play games with the buttons, my phone isn't even that powerful compared to the newer phones and it can still play GTA 3, max payne, fiffa plus loads more, like it or not mobile gaming is taking off, I don't think it will replace consoles or handhelds it's just gonna be another choice.

[ThatHappyGamer]

If it can run BF3 64 Player Conquest @ 1080p + 60FPS.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

I think services like Gaikai will make it a real game device.. Play on the phone come home connect hdmi play on tv with 360 controller. That will be the future. imo.. All we need is google to expand it's internet service. Everything I said is possible in Kansas city right now.

[trenso1]

its been a while since I've seen an article like this. but no mobile is not, mobile gaming just started booming and still has a long time to go before it can even beat the hand held consoles. which i dont think it ever will. and if does it will take an even longer time for the home console.

[Somebody]

A knee-jerk response type of article.

A mobile game sells more copies than consoles - It's the future!

A mobile game look as good as a console game - It's the future!

A mobile device with a quad-core GPU and the same resolution that human eyes can see- It's the future!

One of the funniest things that mobile gaming supporters said is that they don't need the raw power of the home consoles or gaming PCs to enjoy gaming. That would be a valid argument if it weren't for the fact they are also wishing that one day their mobile devices will be on the same level or surpass the power of home consoles and PC.

[Omega Zues]

Actually "Mobile" for gaming has been around for ages. In fact I once owned this "future of gaming" and at the time it was called Gameboy. While other media devices are now partaking in more developed games. Its by no means going to shift the market. Its a nice new market pool for Studios to pursue but if you want to make the biggest of bucks, You gotta go for a console.

For example Angry Birds, the holy grail of App mobile gaming has made well over $80 million. Very impressive.

Now Modern Warfare 3 has made over $1 billion (a figure posted back in 2011), thats not including money made from DLC too.

So as you can see, the difference is night and day. I for one welcome all the games. The more the better in my book, however Console and PC games will always win hands down. Controls, big screen tvs, blasting surround sounds. Yeah, good times.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Mobile in its current form? No. Mobile as computers evolve into cloud based systems that will play on multiple devices in different locations like tablets, laptops, tv's connected... yes. Phones will likely never be the future given their small screen size...they will play a part, but phones will always just be filler.

[AIndoria]

I don't necessarily agree that Hardcore=PC and mainsream=Console. I think both hardcore and mainstream gamers exist on both PC and consoles.

Mobile gaming...how's this I don't even...I wrote the same article a month ago -_- No, sir, mobile gaming is NOT going to take over hardcore gaming. Good luck playing Skyrim on your Galaxy S3 or even carrying a tablet and a controller around.

[leogets]

Well I play onlive on my xperia play and it works fine with buttons.once all games utilise buttons there should only be 1 problem.neck ache from looking down at ya screen and very limited view due to small screen size. In a,nut shell no. Playin games on a regular tv is best. Unless they utilise some form of wirless from fone to big screen view. Then maybe itll be just as good as the nows gaming.untill then no it sucks

[Ramas]

is masturbation the future of gaming?
seriously how can mobile beat consoles or pc? not a chance, who would prefer little screen on stupid phone instead of tv?

[TheDivine]

Of course buts it not the only future. Mobile, consoles, handhelds, cloud, and pc will all coexist for a while. I personally like all gaming. I dont care what its on as long as the game is engrossing or fun. Consoles and handhelds are my meat and potatoes right now but theres some damn fun and innovative mobile games. Not all are shallow angry bird type games theres also rpgs, fps, tps, and mmo's. Strategy and tower defense games work extremely well and the graphics are surpassing handhelds and even catching up to current gen graphics (not yet buts getting there). Along with the ability to run hdmi to a tv and use a controller or tablet to play and i can see a tablet that can run 360 equivelant games being a huge success. Game on it while your out and plug it in while home. It will never replace consoles because it will never be as powerful due to size, screen, battery exc but what the hells wrong with options?

The only thing it needs is more developers willing to make games on it that arent casual mini-games or ps2 ports. Imagine if capcom made RE Revelations for ipad instead of that garbage re4 "port" they made. Cod zombies rocked, how bout a full title like it? How about a real Dead Space instead of the crap game we got? It can be done but most try to cash in instead of making quality games. Something like gravity rush or journey could do wonders for the mobile gaming community. Something deep like kid icarus uprsing or persona 4. Gameloft for all the shit they get are imo the best mobile dev out there. They are ripoffs but nova 3 is damn beautiful and dungeon hunter games rock. Give it a chance folks.

[Puddlejumper75]

Yeah I think people are being short sighted on this one.

I game on a laptop sometimes and its mobile. It offers the same controls as my PC the only difference is I can game on it anywhere.

Consoles will one day be portable devices that you can play on the go or hook up to your TV at home.

Yes looking at phones alone the future looks dim but todays phones are not built for real gaming. 5 or 10 years from now though they will have the controls we want.

Btw arent the 3DS and Vita mobile gaming devices? Most of you think that only phones are but laptops and the 2 portables on the market are also mobile gaming devices.
I'd love for someone to explain to me how all 3 are crap gaming devices simply because you can take them with you.

[Ck1x]

Its not the future but comanies like Nintendo and Sony could do well to exploit the popularity of mobile gaming by supporting phones and such devices with episodic minigames of their mainstay franchises. It could actually generate more profit for just a sample of what the console and handheld versions are like...

[Roccetarius]

Man, i'd hate to live in a place where mobile is the future. That would really suck, since it only has a place when you travel or do other misc things.

[DivineAssault]

I think eventually that tablets will become the handhelds + homeconsoles.. They will have the button attachments for on the go & the HDMI to connect to the tv while at home.. Who knows? It could end up like wii u when connected to a tv at home with the tab serving as a 2nd screen... Idk but games will be evolving really soon & i hope companies keep the physical copies coming.. Though digital & streaming are cool, i like having the game cards or discs..

[M1am1U]

I hope not.

[greenlantern2814]

no.

[josephayal]

i think yes, the PS VITA is the future

[Awesome-Xanto]

I find this funny really. People act like mobile will make improvements but consoles will not.

Consoles & mobile will eventually reach a point were we can't really push the technology any further that is a given. Rather it be because developers won't be able to cover the cost of better tech or because newer tech wouldn't present us with a significant forward leap in power.

But people have a very narrow view on consoles vs mobile. While it's true that mobile will likely catch consoles in power at some point it's not going to be anytime soon and it will not be the reason that mobile would likely overtake consoles.

People don't like to take things like Kinect or Move serious right now but who knows what the tech will lead to 5 or even 10 years from now. It rumored that the next Xbox and even the PS4 (something similar to Kinect) will have the next version of Kinect integrated into the console.

Then you have work being done in virtual reality and other features/devices are likely to come about in the next 10 years. This is not something a mobile phone can easily duplicate, because then you have to add ports for these devices and that is when the phone would have to be bigger which defeats the purpose of a phone. Not to mention battery life being a huge issue. Phone manufacturers don't support gaming like Sony/MS/Nintendo do, gaming is an afterthought to them.

In the future... power won't sell consoles, features and devices will and this is not something phones or even cloud gaming can easily duplicate.

[Slapshot82]

As long as Nintendo exist, there will still be dedicated handhelds, and they aren't going anywhere anytime soon!