Smartphones Will Become the Only Device Hardcore Gamers Need - Polidicks

[QUOTE]When Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo introduces a new videogame console, its obsolescence within six years is more or less assumed. Nintendo is likely to release the new Wii U later this year, and other console makers are rumored to be working on next-generation systems. But as early adopters line up to experience whatever new high-def graphics those systems may offer, the next-next generation of console is already gaining momentum. The device is the smartphone, and within a decade it could be powerful enough to replace conventional game systems for good. Mobile gaming began in 1979 when the Milton Bradley Company introduced the Microvision cartridge-based system. Since then, Nintendo, Sega and Sony have released many more portable systems, from the Game Boy to the recent quad-core PlayStation Vita. Although many of these devices were a great success among gamers (to date, Nintendo has sold more than 50 million of its DS systems), they never gained a substantial following among the general public. Then in 2008, Apple launched the App Store, providing a simple and accessible distribution platform for games. One year later, the company Rovio released Angry Birds. Within a year, 50 million people had downloaded the app, spurring developers to create more engaging portable games. Now 64 percent of smartphone owners download games, and 37 percent of iPhone owners say they play daily. Smartphone games are still a far cry from the richly textured and fast-moving console experiences that hard-core gamers love, but that could change rapidly. Today’s fastest phones already have quad-core 1.5-gigahertz processors—a fraction of the horsepower of a PlayStation 3—and others can send full 1080p high-def to a TV over HDMI. Mobile processors are hitting the steep part of the Moore’s Law curve, where power increases sharply with every year. One day soon, a five-ounce phone’s specs could rival those of the current best laptop. Such a sharp increase in mobile power will most certainly provoke further attrition in the gaming ranks. Android and iOS already claim 58 percent of the portable-gaming market, and console game sales are on the decline. But for smartphones to gain dominance, users will need better ways to access console-level games. Either cloud-based delivery services will license a broader range of titles, or flash memory will improve to the point that a phone can store many console games (at present, one game could consume half a typical phone’s 16 gigabytes of memory). Once the barriers to access fall, though, the phone will become a dual-purpose game hub. Mobile gamers will probably continue to rely on app-based games—who would want to play Skyrim on a four-inch screen, anyway?—but home gamers will have a dramatically different experience. Rather than firing up an Xbox or PlayStation, they will pair their phones with their TVs and wireless controllers. Discs will become obsolete, shelf space in the home entertainment system will open up, and users will carry a self-contained game system wherever they go.[/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2012-04/pocket-console[/url]

Too much bullshit and hilarity in that title. That day will never come.

[QUOTE=venn178;35838801]Too much bullshit and hilarity in that title. That day will never come.[/QUOTE] Amen. Touchscreens cannot and will not replace standard controls.

If hardcore gaming moves to mobiles i'm probably not going to stick around. I'm fine with my computer staying at my desk.

Somebody would have to find a better way to control the games then because that's one of the things that's holding it back.

i can see that happening for handheld games not in the near future, but like in 10-20 years pc games, consoles and such? nope

I'll stick with my pc for "hardcore" gaming, but if possible in the future I would also use my phone as described in the article. No way that a phone would ever beat a pc spec wise, but if phones advanced to the point where they can act as consoles then that would be grand.

Touch screen first person shooter I'd rather shoot myself in the foot. That sounds more pleasant then playing "Hardcore games" with touchscreens. as much as I wish I could play UT99/HL2/GMod on a phone, that would purely be for extreme boredom. Besides, aren't smartphone games insanely linear beyond measure? "The device is the smartphone, and within a decade it could be powerful enough to replace conventional game systems for good." except for the fact that the personal desktop computer, even a netbook is far bigger, therefore would carry far more parts, therefore in every way imaginable just completely outdo anything any smartphone would ever do. By the time a smart phone can play Metro Last light, computers will be able to, in real time simulate all of skyrim in real time, every NPC working all at once, in a singular level, maybe even more.

I don't really feel like paying $70 a month to play games.

why not my phone already outclasses the Xbox 360

The PC is far too powerful to be replaced by a simple smartphone. This would never happen. The PC gets more advanced every year. Phones will not be able to keep up.

Thought this thread would flare up attention.

[QUOTE=lavacano;35838850]why not my phone already outclasses the Xbox 360[/QUOTE] Touch controls and a lack of modular upgrades, Angry birds and perhaps a little GTA 3 is the most that gets played on my phone.

[QUOTE=Arachnidus;35838823]Amen. Touchscreens cannot and will not replace standard controls.[/QUOTE] There are already concepts for plug-in button addons to some smartphones. They fit around the smartphone and plug into one of the slots, and give you access to more buttons and thumbsticks. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/IFGOu.jpg[/IMG] There's also one that fits to the top and bottom of the phone, making it look vaguely like a PSP.

I'll wait till I see a 4GHz quad core on a phone without any cooling and with >5min battery life.

[QUOTE=Derpmonster;35838853]The PC is far too powerful to be replaced by a simple smartphone. This would never happen. The PC gets more advanced every year. Phones will not be able to keep up.[/QUOTE] Haven't smartphones progressed exponentially in the past few years? It could be likely they would eventually catch up.

[QUOTE=LuckyLuke;35838889]Haven't smartphones progressed exponentially in the past few years? It could be likely they would eventually catch up.[/QUOTE] Well, yes but. I doubt a smart phone would be able to run Crisis 2 for example Any time soon.

[QUOTE=LuckyLuke;35838889]Haven't smartphones progressed exponentially in the past few years? It could be likely they would eventually catch up.[/QUOTE] And apparently computers will cease to progress while this occurs? I have nothing against Smart Phones, but there's now way a phone is ever going to give you the same experience as playing on a PC or Console. They may replace Handheld Gaming eventually, but I'd like to hope that dedicated Handhelds will still find a place/market cause I like the 3DS/Vita.

If I want handheld gaming I buy a 3DS or a Vita, not some iPhone or android BS

[QUOTE=LuckyLuke;35838889]Haven't smartphones progressed exponentially in the past few years? It could be likely they would eventually catch up.[/QUOTE] Smartphones are pretty much covering existing tech, but miniaturized and improved. Meanwhile PC tech is actually innovative. It's only logical that smartphone tech would start to catch up, but it won't actually happen until we invent chips that have the same capabilities regardless of size.

I don't care how good the game is, I'm not trading in my 24" 1920x1080 monitor, mouse and keyboard for an iPhone with a snap-on SNES controller. I'm sure it's fine for when you're on the go, but for actual gaming? No

If by smartphone you mean keyboard and mouse, then yes.

[QUOTE][I]Nintendo sold 50 million DS systems, "didn't gain much following" Rovio sold 50 million copies of a game for phones, AMAZING SMASH HIT, CLEARLY THIS IS THE NEXT DIRECTION FOR HARDCORE GAMING[/I][/QUOTE] I just don't know what these journalists are thinking. If console sales are in decline [I]it's probably because the latest home consoles were released in goddamned 2005-2007.[/I]

[QUOTE=TheTalon;35839012]I don't care how good the game is, I'm not trading in my 24" 1920x1080 monitor, mouse and keyboard for an iPhone with a snap-on SNES controller. I'm sure it's fine for when you're on the go, but for actual gaming? No[/QUOTE] I'm not trading upgradability, 2 big monitors, and the best controls I ever had in my life, for a tiny, single screen device with tiny controls. If I wanted to play a phone game it's going to because I'm not at home and insanely bored, otherwise I couldn't possibly. [QUOTE=latin_geek;35839048]I just don't know what these journalists are thinking. If console sales are in decline [I]it's probably because the latest home consoles were released in goddamned 2005-2007.[/I][/QUOTE] You actually believe they're thinking? I really wish I had your optimism because there clearly is no process of thought behind saying what they're saying, end of story

Even if you cold attach a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse/controller, speakers and all that to a phone, power wise phones are not going to beat desktops. A phone is a phone, it's not replacing shit anytime soon.

The problem with playing games on my droid bionic is the lack of physical shoulder buttons.

I still use a flip phone. Hell I probably won't have a smartphone even a decade from now.

[QUOTE=POLOPOZOZO;35839075]I still use a flip phone. Hell I probably won't have a smartphone even a decade from now.[/QUOTE] A decade from now dumbphones will probably be really hard to find.

Unless if they're talking about some sci-fi shit in the future where the phone projects holograms and / or taps into your goddamn brain, then, um, no. [quote]Once the barriers to access fall, though, the phone will become a dual-purpose game hub. Mobile gamers will probably continue to rely on app-based games—who would want to play Skyrim on a four-inch screen, anyway?—but home gamers will have a dramatically different experience. Rather than firing up an Xbox or PlayStation, they will pair their phones with their TVs and wireless controllers. Discs will become obsolete, shelf space in the home entertainment system will open up, and users will carry a self-contained game system wherever they go.[/quote] This is the only relevant part of the article to replacing gaming (because who cares if your phone can run fucking Crysis if you can only control it with the touchscreen and have a 4 inch screen), and it's still pretty much bullshit.

[QUOTE=Saber15;35838882]There are already concepts for plug-in button addons to some smartphones. They fit around the smartphone and plug into one of the slots, and give you access to more buttons and thumbsticks. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/IFGOu.jpg[/IMG] There's also one that fits to the top and bottom of the phone, making it look vaguely like a PSP.[/QUOTE] Nobody's going to develop games for those until they're embedded into phones and that ain't gonna happen. People develop so many games for smartphones because since they're all mostly unified design and hardware wise (touchscreen, maybe a button, set specs to run Android version X or above) it's easy to develop games that every phone can play.