Consolation Prize

With the release of firmware v2.0 we can now start using our beloved iPhones (or iTouch) as mobile gaming platforms in addition to our Nintendo DS’s and Sony PSP’s. There is already a decent selection of games available for the device ready to download from the “App Store” and most of them are reasonably priced.

So, in the name of “research” I thought I’d download a couple of games to sample the validity of the iPhone as a long term gaming platform.

ZEN Pinball: Roller Coaster

Shooting out from the development house that brought Pinball FX to Xbox Live Arcade this little Pinball game is the first to appear on the iPhone. The game only features one table, based upon the idea of a theme park and features a good mix of buffers, ramps, targets and challenges to test your skills. The actual table looks okay, it’s bright and colourful, with plenty of flashing lights, and because it’s a 3D model you’re can tilt and rotate the iPhone to change the viewpoint.

As it’s a touch-screen device the controls are simple, just tap on the bottom left or right of the screen for the respective flipper control. In reality this generally means you’re going to hold the iPhone cupped between two hands using your thumbs to activate the flippers.

My main concern with ZEN Pinball: Roller Coaster however is the response speed, or the sometimes apparent delay of the flippers. On numerous occasions I was left with flippers that just didn’t “flip”, resulting in the loss of a ball. In other instances the flippers would “stick”, just as if I had left my thumb pressed down. As pinball is based upon your reactions to have them further compromised by sometimes unresponsive controls is very frustrating.

ZEN Pinball: Roller Coaster is available for 2.99 GBP and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it if not for the flipper delay. The problem isn’t bad enough to ruin the game, but it can be detrimental to your enjoyment.

Super Monkey Ball

Sega brings its much loved franchise to the iPhone with some surprising results. The first thing that struck me about Super Monkey Ball was the excellent 3D. I’ve seen screenshots of the game previously on the “App Store” but it’s not until it’s actually in motion that you realise the power of Apple’s sleek mobile device.

The game follows the usual fundamental rules of Monkey Ball; Guide your chosen monkey (selecting from either “AiAi”, “MeeMee”, “Baby”, or “Gongon”) across more complex and devious levels to the exit before the timer runs out whilst collecting banana’s which are scattered throughout each level.

Super Monkey Ball uses the iPhone’s accelerometers as the control interface and the player simply tilts the iPhone forward, backwards, or left and right as desired which in turn moves the environment. Overall the controls work quite well but they do feel a little over sensitive and it takes practice to only move the iPhone using only minute adjustments. What’s blatantly lacking from the game is an option to change the sensitivity, a definite oversight by the designers, and the inclusion of which would have made the game so much more accessible.

As mentioned in the opening paragraph Super Monkey Ball looks stunning and has great complementary music and sound effects. It feels like a full retail game, and something more akin to what I would expect to see on the PSP or DS. At only 4.99 GBP you can’t really go far wrong with this, and once you become accustomed to the controls it’s a prime example of what a games company can deliver for the iPhone.

Even though I’ve only sampled a couple of games for the iPhone I’m quite impressed by what’s possible already. Even though this is just the first generation of software the future is looking very promising for iPhone and iTouch owners. On a personal level I’m definitely far more likely to carry around my iPhone than my PSP or DS. The truth of the matter is it’s just more convenient to have the one device that covers all my requirements while on the move. Obviously mobile phones in the past haven’t quite been as capable as the iPhone, and games have by-and-large been quite rudimentary, but the times are changing. Nintendo and Sony certainly ought to keep an eye on this new upstart.

The potential that the iPhone offers makes me feel very excited, ultimately though I feel that the potential will be short lived.

The DS proves this, it has been on the market for almost 4 years now and yet the number of games which utilize the hardware’s features and use them well to recreate popular game genres are relatively few (Ninja Gaiden DS for action adventure for example). Just like the Wii, there is risk involved in re-designing games to work around the controls and most developers don’t seem willing to give it a shot. The iPhone isn’t solely a games device nor does it have Nintendo making games for it. Oh and no buttons to fall back on either so it’s hard to back it, I think. I hope that my theory is proven wrong though. ^_^

Good comment Daniel. Like you say the iPhone certainly has a lot of potential, it’s certainly powerful enough to match the PSP and has some decent inbuilt technology (touch screen, motion sensors) to be a match for the DS. You are right tho, there’s unfortunately no backup control mechanism developers can fall back on like you have with the Wii or DS and thus if developers want a piece of the iPhone / iTouch pie then they’re going to have to use the controls effectively and perhaps for once be forced to innovate.

Its success as a game platform ultimately depends on how much of the market the iPhone can carve out, and what percentage of users actually download games. At present a good majority of the top 25 paid applications from the App Store are games, some of them what I’d call “proper” games like “Super Monkey Ball”, “Crash Bandicoot Nitro Racing” and “Cro-Mag Rally” so I believe the interest is there from users.

I look forward to seeing the sales figures for games like Super Monkey Ball. If enough units are sold, and continue to sell, then more publishers will support the iPhone as a serious games platform and this will be the key to its success.