Do the new batch of iOS games put it on par with PSP?

As far as graphics the iPhone4 is the best, but that's no surprise considering the PSP is old tech. As far as gameplay, iOS games are getting better as more companies jump in. But, I see a limit when it comes to getting really big original games on iOS because I dont think the dev costs can be justified in a world were most games are 99cents. It's unfortunate, but it's a hole Apple has dug for itself by encouraging cheap games.

Then there's the problem of controls, where the PSP wins, no contest. Until iDevices get physical buttons and hopefully analog sticks, it'll be a good but not great gaming system.

I think the upcoming PSPphone has the potential to be great, combining the best of iPhone/iPod gaming with the best of PSP. Apple better watch and learn. We need physical controls damnit!

 

I can't believe people are even debating this? How many premium iPhone games give you more than 4 or 5 hours of Gameplay? Very few. The ones that you might consider to be on par with the PSP in terms of graphics or various other console-quality attributes inevitably offer half the content of a typical PSP game. Half the content, if you're lucky. Resistance Retribution, for instance, offers a campaign mode that is twice the length of the campaign mode included in NOVA 2. And it's that way pretty much across the board. Games are routinely 2 hours or less on the iDevice and rarely span beyond 5 or 6 hours. RPGs tend to present a natural exception to this rule, as you would expect. But action oriented games almost always offer a shorted experience on the iPhone.

 

plenty od because unlike psp games they have online multiplayer and constant updates. And the ds is the worst when it comes to short games and other nintendo systems like the wii also has this problem. Look how short kirby epic yarn is or the ds mario bros. Nintendo always makes short but sweet and expensive (they never go down in price) games. Maybe the ds zelda games can ladt a while but any ds platformer or action game is also short same with the wii. Look at the starfox series or yoshis story as well.

 

I think the dungeon hunter games are better than those psp hack and slash games. Anyome agree? And what 3d final fantasy game that isnt a port or remake or spinoff of aother franchise (crisi core) does the psp have? And who wants to play a ff fighting game. If you want a fighting game why not just play tekken or street fighter and save the ff characters for sn actual rpg. Im just not into any of the psp genres it excels in or got into any of those games based on series from other sony systems since i never owned a ps1 or ps2. And for many of them, like that sega game Valkerine chronicles 2, require you to play the previous incarnation to fully enjoy and understand the story.

Evry portable game forum and emulation forum including rom hacking forums all focus on the ds or other systems. Psp hardly ever gets talked about on non sony forums. Go to romhacking.net or acclaims board for instance. They all only use it for emulation and claim its only good once i. A while if a good game comes out during long dry spells. Just ask them it isnt just touch gamers tat think this. Even on gamefaqs it was constantly belittled in favor of the ds. Ppl on its own gamefaqs psp board recommended the ds without putting custom firmware on the psp to newbs thats how bad it was 2 yrs ago or so.


Bottom line it all comes down to tastes. Even on the pc id much rather be playing an easy game to get into with addicting and long gameplay and that is indy like mount and blade than some big budget but tedious game like assasins creed or fallout or one hard to get into with long tutorials like the total war series.

And dungeon hunter 2 is just as good and refined as the big pc hit of similar gameplay called torchlight. Just try it on the ipad in hd, its great. And this is just the beginning, gameloft is growing as a company and constantly gaining experience with the platform. Eternal legacy 2 for example will even be bigger, better, etc. And i think its better than those psp hack and slash games as well which only got scores in the 6 range on metacritic and ign.

 

When do you think PSP was released?

To be fair, use iphone/ipod 1st gen and play those newly released games and then ask the question.

 

I haven't touched my DS or PSP since getting my Iphone either.

Besides being a smaller handheld, games are crazy cheaper/free on Iphone, far quicker to pick up and play and/or continue, graphically on par or better, and much much greater variety w/ easy online access (Iphone). And that's just the major things that come to mind at 2am.

What the DS/PSP have over OS atm is bigger-name developers (at the moment) which also translates to bigger games, and buttons/directional. That's about it. Few games on either handheld right now can't be done on the Iphone....save for games that require precise button and joystick controls.

Patapon can easily be emulated on the Iphone (im amazed no one has yet), a monster hunter type game would fit GREAT on the Iphone, most of the DS rpgs or puzzle games can be done on the Iphone as well. And for those that think handheld games offer more hours of play....you can't compare the length of a 5 dollar game with a 30-40 dollar game. I've personally spent hours upon hours of time on .99 cent games like Angry Birds, Spirit, Words w/ Friends (free) than I could put into FF Crisis Core (which sucked).

I think by the end of 2011 we will see big name developers providing more in depth OS gaming quality, with a lower price point....GTA chinatown wars showed that.......Secret of Mana will prove that...or FF Tactics which I know is tons of hours.

Just give me some buttons somehow and Iphone/Ipod will have no limitations.

 

Graphically, yes.

John Carmack (id Software) and Mark Rein (Epic Games) are on record saying as much. They BOTH agree the latest iOS devices exceed the visual capabilities of ALL 3 last gen consoles, and even Wii.

It sits in between, fast approaching XBox 360.

Neither Nintendo's Wii, nor the upcoming 3ds has the might to power a version of the Unreal 3 engine. The latest iOS devices can.

It's a powerhouse, in this regard. The PSP doesn't hold a candle.

Yet, touch vs. Physical control practicality is debatable. I believe it depends on the game.

 

I think it would be smart of Apple to take a hint from the PSP phone and do a dedicated gaming device variant of the iPhone with dual analog controls and buttons, as well as the regular suite of features (front/rear camera, etc). One of the problems for large developers targeting the iDevices is that as many millions that are out there, only a fraction are in the hands of gamers. For something like a PSP, all of them are owned by gamers. It's much easier to comit to a large budget for a game when you know the size of the target audience.

Anyway, that's just my 2 cents. What I know for sure is that dual-stick games like Alien Space would play much better with actual physical analog controls and buttons. It also helps a lot when you dont constantly have your fingers blocking the action.

 

The idevices kinda do have monster hunter type games but with more social and multiplayer settings like kingdom conquest by sega and some others kinda like dawn of discovery as well.

 

I agree; it's pointless to argue that iOS games have less content in single player campaigns than PSP games because:

1. There are multiplayer modes in those games.
2. You're getting the game for less than a quarter of the price, so getting more than a quarter of the gameplay is a much better deal.

Additionally, iOS has so many smaller games that might even have tons of gameplay for a really cheap price. Show me a game like Super QuickHook for PSP. Or even a tower defense game with PvZ's unique style that has even close to as much bang for your buck.

 

Another good example is Battlefield Bad Company 2.
Although the multiplayer is severely flawed, the singleplayer is mostly decent. On the PSP there are no modern FPS games at all, and even if there was a modern FPS game then it would control badly and cost £39.99 as opposed to £0.59.

The FPS games that I've played on the PSP (MoH 1 & 2, Coded Arms, Brother in Arms) are all terrible compared to gameloft's FPS games like Modern Combat 2 and NOVA 2.

 

You're making the same point over and over. We have already agreed that the iPhone is superior in shooters and racers. In every other genre though, the PSP trumps the iPhone

 

But that's not the point of the thread. You are claiming that iOS games are a better value for money-and in general, they are (though not in all cases). However, the thread is discussing whether iOS games themselves are as good as PSP games, and the answer to that is certainly no

 

iOS=Causal Gaming

PSP=Hardcore gaming

 

qft.

 

Only if you want it to be that way.

I rarely play casual games on my iPhone. Most of the games on my iPhone are hardcore games, and they're games that I'd rather play than the PSP equivalent.

No, I was making a point about value (which I know is kind of off-topic, but I said it anyway).

And no, we didn't agree that the iPhone is superior in shooter and racers. As I've been saying all along, there is no right or wrong answer. Personally I feel that iOS games beat PSP games in almost every genre, which is partly due the the fact that the PSP lacks so many games from other genres (i.e Galaxy on Fire 2, Aralon Sword and Shadow, Modern Combat 2).

 

Yes. The whole Syphon Filter series. Much better than Nova 2 or any other fps on iPhone. Gameloft is mediocre at best. Sure, graphics are decent but there is no soul, no innovation and very lackluster gamplay in their titles. It's the
McDonalds of gaming.. Except they didn't even bother to create their own sauce.. so it's a copy of McDonalds of gaming. Lol.

 

Syphon Filter isn't an FPS. And anyway, I'd rather play Modern Combat 2 or NOVA 2. You can disagree, but it's my opinion and nothing will change it.