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There’s
always a debate of whether mobile devices can truly be a medium that
hardcore or traditional gamers can enjoy fulfilling gameplay experiences.
Sure, there are lots of traditional gamers that play mobile games…just
because we like to play RTS and FPS and MMO games doesn’t mean that we
don’t like to play casual games, especially if we have a few extra minutes
to kill, right? I don’t get to play games as often as I’d like, so I
often try to get my fix for game-playing via mobile games. But sometimes
mobile games leave me wanting. I know that I’m not the only who feels
that there are not enough appealing mobile game applications to satisfy
the more traditional gamer.
Being a traditional PC/Console gamer doesn’t mean I don’t have “casual”
gameplay preferences…sometimes it’s just a matter of weekend vs
weekday….sometimes it’s a defining phase of my life, say when I’m starting
a new venture...or planning my wedding (current phase of my life), I play
more casual games since they are less time-intensive. There’s just not
enough time to spend a whole weekend or two to finish a PC or console game
– I’m always running around. Between being an entrepreneur, with a
soon-to-be husband who gives me a hard time when I spend too much time at
work, friends who complain that I put them on a “3-month rotation” for
social get-togethers, golfing, dancing, baseball games…well, you get my
drift. I never have enough time, and I’m never in one place. I’ve become
a master at accomplishing tasks while I’m waiting for something else to
happen (waiting for the coffee to finish brewing, the 7 th inning stretch at a Red Sox game, etc). I find
that jotting notes, checking email, planning my day, reading industry news
clips are somehow accomplished during these pockets of downtime. When an
email has been read and replied to from my Treo, it means I have 1 less
task to do when I’m at my desk in the office. I’m more productive when I
sit down, since I’ve already planned and organized my meeting schedule. I
dive right into that Excel spreadsheet on a widescreen monitor, or
compare multiple documents with 2 monitors side-by-side.
So while I’m able to manage my work obligations through various tools
(remote and stationary ones), and also about to use pockets of downtime to
plan my social life, I find it difficult to find time to play games. I
like playing mobile games, but sometimes I feel like there should be
something more to what is currently perceived as mobile gaming.
I often ask myself “wouldn’t it would be great to play a mobile game that
then advances my character for an MMO I’m trying to keep up with?” I’m
not talking about playing the entire MMO on my phone…but something to keep
me from staying a level 6 when the rest of my guild is not at level 21.
Or how about letting me design a weapon or build a car, that then affects
how my performance in a combat game or driving sim? Why can’t I check my
stats and competitor’s ranks, plan a raid, or coordinate a multiplayer
game during those pockets of time?
Oh wait…I will be able to, cuz that’s what my company does
J
And I can’t wait! Soon I will be able to
finally manage my virtual life the way I manage my work and social
life….many games, with well-managed tournament play, and not feeling left
behind. |
Vicky's Voice and Vision.
Posted by Froghop on November 8, 2006 | Permalink
