The State of iOS Gaming: The Platform Matures

The Early Days

Trism: One of the better early entries in iPhone gaming

When the iPhone first arrived on the scene, the quality of games available for the platform varied wildly. It was the wild west of gaming development, and many didn’t know what to do with this new device beyond replicating gaming experiences they’d had in other arenas. So we saw Tetris clones, Bejeweled, and ports of Java games aimed at traditional cellular handsets.

One of our articles about the must-have games for the iPhone near the launch of the App Store tells a tale of kart racers, puzzle games, and clones of popular franchises. Gameloft was in the business of churning out retitled and rebranded versions of console and PC classics, and it was a formula that worked so well major developers like EA took note and started getting in on the action.

How Far We’ve Come

While some things haven’t changed (physics games still show off the real power of the platform), others have. Derivative titles are still successful (look at Gameloft’s Gangstar: Miami Vindication, for instance), but consumers are also clearly rewarding those developers who are focusing on experiences tailored specifically to what the iPhone and iPad bring to gaming.

Angry Birds Sets the Pace

Angry Birds represents everything that's good about iOS gaming.

I mentioned the example of Angry Birds, but it’s hard to overemphasize the effect the Rovio Mobile-developed title has had on the state of iOS gaming. The physics-based puzzle game has dominated the paid App Store charts, and though it recently slipped from the number one spot, it often finds its way back. One reason is the attractive price tag ($0.99), but another is the unique experience it provides, which clones so far haven’t been able to match or capitalize upon.

Other gaming stars of late include Cut the Rope by Chillingo, another physics-based puzzler that takes a cue from Angry Birds but doesn’t feel derivative. If you haven’t tried it, and you like Angry Birds, I highly recommend it. It also uses the $0.99 pice point, as do Fruit Ninja, Doodle Jump and Flight Control. These stars all provide uniquely iOS-enhanced gaming experiences, and they all enjoy consistent, healthy sales.

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