Gamasutra had an interesting article (http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6711/will_tablet_game_quality_soon_.php) the other day and the reason why I said it’s interesting is due to how it relates to what I’ve said in the past with both Android and iOS tablets possibly overtaking both dedicated portable gaming devices and even dedicated gaming consoles. Now will I don’t expect it to fully replace the consoles I do think that handheld’s time is numbered and it’s only a matter of time before we say goodbye to them, consoles however I feel will simply evolve to computers. I mean haven’t they already been going down that path as it seems and with the upcoming Playstation and Xbox releases and their rumored specs (Yes I didn’t include the WiiU).
And tech providers — like mobile graphics provider Nvidia and engine provider Unity Technologies — are doing all they can to supply developers with whatever they need to create games that challenge AAA console titles head-on — as evidenced by some of the demos at the recent CES show.
“There’s no doubt that we have under-utilized technology in the tablet space,” says Ben Cousins, general manager of mobile developer Ngmoco Sweden.
“With the iPad 2 and some of the more powerful Android tablets, we’ve got devices that are approaching the power of the current generation of HD consoles — and probably surpassing the Wii.
You gotta admit that some of the things that are touched on in this article holds a lot of merit, especially this one.
“Even though my console isn’t too far away — right under my TV — I need to interrupt my TV viewing to use it, I have to take 30 seconds or so to turn it on, sometimes I have to download a firmware update, and I have to reach over and pick up a controller,” he says.
“My tablet is next to me on the sofa a lot of the time and, to play a game on it, I simply have to pick it up. I think these levels of increased micro-convenience actually do push consumer usage patterns more than people would expect.”
It’s a decent little read and it’s worth checking it out, if anything to agree and disagree on what they are speaking on.
Source: Gamasutra
