11 votes

Apple Arcade is a game subscription service for iPhones, Mac and Apple TV

15 comments

  1. [3]
    onyxleopard
    Link
    Really interesting that all games will be available for offline play. Makes me wonder that they’ll be focusing on single player experiences more than multiplayer. I’m cautiously optimistic for...

    Really interesting that all games will be available for offline play. Makes me wonder that they’ll be focusing on single player experiences more than multiplayer. I’m cautiously optimistic for this. I thought when Steam came to macOS that Apple would pressure Valve to make it a good experience, but that sadly never happened.

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      cptcobalt
      Link Parent
      At the very least, Steam's presence on macOS made the Mac as a gaming platform possible. It helps to have a large enough library of Steam games that I can play on macOS without having to boot into...

      At the very least, Steam's presence on macOS made the Mac as a gaming platform possible. It helps to have a large enough library of Steam games that I can play on macOS without having to boot into Windows. And when publishers port to macOS for Steam, it stands to reason that they also do the work to port and submit for the Mac App Store too.

      4 votes
      1. onyxleopard
        Link Parent
        They often don’t, though. And my issue with both Steam and the MAS is that it’s too hard to discover good games on those platforms. It’s basically overwhelming, and the average game on both is...

        And when publishers port to macOS for Steam, it stands to reason that they also do the work to port and submit for the Mac App Store too.

        They often don’t, though. And my issue with both Steam and the MAS is that it’s too hard to discover good games on those platforms. It’s basically overwhelming, and the average game on both is pretty bad. I only go to them to buy games if I already heard about them elsewhere.

  2. [4]
    cptcobalt
    Link
    I'm totally stoked for this. Apple's website for arcade is outstanding, and they're actively trying to recruit people in. And, one of the few things from today's announcement to have named titles,...

    I'm totally stoked for this. Apple's website for arcade is outstanding, and they're actively trying to recruit people in. And, one of the few things from today's announcement to have named titles, creators, and a clear path forward. Good signs. (Just no price.)

    Gruber's prediction sort of nailed it. I like the emphasis on smaller game shops, but many of the announced creators are totally recognizable on and off the Apple platform. It'd also be cool if Apple financed remasters or returns of old dead game apps to the App Store with Apple Arcade. We'll see what happens.

    This is an interesting sort of admission that IAP doesn't completely fulfill every developer's needs. I know that with Apple Arcade that they're taking on more of a traditional publisher role than they've ever had before. Who know's if that means Apple will exert influence based on the rumored investments.

    3 votes
    1. [2]
      nothis
      Link Parent
      Oh, I didn't know they have concrete descriptions of some upcoming games on their official website! "Beyond a Steel Sky", is that a proper sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky? Out of nowhere!

      Oh, I didn't know they have concrete descriptions of some upcoming games on their official website! "Beyond a Steel Sky", is that a proper sequel to Beneath a Steel Sky? Out of nowhere!

      4 votes
    2. guts
      Link Parent
      As a Final Fantasy IX/Last Story fan i am glad Hironobu Sakaguchi is working on a new game.

      As a Final Fantasy IX/Last Story fan i am glad Hironobu Sakaguchi is working on a new game.

      1 vote
  3. nothis
    Link
    Dare I say, I actually have high hopes for this? I'm not sure if this is the absolute best way of doing it, but a mobile games subscription service competing with all the F2P trash out there could...

    Dare I say, I actually have high hopes for this? I'm not sure if this is the absolute best way of doing it, but a mobile games subscription service competing with all the F2P trash out there could give mobile game developers a platform to try something genuinely quality without having to rely on ads and microtransactions.

    2 votes
  4. [5]
    JXM
    Link
    To me, this is the most interesting thing that was announced yesterday. All of the other stuff was very much Apple playing catch up or saying, "Look! We have a streaming option too!" Apple Arcade...

    To me, this is the most interesting thing that was announced yesterday. All of the other stuff was very much Apple playing catch up or saying, "Look! We have a streaming option too!"

    Apple Arcade seems somewhat unique. I don't know of any other mobile services like this. I know Sony and Microsoft both offer similar services for their consoles.

    I'm one of the few people I know that's very willing to pay for an app/game. To me, who grew up paying $30-$60 per game, $3-$10 for a game is totally reasonable. If this program makes more money for developers, then I'll be happy.

    1 vote
    1. [4]
      nothis
      Link Parent
      There's the occasional mobile game I come across that's really polished, understands the medium and avoids all predatory monetization tactics. It always makes me a little sad to think how hard it...

      There's the occasional mobile game I come across that's really polished, understands the medium and avoids all predatory monetization tactics. It always makes me a little sad to think how hard it is for those games to compete with F2P shovelware. The market for mobile games is completely broken, it's basically been taken over by gambling entirely.

      This is a very good move in the right direction and Apple using its dominant role in that space for good. Yea, they let the current situation happen but I'm ready to forgive that if they can genuinely pull off a business model that helps good mobile games make money.

      1. [3]
        JXM
        Link Parent
        How could they have avoided the current situation happening? I'm genuinely curious what you think they could have done that would have avoided a race to the bottom. I can't think of anything off...

        How could they have avoided the current situation happening? I'm genuinely curious what you think they could have done that would have avoided a race to the bottom. I can't think of anything off of the top of my head, aside from setting the price floor higher than 99 cents.

        I remember buying Cro-Mag Racing the day the App Store launched for $9.99. Most of the apps available that day were either free (for services like AOL Instant Messenger or Facebook) or cost a significant amount of money.

        1. [2]
          nothis
          Link Parent
          I don't really blame them. Nobody would pay for a digital software license on a smartphone in 2008, so they had to promote free and $1 apps to reduce the barrier. In-app microtransactions make...

          I don't really blame them. Nobody would pay for a digital software license on a smartphone in 2008, so they had to promote free and $1 apps to reduce the barrier. In-app microtransactions make sense, too.

          I'd say there's just a line (a blurry one, but a line, nevertheless) that is crossed once you allow a gatcha game that lets people spend thousands of dollars on virtual items that are essentially some numbers plus a picture. They could have, for example, adopt a policy against gambling-like mechanics. And, of course, they could have had this Apple Arcade idea a whole lot earlier...

          1. JXM
            Link Parent
            Fair point. I do agree that the gambling like mechanics of most modern games (all games, not just smartphone ones) is negative and bad for consumers.

            Fair point. I do agree that the gambling like mechanics of most modern games (all games, not just smartphone ones) is negative and bad for consumers.

  5. [2]
    masochist
    Link
    They can do all they want for making mobile gaming more accessible and less predatory, but I still absolutely loathe the idea of playing a game on my phone screen or even my tablet. I want an...

    They can do all they want for making mobile gaming more accessible and less predatory, but I still absolutely loathe the idea of playing a game on my phone screen or even my tablet. I want an actual controller, and all of the MFi controllers have weird gaps in support depending upon the game (oh, and there's no official documentation about which games support which controllers). Apple really needs to release an official controller, something that works as well with their hardware as the rest of their accessories, before I'll even consider their arcade. Usually I'm very pro-Apple, but, as usual, it's very clear they just don't understand games and really just want the money.

    1. nothis
      Link Parent
      I think touch-games have their niche. I know a handful that, if they were the gold standard for popular mobile games, would make me a regular mobile gamer. Games like Monument Valley, Ridiculous...

      I think touch-games have their niche. I know a handful that, if they were the gold standard for popular mobile games, would make me a regular mobile gamer. Games like Monument Valley, Ridiculous Fishing, Blek, Frust, Old Man's Journey, Desert Golfing, Threes,... (all those understand and make great use of the mobile platform, including, maybe, slightly shallower gameplay you don't mind splitting into a few, minute-long sessions on the subway). There's also decent ports that work well. The Witness is on iOS, for example.

      The problem is that those games are barely making a profit next to the F2P behemoths, so they're completely overshadowed.