So according to various gaming periodicals Deus Ex: The Fall has officially been announced. The interesting thing is that instead of it being on console or PC it's going to be on mobiles devices using iOS and yet the devs are saying it's not going to be 'watered down' as some are claiming it must be since it's on mobile.

Good thing? Bad thing? Your thoughts on this in general?

 

Bad. I was really excited when they teased a 7 sec vine video on twitter with Jon De Lancie's voice only to be told it's on something I don't and likely won't ever, have.

 

As soon as I saw "mobile device" my interest disappeared. Here's an idea, how about you make a real game?

 

I know the initial reaction to a mobile game is that it'll be a piss weak casual or social game... but it'd be pretty boss to have some good games on those platforms. Let them experiment and try something new.

I have more time throughout the day to use my phone for entertainment than a traditional computer. I usually use that time to read fics, because the games are weak, but I'd be interested in seeing that changed.

I don't know if the team behind this new game is capable of it, or if that's even their intention, but I don't think there's anything wrong with designing a real game expressly for mobile devices.

 

How about the fact it's not a gaming device and therefore controls terribly. It's not "something new". There have been attempts at putting real games on touchscreen devices before. They didn't work. You can see on their demonstration in the video how clunky it is.

 

Well, I'll give it a chance... oh wait no I won't because my phone would explode if I even tried to play any game past tetris.

 

I don't have a source, but I've talked to multiple people now who've said it's going to be six hours long.

In the video interview they say they want the gameplay to be "as simple as possible". Like, I get that. It's on a tablet - so input is limited to touch. You'd think a touch screen would allow for complex games, but a keyboard allows for the most complicated interface. Simple as that. That's why mobile games tend to suck, though having small budgets, low-end hardware, authorization fees, and bad intentions doesn't help.

Literally don't care about the game, which says something, since I was fully prepared to purchase the next Deux Ex game at $60, which I don't really do anymore.

Square has been hemorrhaging money. The Fall is a result of that. They didn't make bank on Tomb Raider (I could have told them they wouldn't on that game) and Hitman (surprised there, but it did sell a decent number of copies, they over-budgeted the thing). Square has been sending messages since the start of the new year that they aren't inclined to invest much in the next console generation and seem to be migrating to mobile, because they believe it's some sort of safe haven (it's not, it's even more fiercely competed-in than the consolespace).

I'll be surprised if we ever get a proper sequel to HR.

But you know things are bad in the industry when "we want to make the game as simple as possible" is something the developers say to try and market the game, and they think consumers will think positively on such talk.

 

Technically, Square's issues with Tomb Raider are due to budgets too. That game sold very well, just not good enough for its absurd budget.

 

SE did actually say that they were looking at coming out with a sequel to HR for the standard PC and consoles that everyone seems to be looking for. True, The Fall is for mobile platforms, but hopefully they come through with the sequel like they stated.