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Tilting Point VP of product strategy says games offering illusion of skill dominate US mobile charts, indies need to develop for more than themselves
From the very first arcade games onward, the industry has embraced the concept of "being good at a game." Whether it was dexterity, strategy, or just lightning-fast reflexes, the most successful video games in the world have usually tested something of the players. However, that doesn't seem to apply in the world of mobile games, according to Jesse Divnich.
In advance of a talk Divnich will give on the "10 Biggest Mistakes Free-to-Play Developers Make" at the Montreal International Game Summit next week, the Tilting Point VP of product strategy spoke with GamesIndustry.biz about the difference between games based on skill, and those based on the illusion of skill. For Divnich, the difference is that the former require something of players (such as concentration, precision, input, timing), and their individual skill level and dedication to the game will dictate their progress or performance. As examples, he pointed to games like Asphalt 8, FIFA 16, 8-Ball Pool, World of Tanks, and Vain Glory. For games based on the illusion of skill, progress through the game occurs at a pace determined by the developers.
"No one is actually good at Candy Crush, but some people actually believe they are," Divnich said. "In these non-skill-based games, you can tell me how many hours you've played, how much money you have spent, and I should be able to tell you within a good degree of certainty how far you are in Candy Crush, what level your town hall is in Clash of Clans, how many times you've ascended in Tap Titans. For some, it is a scary thought to know that the most commercially successful games on mobile are really just well-designed rollercoasters. It's not a negative concept, it is simply what works in free-to-play mobile."
>>316520894
While Divnich stressed that the illusion of skill shouldn't be viewed as a bad thing in and of itself, he understands long-time gamers may take issue with the concept.
"As gamers, we are hobbyists and have an entirely different perspective of gaming," Divnich said. "We grew up in an era where skill-based, high intensity action was the norm. That still exists and thrives today, and that is not going anywhere. However, with the penetration of smartphones, nearly everyone is a potential gamer and we have to understand that what excites them and what drives them to engage in games is much different than what drives a traditional gamer. This concept of controlling the pace of progress is not disappearing anytime soon nor do I believe it is a mechanic that hurts enjoyment. You have to put yourself in the shoes of those consuming the content and if they're having fun, that's more important to them than whether the games they love require real skill or not."
Looking at a chart of the recent top grossing games in the US (minus casino games), Divnich found that 26 of the top 30 games were built around the illusion of skill. The only four that were built on skill were the aforementioned 8-Ball Pool, Minecraft: Story Mode, Madden NFL, and Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. It's a market dominance that makes him worry for developers expecting to launch skill-based free-to-play games on mobile.
>>316520971
"I see far too many independent developers creating games they'd like to play," Divnich said. "I support their passion, but in the free-to-play mobile space, we have to remember we are creating games for the other 99 percent. It's important that a mobile developer has personal passion for what they are creating, but it is more important they are also creating a game that has an addressable market... I evaluate hundreds of games a month and it is shocking that when a developer attempts to evolve a particular genre they feel the need to inject skill to differentiate when they should be thinking in the other direction. How to give the consumer more options, more variety, but within a framework where the game still holds some level of control over pacing and content consumption."
As skeptical as Divnich might be of the prospects for skill-based games in the present, he sees a bright future for them.
"Skill based mobile games are a huge trend in China, mostly because of the limited access to technology where you'd typically engage in skill-based games - consoles," Divnich said. "For a lot of gamers in China, mobile is the only outlet and often their first encounter with video games. Much like how it took a decade for us to adopt the free-to-play model born out of the East, I do think it's only a matter of time before we begin to see larger penetration of skill-based games in the West. I see the next generation of gamers being a catalyst for change. Those that are 7-to-13, who maybe only know their tablet as a primary gaming device. This is the market segment that continues to keep games like Minecraft near the top of the charts, both in revenue and engagement. They are the generation of players that could transform demand for more skill-based competitive experiences."
Ok, so, where's the part we didn't already know?
Alright I've held my tongue (fingers?) for long enough.
Where the fuck is the discussion for this game? It is
N
E
V
E
R
mentioned at all despite coming out in 2 weeks
No game of the year shit has mentioned it. Nowhere mentions it. That doesn't sit right with me.
I wonder if i'll need two save files again, one with a fresh panau for the fucking up when i feel like it and my main one.
They better fucking add multiplayer too
The less a game is discussed is because its hated less, How new are you?
>>316520947
except for the games /v/ loved straight into IRL meme status, like Undertale, FNAF, and Minecraft.
Or did you forget all of those games began with minor positive discussion here that cascaded into a snowball of ridiculousness?
>>316520858
/v/ doesnt talk about games that will be bretty good.
also, do we even know for sure that destruction is permanent in this one like it was in 2?
Now that the dust has settled, can we all agree with the fact that FO4>FO3>FO1>FO2>F:NV?
Wow you're not even trying huh?
If you're gonna b8, at least do it good.
>>316520789
FO4>FO2>FO1>FO3>F:NV
fixed that for you
>BlazBlue character roster reached 30 before Guilty Gear
AHAHAHAHA STAY MAD
I don't think GG players were ever complaining for a larger roster than the 20-some odd they had in Isuka or XXR+.
And I don't think anyone was expecting Xrd to have more characters than Blazblue.
I don't think anyone is mad.
>>316520570
You need to relax anon
Why wouldnt it have? Original BB came out 7 years ago
Let's finally settle it
Which was the game of the 5th Generation:
FF7
or
OoT
Mario 64
Majora's Mask
or
Conker's Bad Fur Day
>>316520387
StarCraft.
>The dark age is finally over
>Still no sign of slime friends
C'mon square, America likes slimes too
>>316520110
One step at a time. Over-saturating the market will do no one any good.
Just do your best to shill the ones we know are coming over, to make sure we keep getting them in the future.
DQVII 3DS is going to get shit reviews because DQVII is one of the worst in the series. VIII will have to do really well (which it probably will if VII doesn't damage VIII's sales) if we ever want to see anymore games.
I have no reason to buy a game I hate and a game I already own for my PS2, but I hope we get the Monsters games. I've always liked the sidegames way more.
You have 5 seconds to explain why you didn't give Nintendo all your money
I saw them at the store, but I went with Disgaea 5 instead.
>>316519809
I'd decided to spend money on Microsoft's superior Xbone console. Halo 5 microtransactions were worth it for armor parts I never wanted.
I don't buy anything from Nintendo.
What launch titles will this have to have in order for you to purchase day one? Are you still hesitant after being burned by the Wii and/or Wii U?
The only game that can make me purchase this on day one is MH5 and if it doesn't have that I'll just keep playing my 3DS until it does.
>>316519723
Melee HD
zelda "u"
metroid
one of these 3
>>316519930
really? I mean, Metroid could be good but aren't people tired of Melee and Zelda by now?
I'd like to add that a Platinum exclusive or Wonderful 102 would also make me pull the trigger on this thing.
>Zelda U port
>new 3D Mario
>Pikmin 4
And I have it on good faith that those will end up being the actual launch games so I'm not too worried. And Metroid is coming for NX. Not at launch, but maybe on late 2017.
Hello fellow /v/irgins,
I used to love playing first-person games with the mouse in one hand and one of these bad boys in the other. For me, it gave the perfect balance of precision aiming and comfy analogue movement controls, with at least as many inputs as if I were using an Xbox pad.
I was in heaven, /v/, and then Windows 10 took it all away ;_: (No other issues with Win 10)...
Anyone know of a way of getting this sucka to work again like it used to? Fallout 4 is crying out for this godly combination of inputs!
Nothing uses the new version of DirectX yet.
Go back to a version of Windows that works properly.
JoyToKey probably
In Windows 7, there's a program called Motioninjoy (pic related). It's adodgy piece of Chinese shit, but it got the job done getting Dualshock controllers emulated as X360 pads.
Problem was, apart from the horrendous interface, it seemed to keep 'calling home' (to China) and running ads, or worse...
It's there a name for when you do a full animation and do the 3D art and shit and make it look like a real videogame but is just an animation?
>>316519554
CGI? Mockup? Concept piece? I don't know what you're on about.
You're probably either thinking of a mockup, anon.
That or a Gearbox live demo.
>>316519675
Something like a mockup but is just an animation.
>>316519818
I remember seeing some touhou shit that looked like a game but were just an animation.
"STOP BLAMING RNG IN HEARTHSTONE"
http://www.pcgamer.com/stop-blaming-rng-in-hearthstone/
Well /v/? Is he right?
Why not just say "Stop blaming randomness in Hearthstone"?
I'm not going to read it, but no
any and all RNG effects tend a game towards a 50% winrate and are unsatisfying for competitive players, regardless of game
but what you really should be complaining about is why hearthstone has a competitive scene in the first place
>>316519758
It's just the state of the video game industry today. Casual players are the largest demographic now, so much so that even esports have been taken over by them (CSGO, DotA 2, League of Legends, Hearthstone etc).
What makes Dead or Alive so much better than Tekken?
>>316518975
but is not.
>>316518975
>no superior limb based combat
>better
get the fuck out you fucking weeaboo
>>316518975
it really, really isn't
but it's my screenshot simulator of choice bar none
Should I get dark souls 2 or fallout 4? There's only a five quid price difference
both
>choices between the worst entries in their series
Save your money and use it on something thats actually worth it.
>>316518939
this
I won.
>>316518737
Who's laughing now?!?
But at what costs? I see fallout commercials everywhere.
And then he became the bully who's beating up kids who didn't pre-order his sub-par action game with slight RPG elements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwq22FN2MSo
Shame the actual footage is still low quality but you can tell it looks much better than it did at E3.
>>316518290
It is better now.
But people will still shit on it. Graphics are just an excuse. If SFZ looked super good, shitposters would niptick another detail and complain about it.
>>316518562
Another common complaint was that it looked empty but the new trailer shows much busier environments
>>316518659
The AI of smaller enemies seemed slightly more aggressive too.
