I don't understand why soooooooo many people hate one mobile gaming.
Gamers are referred to as people who play games (virtual or board). Mobile gamers are just that. They usually play daily and enjoy what they're playing (if not they just delete it, no big deal.) I recently asked my friends if they consider mobile gamers as gamers, they just laughed at me and said they're not "real gamers". I was like "what is a real gamer?" where they're answer was just more laughs. I mean that's fine that's their opinion and probably share it with many other people, but I beg to differ.
I recently read the IGN article (2/3 of Mobile FTP Gamers Quit Within 24hrs) about mobile gaming, when I scrolled down to the comments, again are full of hate and disrespect (but then again, most of the main articles are full of trolls). The disrespect mobil gaming faces most likely stems for the stereotypes of what a "casual" and "hardcore" gamer is. However, "cause" and "hardcore" are just labels are are socially contrasted. They only matter because people make it matter. In reality, there is no such thing as either, just a gamer. The definition of 'gamer' is a person who plays a game or games. There are other factors that people have before associating themselves with the noun. For instance, I like to draw but I don't consider myself as an artist. I consider myself as a gamer because it is my hobby of choice, I play games daily and I enjoy them. [Obviously if your job/occupation is a gamer/artist/photographer/etc. you'd probably associate with it.] That's my personal preference, anything people associate themselves with is based on personal perception.
So why knock on mobile gamers? If they consider themselves gamers why spread hate? If they play their tablet or phone games daily and enjoy doing so, what makes them so different from console or PC gamers? I mean IGN even has it's own 'Mobile' tab and GameInformer includes reviews for iOS/Andriod (whatever mobile platform). Even the blog has a category for Mobile Gaming.
I guess the main arguments stem that phone/tablet games are just to pass time, like if you're waiting for something else. It isn't because you are invested in the game, it is because they are time fillers. While that may be true for some people, that isn't everyone. I love playing games on my tablet and phone. Just as much as I like playing my portable device or console. While yes a lot of times I play them to fill time or while I'm waiting, other times I don't. I'll just be in my room playing a game.
Time Sensitive Games
Most phone games, or at least free-to-play ones don't really have amazing stories. They're time sensitive stories/quests. A lot of people don't consider those games because all you do is set your characters on a quest and return later. I have quite a few games like that such as "High School Story" (Pixelberry Studios) and "Farm Story 2" (Storm8) ... I like these games because when I have to go to class I can set them to do things and when I come back they'll be done and I can play them. I also have games such as "Spirit Stones" (Gamevil) and "Stardom" (Glu) which are time regenerative. These can sometimes be annoying because I just want to play the game without having to wait an amount of time to play it again, but it doesn't bother me that much because I have other things to do.
Stardom: The A-List/Hollywood
Pay-to-Win
Again with free-to-pay games, the developers heavily rely on micro transactions. Thus, many people believe the only way to get ahead is to pay. This isn't true for many games (or at least the ones I have played). I have a lot of patience, so I don't need to instantly have super rare cards or gems to buy special items. Obviously, if you pay you get the better stuff, that's a given. However, it isn't necessary to win. Maybe when it comes down to PvP, but if you're just playing the story you're good. A lot of people also seem agitated for these little transactions because they eventually stack, although that is just more ignorance if they can't monitor their spending.
Trials Frontier
Social Gaming
Almost everything now in days has little icons to link to Facebook or Twitter. Even console games now are promoting social sharing, maybe not with Facebook and Twitter, but with Twitch and simple friend sharing. However, a lot of these games will give incentives for inviting friends or simply just having friends who play the same game. I rarely use social networking sites, like I don't have a Twitter or Tumblr, so these games get no free advertising from me! However, for a lot of people social networking through games is all the rage. Companies like Zynga make bank off of social games.
Zynga Poker
AAA Mobile Games
I don't actually know what these are called, but they're usually paid for. There are some great mobile games, I mean just look at IGN's 2013 Best Mobile Game winner and nominees. All those are paid games, but actually lengthy meaty games. Take a look at the winner Device 6 (a game I never played); Simogo took a unique risk on puzzle and created a unique challenging game. A lot of the commenters wondered if that game would platform elsewhere. So to conclude to those who say mobile games aren't "real" games, there are many that disprove that. Not only that, but large publishers like Ubisoft and EA also develop phone games.
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So to conclude, there's really no reason to hate on mobile gamers. Mobile games share many characteristics of regular retail games (but of course have many differences). However, they are still games. They are categorized as games and are played for entertainment. The sole reason is to have fun. Like any game, if you don't like it don't play it, but there's no reason to disrespect them. Developers put time into these games.
In the end that's all just my opinion, you all don't have to agree with it :p
UPDATE: Reading NerdExp's comment reminded me that a lot of mobile phone gamers, don't even consider themselves gamers. Which is funny because they'll poor hours and dollars into games, but say they do not game. This is probably also why they are neglected to be recognized as gamers, because they do not group themselves as being one. Mostly because it has to do with an image problem or just plain denial, especially those people who play daily. To me it's just kind of funny.
So tell me,
Do you consider "mobile gamers" as "gamers"?
Do you like/dislike mobile games?