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Appy's Paul O'Connor says Take-Two CEO's views on mobile gaming demonstrate a lack of new thinking

We're not in Kansas any more Strauss

Appy's Paul O'Connor says Take-Two CEO's views on mobile gaming demonstrate a lack of new thinking
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick views on the value of the mobile gaming sector - both economic and creative - have been widely reported.

But while most have focused on the idea of $40 tablet game - not a subject he explicitly raised - the more significant point is his views about the interaction between the economic value of mobile games and their consumer value, or length of gameplay.

Wrong end of the stick

One developer to keen to rebut Zelnick's argument is Appy Entertainment, which formed out of US console developer High Moon Studios.

"'Price points aren't lower on iPhone because of five minute games," explains brand director Paul O'Connor.

"Our latest game, Trucks & Skulls Nitro, clocks in at six hours-plus for 99c, and our metrics indicate players return to several times a week, with average sessions longer than five minutes."

Instead, O'Connor argues the price point of mobile games is driven by completely different considerations.

"Prices on iOS games are compressed to free or $1 because this platform is at the center of the most competitive entertainment software market in history. Surviving here requires a new kind of thinking that, frankly, most of the console industry has been unwilling (or unable) to achieve."

Expand your mind

He also points out that Zelnick's view there's a direct relationship to the screen size of a device and the depth of the experience is facile.

"It's like saying that movies can only be entertaining when viewed on an IMAX screen," says O'Connor.

"A larger screen can make an image more engaging but if your game isn't designed to take full advantage of this new, connected (and unique) touch-driven platform, then all a larger screen is going to do is amplify its shortcomings."
Contributing Editor

A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.