Why all the hate for the iphone for gaming?

[New Frontiersman]

A combination of elitism and aversion to change.

People like to feel superior, and when gamers see a system that they feel is inferior by both it's design and the types of games that come out on it they feel not only the need to express their disdain for the system itself but that for the users and the perceived casual nature of the users themselves.

And on another level they're afraid of the possible larger changes to gaming as a whole that might occur due to the success of iPhone gaming. They like gaming the way it is and are afraid of anyone doing it differently than they do because that might cause a greater change in the medium.
MasochisticAvenger summarized the fear of change quite well:

Because whenever something new comes along in the gaming scene, some people try to fight it with everything they had.

When the Sony PlayStation came along people cried "But a gaming system targeting non-gamers is going to ruin gaming as we know it!"

When the Nintendo Wii came along people cried "But a gaming system targeting my grandparents is going to ruin gaming as we know it!"

It's the same with the iPhone, people are crying "games on a non-dedicated gaming system is going to ruin gaming as we know it!"

People are afraid if the definition of gaming changes too much, they'll lose what made it special for them.

I shouldn't generalize though. Some people have other reasons for disliking iPhone gaming, some are already listed on this very thread. I'm just listing two of the main ones as I see them.

 

[Smeatza]

I don't hate Iphone gaming, I hate that I have to buy an Iphone to do it.
Most Iphone games would work fine on DS, why don't they get ported?

 

[Terminate421]

snip

Hate is the result of unwanted actions.

Someone who hates seeing Angry Birds outsell their favorite indie game is a result.

I'm not prejudiced against people who hate angry birds. I just find it convenient that in every Angry Birds related news thing, we have a large portion of people saying something along the lines of "I hate angry birds, its too successful", "why isn't game x this popular?", "Angry birds is overrated, unlike X game over here".

 

[Zeckt]

I think I finally figured it out after thinking on a while. I prefer and pretty much love the iphone now because on my job I sometimes have half an hour downtime that is wasted. At that time I think I just want a quick adrenaline rush that I can get from Robot Unicorn attack or Fruit Ninja rather then start some epic console gaming type experience on the nintendo / sony handhelds as I just want something to occupy my mind with that time rather then concentrate and even worry over a harder to pick up and play 3ds / vita game. I want big games when I can sit down and invest in them.

The fact that I probably spent more time on Robot unicorn attack / fruit ninja then I did on some 40 dollar ds game helped.

I got to say, as usual I am impressed with this forum for being much more open and willing to discuss posts rather then derail.

 

[Alfador_VII]

It's a combination of jealousy, and anti-Apple backlash.

It's good for the gaming industry that there's another platform out there on which games are selling well. There is even some upside for PC gamers, such as re-vamped games coming to IOS also coming back to PC.

 

[AndrewF022]

I enjoy playing games on my iPhone if I have a spare moment when I'm out and about. commuting on buses/trains for example. Cheap games (many excellent games are even free), and they're pick up and play, simple games, done well, and they're enjoyable in small bursts. Something which many dedicated handheld developers fail to realize, I do not want to play Uncharted or Metal Gear Solid in tiny 10 minute bursts on the train, I may need to stop immediately and be in the middle of a cutscene or something ridiculous like that, and playing them at home almost beats the purpose of having them on a handheld device in the first place. Holidays would be the only time I would use them, and they're few and far between for most people.

So I think iPhone gaming is an important alternative for overpriced handhelds that fail to understand what I want in a portable gaming device.

 

[Zipa]

Knowing certain people round here its because hating on a iPhone, a popular product is hip and cool.

 

[InfernalGrape]

I'm very disappointed that it's really hard to make serious game for ios because you can't survive as developer in this ocean of casual arcades and other highly PR'ed things

 

[z121231211]

Because I hate Apple with a passion.

Now disregarding that, it's because I just don't like the type of games that are on it. It's essentially a device with the power of the DS but with the game library of Newgrounds. Possibly literally if it has flash support. (And if it does, why do people pay for games on it?)

 

[ElPatron]

Hate is the result of unwanted actions.

No.

Ever heard the term "vocal minority"? Just because you hear those things doesn't mean it's not the same group of people touting all over the internet.

It's a combination of jealousy, and anti-Apple backlash.

It's good for the gaming industry that there's another platform out there on which games are selling well. There is even some upside for PC gamers, such as re-vamped games coming to IOS also coming back to PC.

Jealousy? Really?

The problem is that it's not good for the industry to suddenly find oil and have everyone trying to suck on the black gold. Subscription to Tetris? Rides for sale in Rollercoaster Tycoon?

It's not good for the industry to have a market kicking the door down and claiming that normal gaming will die and that the mobile industry will kill it.

 

[scorptatious]

I actually don't mind iPhone games. In fact I have one and I like to play Angry Birds, AB Seasons, and AB Space during down time.

 

[Sirron Kcuch]

I think it's the lack of buttons.
Everything else is great

 

[Xanthious]

I actually have grown to really like mobile gaming. So much so in fact that it's almost totally replaced portable consoles for me. I used to take my PSP or DS with me everywhere but now I've found a bunch of really good games on my phone and as a result I really don't have a need for my portable consoles.

Now I'll be the first to admit that none of these are in any danger of being the next Skyrim. Hell, most of these games are just small little pick up and play games designed to kill 10 or 15 minutes here or there. However, as a working adult if that's about all I need when it comes to gaming on the go and my phone does an admirable job of filling that space.

The other things that appeal to me are the low cost and the ease at which I can get new games. It's no big deal if you spend 99 cents on a game and it's no good. You can just go look at the one of the other selections in the massive library available in the app store.

 

[Simonoly]

I think a lot of it stems from the irrational hatred some people have for Apple products. But also some people just don't like the sort of games that are available from the app store.

Personally, I wouldn't turn down an evening playing one of my favourite RPGs on my PC for some Angry Bird love, but I do enjoying sitting down with my iPad and indulging in something with simpler game mechanics every now and again.