Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
Epic Games' President Says 99-Cent Apps Are A Threat
The increasing popularity of mobile games has created a situation of uncertainty for more traditional game-industry veterans. Some, like Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime, have chosen to downplay their significance, saying that these cheaper games are essentially disposable to consumers. Others, like Epic Games' president Mike Capps, are more cautious.
In an interview with Industrygamers.com, Capps says "If there's anything that's killing us, it's dollar apps. How do you sell someone a $60 game that's really worth it? ... They're used to 99 cents. As I said, it's an uncertain time in the industry. But it's an exciting time for whoever picks the right path and wins."
Epic has clearly taken a few steps down that road itself, with the recent release of the iOS game Infinity Blade from its Chair Entertainment subsidiary. Still, he has a great point. If someone's looking for something to play, and they have a choice between a $60 console game or a $1 or $2 game on their smartphone, a lot of gamers are going to follow their pocketbooks. That's not to say that those smaller games offer the same rich experience as those more expensive games, but not everyone's looking for that.
What do you think? Do developers continue to ignore or discount mobile gaming at their own peril, or is this just a temporary blip as developers focus on something that's still a relative novelty?
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
