iOS games are about to get bigger

[Tonylu1595]

 

Not many apps hit iTunes' 2GB file limit, but those that do tend to fall into a certain category (cough games). As a result, developers often must sacrifice graphics quality and effects for iOS titles, the exact problem we pointed out with the recent Bioshock iOS release. But Apple has finally lifted that limit, and the max file size on iTunes titles is now 4GB, according to its developer site. That should result in better games, with a caveat. If you decided that $949 was a tad too much to pay on the 128GB Iphone 6 plus and went for much cheaper 16GB iPhone 6 instead, you may not have enough space for the latest, largest titles.

 

The size limit of an app package submitted through iTunes Connect has increased from 2 GB to 4 GB, so you can include more media in your submission and provide a more complete, rich user experience upon installation. Please keep in mind that this change does not affect the cellular network delivery size limit of 100 MB.

Well, this doesn't affect me much as most 2GB titles require money in the apple store. Does Android also have a restriction on file sizes?

 

 

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/02/13/itunes-file-size-now-4gb/

Original Source: https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=02122015a

[Mujteba]

Who actually plays big titles on ios though?

[Victorious Secret]

Who actually plays big titles on ios though?

 

If 4GB means Disney can green light a KotOR II port with all the restored content, I won't complain. 

[legend8887]

Micro SD slots FTW.

[SeanAngelo]

lol, lucky i got the 64gb version of the 6 plus. i dont mind paying for games, as long as they're good.

[DIV1D3]

I can't even play some 250MB games on my iPoop 4th Gen, then again it doesn't even support iOS 7/8 which is what is needed for almost any recent app or game. 

 

Sure you may think that some people don't want to carry a laptop to play some games, and would prefer to use a tablet or phone, but seriously, using a phone or other portable device alike for full-on games, just doesn't make sense to me. 

[Guest]

This is great; now ports of games can have more of the original content, and less compressed textures. Bioshock, for instance, is obviously incredible to play on an iPad, but imagine it without the shitty textures it has right now! That's my biggest complaint.

Now officially waiting on my Arkham Asylum iPad port

[Guest]

Who actually plays big titles on ios though?

Lots of people? iOS has some FANTASTIC titles, it crushes Android when it comes to premium games.

[Trik'Stari]

LOL as if gaming on apple was a thing.

[Victorious Secret]

LOL as if gaming on apple was a thing.

 

LOL as if gaming on mobile was a thing. 

See how silly that sounds? I mean honestly, I know you hate Apple but would it kill you to be rational once in a while? A lot of interesting games show up on mobile, iOS especially. 

 

While it might not be for you, its certainly a multi billion dollar industry that matters. 

[Winvsking]

Who actually plays big titles on ios though?

Anyone with an iPhone

[Guest Kloaked]

LOL as if gaming on mobile was a thing. 

See how silly that sounds? I mean honestly, I know you hate Apple but would it kill you to be rational once in a while? A lot of interesting games show up on mobile, iOS especially. 

 

While it might not be for you, its certainly a multi billion dollar industry that matters. 

 

pc master race bruh

 

/s

[Colonel_Gerdauf]

Lots of people? iOS has some FANTASTIC titles, it crushes Android when it comes to premium games.

 

A lot of interesting games show up on mobile, iOS especially. 

 

Case in point: the Infinity Blade series. The games have been used by Apple to showcase the GPU power the iPhones have under their sleeves. And for good reason, as I have not seen a single Android or Windows Mobile game that comes even close to their graphical detail. On top of that, the games themselves are very fun to play.

 

[Sharkyx1]

This is great; now ports of games can have more of the original content, and less compressed textures. Bioshock, for instance, is obviously incredible to play on an iPad, but imagine it without the shitty textures it has right now! That's my biggest complaint.

Now officially waiting on my Arkham Asylum iPad port

Doesn't it run like shit though? bigger file size wont increase performance, and bigger textures surely wont either

[Trik'Stari]

LOL as if gaming on mobile was a thing. 

See how silly that sounds? I mean honestly, I know you hate Apple but would it kill you to be rational once in a while? A lot of interesting games show up on mobile, iOS especially. 

 

While it might not be for you, its certainly a multi billion dollar industry that matters. 

I'm more of the opinion that "it shouldn't exist" than anything else. Walled gardens etc.

 

Call it irrational all you want, but I view apple the same way I view consoles, neither should exist or be supported in this day and age. Open source is the future.

[flibberdipper]

Damn. If I ever go with an iOS device, I'll make sure it's at least a 64GB model (my dad plans on getting me a Galaxy SIII).

[Guest]

Doesn't it run like shit though? bigger file size wont increase performance, and bigger textures surely wont either

Bigger file size doesn't meant anything; it could mean the same game with twice the map size / content / etc.

As long as they optimize it, more space can be great; Infinity Blade 3 had really great textures, shadows and lighting, and it ran at 60FPS. iOS' new Metal API is like DX12 for mobile; it allows much more low-level access to the GPUs in newer Apple devices.

[Victorious Secret]

Case in point: the Infinity Blade series. The games have been used by Apple to showcase the GPU power the iPhones have under their sleeves. And for good reason, as I have not seen a single Android or Windows Mobile game that comes even close to their graphical detail. On top of that, the games themselves are very fun to play.

 

 

I find it amazing that a glorified tech demo actually doesn't suck as a game.

And what a tech demo Infinity Blade is, the output for what they have under the hood is pretty incredible. But it speaks to Apples mentality. Specs are one thing, using them is another. They put them to use when it matters, as those games show. 

[Guest]

Damn. If I ever go with an iOS device, I'll make sure it's at least a 64GB model (my dad plans on getting me a Galaxy SIII).

Hopefully by then the base model will double to 32GB. Changing the mid-tier from 32 to 64GB in this newest generation was great, but we still need 32GB at a minimum.

[flibberdipper]

Hopefully by then the base model will double to 32GB. Changing the mid-tier from 32 to 64GB in this newest generation was great, but we still need 32GB at a minimum.

16GB should be absolute bare minimum. None of that 8GB bullshit like the 5C.

[Guest]

I find it amazing that a glorified tech demo actually doesn't suck as a game.

And what a tech demo Infinity Blade is, the output for what they have under the hood is pretty incredible. But it speaks to Apples mentality. Specs are one thing, using them is another. They put them to use when it matters, as those games show.

Amen

Android fragmentation is a real detriment; games like IB can't possibly be optimized on hundreds of different hardware combinations and resolutions, so only top-tier phones on big manufacturers get official support. Even then, not many GREAT games are on Android. Ironically, Apple has the inferior desktop gaming platform, but vastly superior mobile one.

[Guest]

16GB should be absolute bare minimum. None of that 8GB bullshit like the 5C.

It was 16, but now that it's free they had to cut back I guess.

[flibberdipper]

It was 16, but now that it's free they had to cut back I guess.

Kinda stupid. But eh.

[Victorious Secret]

Kinda stupid. But eh.

 

Very stupid, but also pragmatically ruthless and smart. It does cost more money to make 32GB or 64GB the base, since they need to order that much more NAND. Now, I think I read a post that calculated the costs of making 64GB standard would run Apple 700 million. Thats it. Or thats a lot, depending on how you view it. 

Keep their own margins ludicrous be keeping the 16GB option in play, force people to pay to upgrade. What it also does is make people actually think about what they need. i know people who survive off 16GB just fine, others who have already filled up 128GB. I'm at 60GB on mine, so I'm glad I went that high. 

 

Amen

Android fragmentation is a real detriment; games like IB can't possibly be optimized on hundreds of different hardware combinations and resolutions, so only top-tier phones on big manufacturers get official support. Even then, not many GREAT games are on Android. Ironically, Apple has the inferior desktop gaming platform, but vastly superior mobile one.

 

I'm glad that Android gets more AAA titles like KotOR, which was great, but its still not at the level of how iOS gets pampered with gaming releases (and the optimization you get from it)

[Toddwjp]

i think its best we stop trying to port games to mobile and instead focus on making games that are design for mobile interface