Replying to #7
Then I guess these games suit your style of gameplay more than mine. Until I was introduced to
Mobius Final Fantasy a few days ago, I haven't played a single game during long sessions for a long time. The reason is simply lack of time. Because of that, I tend to play games which I know I can return to sometime in the future.
Mobius Final Fantasy has become a game which I'll try to return to more often, not just because of the FF7 Remake-event. Otherwise I have little time for games. I only play some emulated games on my phone during my travels, but that's not the same experience.
Like you, I used to play a game when it interested me. But with this way of thinking, I tended to buy several games which I later never finished. But I knew that I could always return to them in the future: Just take a Game Boy cartridge or a PS2 disc, put them in their respective systems and start playing. Now that I mentioned it, I never finished
Final Fantasy VII... I didn't even get far in the game.
You're right about hacks and cheating. I can agree that competitive games such as
Pokémon Duel must be an online experience only. But I was also talking about games which have a single player experience. Games like Gameloft's
My Little Pony,
Iron Man 3,
Spider-Man Unlimited or SEGA's
Sonic Dash and its sequel. Their strength, despite the microtransactions, is the possibility to be played offline. Should the developers pull the plug to those games, it's possible to download them from another website and start playing them again.
As for life spans and lack of interest... If we return to my example about
Marvel Avengers Alliance: Disney/Playdom released the game for several platforms - on Playdom's website, on Facebook and on iOS and Android. The game was eventually pulled from Playdom and the mobile platforms, leaving the game to be alive on Facebook. While the game has many fans, the game was still shut down, leading to a huge uproar among them. This is especially since many of the fans have invested lots of money on the game. Of course, these consumers couldn't do anything about it.
And
City of Heroes... That's even a better example. It's considered to be the best superhero MMORPG in existence with lots of fans. There are even happy stories about CoH-players who became couples and later married each other IRL. When NCSoft decided to pull the plug, efforts (petitions, fundraisers) were made to persuade NCSoft not to do so. Some even tried to buy the IP. But all for naught.
Replying to #7
So when is the time when the data cost occurs? I can imagine during connection to the servers in order to download all of the textures and patches, but does the cost occur during my whole gaming session even if everything has been downloaded?
I'll use this example with e-mails: Each time my e-mail app connects to the Internet and I use my own data plan, the cost only occurs when the app downloads the mails. Otherwise I could keep my mobile internet connection turned on without worrying for further costs. Do these games work in the same way?
Replying to #7
When you said "fast pace mobile online game", did you mean that the data cost only occurs during the matches? Or does it cost me during my whole session?
Build your party of Pokémon figures and play against your friends in Pokémon Duel, free to download for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices! In Pokémon Duel, your objective is to deploy your Pokémon figures on the game board and move them to the goal in your opponent's territory. To win the game, you have to reach your goal before your opponent reaches theirs!Selecting the six Pokémon for your team is an important part of Pokémon Duel. Each Pokémon figure has different strengths and a set number of steps it can take, so you'll have to plan your moves strategically. Send your Pokémon along different routes in a rush to the goal, or block your opponent's Pokémon from advancing.When you get next to one of your foe's Pokémon along your route, you'll need to engage in battle to advance. Battles are determined by Attacks on each Pokémon's Data Disk—spin the disk to see which Attack each Pokémon will use. Try to Knock Out the opposing Pokémon or cause it to move out of your way!In addition to moving your Pokémon and battling, you'll also be able to use a plate at the start of your turn. These plates have various effects, including swapping positions of Pokémon in play and giving your Pokémon various enhancements for that turn.Fortify Your Team
As you progress through Pokémon Duel, you'll be able to get more-powerful Pokémon to improve your team. You'll also be able to raise the level of your Pokémon and enhance their Data Disks through an action called fusion. By fusing a Pokémon figure that you're not using with one on your main team, you can increase the damage of your Pokémon's attacks while reducing the amount you miss!You can also collect more items in the Training Center. Visit it to duel with a predetermined team against an instructor. Battle with various themed decks to learn about the capabilities and characteristics of various Pokémon and plates. It's a great way to improve your skills, and if you're able to achieve victory, you can receive Pokémon figures, plates, and Gems.Online Action
Take your team online and duel against real opponents at any time. Tap the “League Match” button on the Home screen when the game starts to be matched up automatically with a player from anywhere in the world. Players will be matched according to their skill level, so you can enjoy a duel against other players who have records similar to yours.Achieve victory in League duels to unlock Time Boosters from the Booster case on the home screen. These Time Boosters contain a variety of items, including Pokémon figures. Additionally, you can get Key Fragments regardless of the outcome of your duel. You can open Booster Keys with these as well, giving you another way to collect Pokémon figures to strengthen your team.The more you play and win in League matches, the higher your rating will go. Keep battling for the chance to get different Pokémon figures as you compete in higher-level leagues!In-Game Shop
You can increase your inventory of Pokémon and plates in several ways at the Shop. You can purchase Boosters that let you acquire Pokémon figures and plates, or you can purchase designated plates directly. Another option is to do a Material Trade, where you can get Pokémon you like by trading the materials you collect when you purchase Boosters.You can earn Gems to open Time Boosters and purchase items from the Shop, too. You'll have Gems delivered to your in-game inbox each day you play; plus, you can earn Gems and other items by clearing daily missions. Look for opportunities to earn Gems as you play through the game and in League matches, too. Gems can also be purchased with real money for use in the in-game Shop.