The pros and cons of porting to mobile

Have you ever wanted to play an old game and couldn’t find it anymore and saw that it was available on the mobile marketplace? The App Store and Google Play has plenty of classic ports already available. But with more and more games getting the mobile treatment, we started wondering what were some of the benefits and drawbacks of having older games available on smartphones and tablets. Not every port is perfect, but they’re sure to bring in fans of the games and introduce younger gamers to a series if they’re more readily accessible. But they can do more harm than good, too.

Publishers like Square Enix, Namco, and Sega have been keeping busy with mobile titles, even re-releasing some of their older ones for iOS and Android. And with many urging Nintendo to do the same, porting games to mobile seems like a no-brainer. But it's actually a mixed blessing. Here are some reasons why.

The good:: Playing an old game you haven’t played in a while hits you right in the nostalgia. And if you’re one of those people whose parents threw away their old gaming collection or lost a few gems throughout the years, playing an old favorite just makes you feel good--even on a mobile device. Plus, chances are you may not have played every classic game out there, so getting to experience a whole “new” game regardless of how old it is gives these relics a second chance to shine and reconnect with fans and make new ones.

The bad:: If your name is Final Fantasy, chances are you’ve seen your fair share of ports. Many games in this series and others have been re-released on various consoles throughout the years, so bringing them to mobile feels like an afterthought--and many times, it’s an afterthought after your wallet. You may have already heard about them, and even your little brother in elementary school has heard about (and even played) them. Why bother spending even more money to play old games on your phone?

The good:: Some old games look really good on your iPad’s Retina display and many even feature upgraded visuals, better lighting, and a whole new and improved look. The WiiWare game The Conduit, for instance, was completely revamped when it was ported and re-released on Android. Others like Final Fantasy VI keep their traditional look, but include a few modified textures to give you a fresh taste of an old favorite. Visuals aren’t everything, but if it’s done right, who’s to argue?

The bad:: Sometimes old games don’t look better on mobile devices. In fact, as it’s true with news anchors, weather girls, and game show hosts, HD displays are more than likely to reveal a game’s age. Some of the older 8-bit and 16-bit games that get ported to mobile also just look strange next to their sleek menus and buttons. And if you happen to play a game that overcrowds your screen with enemies or things to shoot, your smartphone’s small screen may frustrate you too.

The good:: If your favorite game required you to play it in front of a TV before, a mobile port gives you the freedom of taking it with you wherever you go. And since almost everyone and their mother has a smartphone nowadays, this makes playing those games a lot easier and more accessible. Not to mention, a lot less expensive if you consider your phone can do so much more than just play games. Saving is also never an issue since many current mobile games come with auto-save features that keep your data safe even if your phone happens to die if you’re in the middle of a boss battle.

The good:: Many games with auto-save features require you to be connected to the internet to upload your save data to their servers. If you’re not connected to your mobile provider or a Wi-Fi connection, this restriction may keep you from playing. Sadly enough, this even applies to single-player titles. Many of these games also put a heavy strain on your device’s battery life. And since you don’t just use your smartphone for gaming, you may be forced to prioritize when your battery is under 20%.

The good:: Depending on the type of game, you’ll find ports ranging from as little as nothing to the average of $15 on the App Store or Google Play. Some of these ports even cost a lot less than if you were to buy the originals, making them a great buy if you’re on a budget. Phoenix Wright Trilogy, for example, gives you three games for the price of one DS game. Others like Baldur’s Gate II offer extras or DLC pack with your purchase, making them more complete and a better value.

The bad:: The phrase “You pay for what you get” applies just as well to the mobile marketplace where you’ll find freemium games that crowd your screen with ads or torture you with paywalls. An essentially “free” game like Tales of Phantasia, for example, lets you play the classic JRPG on your phone, but kicks up the difficulty so you’ll be forced to grind a lot more than you’ll remember or be forced to cough up money for IAPs that will save you mid-battle. It’s not a nice way to reintroduce old favorites, so don’t be hesitant to put a price on a favorite.

Nothing’s going to stop publishers from porting games to mobile, but some good can also come if they come up with new games using already-established IPs that are designed specifically with mobile in mind. Of course, gamers still buy classic games on Virtual Console and PlayStation Network, so mobile ports aren’t such a bad thing after all. Let us know how you feel about playing older games on your mobile device.

With ports on the mind, why not check out some franchises we think should go mobile or see what classic games you can now play on your phone or tablet?