引子：列出 PS4, XBOX, Switch 硬件配置，与电脑(iMac)和手机(iPhone)配置对比

你是否会吃惊，为什么这些专门的游戏设备性能连手机电脑都不如？

主机游戏

AAA 级游戏的开发费用非常高。如果你没有玩过 AAA 级游戏，可能你并不真的理解游戏的乐趣。

Selling consoles is not the goal, is to sell more games on console, Sony loses money selling PS1 hardware. 主机厂商销售主机的根本目的不是靠主机硬件盈利，而是为了获取更多用户以卖更多游戏。Sony 的 original Play Station 1 的售价是低于成本的，亏本的。

什么是次世代主机？为什么主机存在世代之说？

Games are expensive, so console manufacturers set a period to concentrate on one hardware spec to ease game dev cost on compatibility. AAA 游戏开发成本很高，主机厂商为了保证主机上的游戏能有足够的销售时间（以让开发者盈利），比如 4 年，会保证这段时间内主机的规格基本不变。

2 代主机对游戏的兼容性 vs 2 代 PC 电脑对应用程序兼容性

TODO: PC 硬件对应用程序的具体兼容性如何？

你可能会问，为什么主机不像电脑硬件一样保证对游戏（应用程序，如 W32）的兼容性？

  • With dedicated period, most console gamers played most games, so they expect new generation of games, old games compatibility is not huge demand. So less considerable than PC ones, PC apps just needs to run as long as people want to.
  • Console hardware spec change dramatically over generation, keeping compatibility is nearly impossible? PowerPC microprocessors.

PC gaming

FPS with keyboard and mouse Esports MMO MOBA AAA games also available.

In theory, you can play every game (emulators), even old console games, best compatibility.

Best possible performance and graphics as long as you pocket money. Difficulty for game developers to support a wide arrange of hardware configurations, minimal and recommended. But Support is growing (Xbox and Windows, steam, X86 consoles. 参考文章：https://blog.codinghorror.com/the-golden-age-of-x86-gaming/).

Mobile gaming

MMO

Hardware limitations

Mobile devices graphics restricts by battery life, general purpose device with distractions, social, mass market (kids, grammas), kill time on commute

App Business rule

Paid apps won’t sell, even 1 dollar. Not mention $10 console like games (cheaper then normal console games). Free apps and free to play games are the future. No market for AAA games on mobile, if you want them, buy a PS4 or Swtitch you’re better off.

平台游戏（platform game）不是主机（gaming platform?)上的当家游戏，而只是指像超级马里奥那样的 2 维卷轴游戏。

Why there’s not much console-grade games on mobile?

手机的特点：

  • 碎片时间：不适合复杂操作型游戏
  • 移动网络：适合多人联机
  • 社交：适合社交游戏
  • Battery Life：需要节省电池以保证续航时间
  • No physical buttons：不适合复杂操作型游戏

总结：手机本身的通用属性，决定了它不适合复杂操行型游戏，适合多人联机、社交、操作简单的游戏。

图形性能不是决定性差别，平台本身的用途差异才是决定因素，AAA games are expensive，然而没人会为一款手机游戏 app 付费 60 美金。

参考

  1. https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/60i2ai/ipad_pro_graphics_vs_nintendo_switch/?st=J9MLH09A&sh=c449548a
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_Enix_Montreal?wprov=sfti1

游戏行业现状：趋向于独占，还是全平台，还是 both?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_exclusivity

独占游戏是游戏平台间同质化严重的情况下的差异化手段，用来驱动硬件销售量（生态系统健康的基础）。

我的理解是，本身具有差异性的平台，之间应该不需要独占游戏来竞争，更多的是平台本身的差异带来的产品竞争力。

独占游戏是主机厂商开发的用来维持差异化的手段，不会消失。而第三方游戏为了最大化游戏受众，会尽可能覆盖多平台。