Almost everyone has a mobile phone these days. Because of that. mobile games are more popular than ever before. So many people all over the world play mobile games on their smartphones and tablets. But what is it about mobile games that makes them so popular? In this post, I will take a look at some of the reasons why mobile games are so popular and my own mobile gaming story.
An episode of the Fandesals Podcast talked about games played by non-gamers. The episode shared games played from the point of view of non-serious/amateur gamers. From casual gamers who play now and then to pass the time. This episode is at the end of this post in case anyone wants to see it.
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| Photo by RDNE Stock project |
Gaming is not my thing. Playing games on a computer or a device is not something I would instinctively do. I cannot entertain myself doing that for extended periods. I may start out trying a game, but I will not always have the patience to finish it. So why is gaming such a big thing if there are people like me who feel that way? Here are some of the reasons:
Entertainment and Escape
People play games to entertain themselves. It helps them to pass the time and distract themselves from the world around them. By entering a new world in a mobile game, you get to extract yourself from the stresses of real life. It gives you an escape when you need it.
I play games to entertain myself. If things get hard and I cannot get past a certain stage, I usually quit. If things get too repetitive, that will also make me give up completely. The only time I have ever played for hours was when I was playing Super Mario Brothers when I was younger. And that was ages ago? Does anyone even remember playing with that old Nintendo console? I do! That was one world that I enjoyed being in!
Convenience
The cycle is like this: these games will entertain me for a while until I get tired of them and uninstall them. Then I come back and reinstall when I want to play something again to pass the time.
While I lack the patience to play for a long time, some games keep me coming back even when I quit. Mobile games like Mobile Legends, Alto’s Adventure, Township, and BTS In the Seom are those games. These are games that help me pass the time while waiting in line for things or when I am stuck in traffic.
I have an on and off again relationship with my favorites. I have tried more mobile games, but these are the ones that I found myself going back to every time. They are easy to pull up on my phone and I can play them anytime, anywhere.
Challenge and Achievement
If there is one game that I play on mobile that I would love to play on a gaming console it would have to be Mario Kart. I used to play it on mobile and I enjoyed it, but I found myself uninstalling it weeks later. It was easy to tell that it was a game that would be a better experience if played on a big screen. Since I am not a gamer, I do not own a gaming console, so I have not been able to try that yet. Someday. I once considered buying a Playstation, but I've decided against it. I know these games will take up a lot of my time and I don't want to have that temptation!
That's the thing that I love about Super Mario games. There is a sense of challenge and achievement when you win a race or rescue the princess. And it's not that complicated to learn to play. I love that.
Free to Play
There is one game that can get me stuck on it for hours: The SIMS. I used to play the older versions. I used to install and uninstall it often. Yes, another love-hate relationship!
I can get so hooked on the game sometimes and it was bad. I was spending too much time on the game (and it was taking up so much disk space). Now that they let people download SIMS 4 for free, it's been a greater problem for me. I have that version on my laptop, but I am also on the verge of uninstalling it now.
As soon as I downloaded this free version of The SIMS, I was on it for hours and that was not an effective use of my time. And to think I did not even play the game! I was only building and designing homes and the SIMS to go with them! Does anyone else get obsessed about that?
That's my thing with this game. I play The SIMS and spend hours creating and designing homes (and people). I know I could download customized homes, but I tend to get obsessed with doing it on my own. This is what takes up all my time in the game. I have also tried recreating all the homes I have ever lived in on the game, but I have not been able to do it right yet. I keep starting and deleting so I never finish it. But that is an obsession that I will always have with this game. It's not the SIMS themselves but the designing aspect of it.
I know that playing The SIMS is not a very productive way to spend my free time. And it is not healthy since I am sitting down for hours at a time without any rest. I have tried to discipline myself lately and I have not played in a while. But I am also considering uninstalling the game so that I will not play it again.
Customization
So many games today allow you to customize your gameplay. Given how obsessed I am with this concept while I play The SIMS, that shouldn't be much of a surprise. My nephew enjoys it when he can play those car racing games where you can customize your vehicle or player.
Anyone Can Play
I love that with so many mobile games released every year, there is bound to be a game for any person, age, or interest. In my family, everyone has at least one mobile game that they play. And this is from a family that has ages that range from their late 60s down to early childhood. Gaming can be a very all-inclusive community when you think about it that way.
Not all games are indeed suited for everyone. but it helps that there are so many out there that you would surely find something you like.
There is Always Something New
Another thing good about mobile games is there is always something new. I mean that not only about having new games but also having new versions of games that we already know and love. Many of these games have evolved through the years. They end up so that growing with the players who fell in love with them and that helps them to have staying power.
Sense of Community
Given how many gamers there are worldwide, it was natural for games to have a way for players to contact each other. While not all games have that feature, there are apps where gamers can come together to play. There are also apps where you can watch someone else play. This helps players learn from like-minded people about the aspects of the games they love. They can exchange ideas and tips and their gameplay experiences with everyone else.
Has anyone tried watching gamers play online? I've seen a few on Twitch and YouTube. Can't say that I'm a fan, but I find it very interesting!
Love of the Game
A person must love gaming to be able to commit to it. Spending hours doing that one thing even to the point of losing sleep is a big deal. I cannot imagine doing that myself.
But, as I have often said, if you are not causing anyone else harm and it makes you happy, go for it. Some people make a living out of being professional gamers. In that sense, it is not always a terrible thing. If I had the patience for it, I would try it. But since I do not, I am sticking to being a casual gamer. It is a better choice for me.
Here is the episode of the Fandesals Podcast that I mentioned earlier. If you can understand Tagalog you may want to listen to this episode! Let me know what you think of the podcast and also of this post in the comments section!
Are any of my readers gamers? Share your favorite games and why you love them! If you have any tips and tricks (and SIMS cheat codes) to share, please feel free to do so in the comments below!
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