Best iOS Gaming Device?

[Bytebrain]

Originally Posted by Connector

I thought you were using apple's smart cover until I took a closer look at it now. I don't like cases cause they get in the way many times when one is gaming like in tilt games.

For the bus and lap, I would actually recommend an ipad mini. In a bus setting, the new ipads are way to heavy. Especially if you are standing up. Even sitting down, an ipad mini is easier to use cause of wait. I usually put my ipad on my sleeve as a cushion when I put it on my lap or when sleeping, put my sleeve on my chest and put my ipad on top of it until I fall asleep.

But weight wise, the mini is great for gaming on the go like on the bus or train. In those settings, I don't like to use my ipad cause of the weight and just use my iphone only. An ipad mini probably would be perfect in those conditions.

The Apple Smart Cover is a piece of crap IMO...
I can see why you wouldn't like a case like mine for tilting, although the case itself doesn't weigh much in itself, and I've been using mine that way...
It does fold so you don't need the "stand" feature all the time.

Standing up in a bus I would never personally attempt to use my iPad under any circumstances, but sitting down a case like the one I use (Targus 360), it's way better than anything I've tried.

As I'm writing this, it's resting on my thigh while I'm lying on my couch, and I'm writing with both hands and my iPad is sitting secured, not a wiggle, it doesn't move at all. Can't be done with any other type of stand, case or sleeve.

And it can be used both horizontal and vertical due to the pivot feature.

[psj3809]

I've got an ipad 3 and an ipod touch 5th gen but i must admit i do 99% of my gaming on my ipod. I think a chunk is down to i'm so amazed at what this small device can do, fits in my pocket (an ipad mini wouldnt) and in the palm of my hand or backpocket i've got movies/music/books/comics/games, just love it

I've been playing games non stop on my ipod touch for ages (I have had a break and i'm so used to it. Playing games on my ipad feels a bit odd !

I think my generation were so amazed at the Gameboy when that first came out, that great small device that after that i've been excited when something such as a Pocket PC (i had in the early 00's ) and now an ipod touch arrive and i can do so much with this small gadget.

From sitting in a cafe, to on the train or bored in a hotel room with work, having the ipod with me saves me, love that device.

[JBRUU]

I remember playing Lego Star Wars on a friend's Gameboy Advance when I was like 7 or 8...I don't remember much except wanting one really bad haha.

Just looked on Wikipedia and the thing apparently had a resolution of only 240x160....

[Connector]

Originally Posted by psj3809

I've got an ipad 3 and an ipod touch 5th gen but i must admit i do 99% of my gaming on my ipod. I think a chunk is down to i'm so amazed at what this small device can do, fits in my pocket (an ipad mini wouldnt) and in the palm of my hand or backpocket i've got movies/music/books/comics/games, just love it

I've been playing games non stop on my ipod touch for ages (I have had a break and i'm so used to it. Playing games on my ipad feels a bit odd !

I think my generation were so amazed at the Gameboy when that first came out, that great small device that after that i've been excited when something such as a Pocket PC (i had in the early 00's ) and now an ipod touch arrive and i can do so much with this small gadget.

From sitting in a cafe, to on the train or bored in a hotel room with work, having the ipod with me saves me, love that device.

Wow, I am almost the exact opposite. 99% ipad, 1% iphone for gaming. Though I do use my iphone alot for reading news, sports, and TA when I am on the road without ipad, on the john (can't wipe holding the ipad), or sometimes use my iphone when I'm laying on my bed, though never for gaming.

Gaming wise nowadays, probably play about 75% hdmi tv, 24% on my new ipad screen, and 1% on my iphone.

But there was a long time after my laptop got stolen that my iphone was it. My computer, gaming machine, music player, etc. and I still cherish it even though I rarely use it for games.

I actually use it more as a wireless joystick like the joypad app, or other propriety joystick apps. At least its useful for something!

[MeanTuna]

The screen in the ipad 2 looks ok to me even when comparing it to the screen on my ipad 4. I mean, the lack of retina does show but its really not that bad and it runs every game thats been released so far butter smooth.

The ipad 4 feels heavier than the 2 so its a little more tiring to be holding it for long periods and while it is faster and has a beautiful screen it didnt blow my mind, its nice but not much nicer than an ipad 2. So all in all an ipad mini should be a-ok for gaming for a while.

Off the small devices I love the size and design of my ipod 4, its a shame it doesnt have a beefier processor beacause it does lag with loads of games.

And finally the 4s has the same excellent performance of the ipad 2 but even though I have lots of games in it I dont play with it as much as I do need my phone battery to last through the day for work reasons but when I get a new phone it will become a full gaming device and became the thing that my ipod 4 meant to be.

So EP, if you already have an ipad and an iphone you surely wont see any major differences barring the size and design so it really boils down to personal preference.

[Peter@forgevault]

The iPad mini has a decent sized screen for both graphics and comfort(for touch screen controls). It's light enough to manage with one hand, and small enough to fit in most coat pockets(which is a huge plus). I use my iPhone 5 for business and my iPad mini for everything else.

The new iPhone and iPod touch aren't bad either with the wider screens, the graphics are certainly much better than the mini but the controls can get cramped(depending on the game). Personally, I don't like putting games on my iPhone simply because its a very expensive device : I can most certainly see the allure of an iPod touch 5 as a gaming system however.

[Exact-Psience]

Hey thanks for the input everyone... I just went back to the iStore earlier and I brought my ipad3 to compare, and sure the lack of Retina is noticeable, but test-playing a few games (Shadow Warrior, Shadowgun: Deadzone, TR2, Run N Gun, Fruit Ninja and Asphalt 7)and i didnt get bothered by the lack of retina at all.

Best of all, it felt very light, the different controls schemes on the tested games worked perfectly, and playable with both hands for a long time (ipad3 was too heavy for a 2-hour gaming session).

Videos were so much better on the ipad3 and internet browsing looked horrible on the mini though.

So, for my quest to get meself a better iOS gaming device, i went ahead and ordered an iPad mini, black. The black back looked awesome, but it somehow gets fingerprint smudges over it.But no biggie, i will rock the mini when my order comes to me in about a week.

Again thanks for all the input guys! Really appreciate the help!

[Connector]

Originally Posted by Exact-Psience

Hey thanks for the input everyone... I just went back to the iStore earlier and I brought my ipad3 to compare, and sure the lack of Retina is noticeable, but test-playing a few games (Shadow Warrior, Shadowgun: Deadzone, TR2, Run N Gun, Fruit Ninja and Asphalt 7)and i didnt get bothered by the lack of retina at all.

Best of all, it felt very light, the different controls schemes on the tested games worked perfectly, and playable with both hands for a long time (ipad3 was too heavy for a 2-hour gaming session).

Videos were so much better on the ipad3 and internet browsing looked horrible on the mini though.

So, for my quest to get meself a better iOS gaming device, i went ahead and ordered an iPad mini, black. The black back looked awesome, but it somehow gets fingerprint smudges over it.But no biggie, i will rock the mini when my order comes to me in about a week.

Again thanks for all the input guys! Really appreciate the help!

Your observations are spot on here. Good luck with your new ipad mini, the lightness is so great, I wish my new ipad was that light.

[smegly]

Originally Posted by Exact-Psience

I currently have an iPhone 4S and an iPad3, and im recently about to be getting an iPad Mini next week, mostly because i think it is the better "gaming device"

Am i making the right decision in buying the iPad Mini for gaming?

A bit of discussion is encouraged. Thanks for the inputs!

My two cents:

I also have access to a 4S and an iPad3. Generally speaking, I prefer almost everything on an iPad3 except games that use tilt mechanics. Some games it doesn't matter though, like if there is a virtual controller and tilt, I could go either way, but if I'm using my index finger to play with and am having to tilt, I don't want to mess with an iPad. I'm trying to visualize what my grip would be like on a Mini, but I suspect I would wind up having the same issues with it as with an iPad just because of the balance of it more than the weight. It seems like the Mini would be good for games where you're gripping each side but I think those are fine on the iPad, so I don't really see much of an advantage.

Another things is the Mini's like an iPad2 and may not be running contemporary games for much longer. There are already games that aren't quite up to snuff on 4Ss and I don't think developers are going to keep supporting Minis in reference to their newness, but rather the hardware itself, and it'll be like the new-ish iTouch4 where people are freaking out that nothing is running on their new device.

[landseer]

iOS game would never better than PSP
without real joysticks and bottoms
that is my opinion