Mobile games are ”not a replacement” for hardcore titles, he says, but they’re ”more social” generally. It’s just a ”different type of gaming” that’s available.
”I think it is a nice piece to add to it,” said Respawn boss Vince Zampella, talking about hardcore and casual gamers. ”To me it’s not a replacement for the hard-core game. It’s for when I’m sitting in the doctor’s office or I’m at the airport or on a plane.”
”I like to have that and l like to know there’s some games in there that are fun. They tend to be more social. I’m more of a solitary gamer on a console. I want to play a game and be immersed in it. That’s great to me.”
”On a portable device, I can play more social games like Scrabble. It’s fun. But to me that’s a different type of gaming. It brings a different experience and fills a different hole.”
The future likely holds a deeper relationship between portable and hardcore gaming, as studios look to leverage greater crossover opportunities. ”Now there is some potential for crossover in that, like where can those mobile games complement a hard-core console game and bring in people. Like I could have my wife play and do something on a portable device that complements what I am doing on a console. I think we will see more of that.”
Respawn Entertainment is now ”over 60 people” but they’ve been relatively quiet because ”we don’t have that much exciting to talk about. But we are getting there,” added Zampella. Respawn has signed with EA Partners to publish future releases, while retaining ownership and therefore control of their intellectual property creations.
Check out the full interview between Vince Zampella and USA Today. Do you reserve portable gaming for when you’re out in the world and away from home?
