People talk about phone gaming as if it's cheaper, but when you think about it--

I can't afford an iPhone, Android, or any other smart phone that is capable of playing what is considered "standard" games for the iPhone. I'll get that out right now. I have been grandfathered into a family plan where I don't have to buy a 3G subscription, so I'm very fortunate to be paying a reasonable rate for the crappy service that AT&T provides me. The games for iOS may be cheap, but the fact of the matter is that you still have to pay $100 or more for a decent enough phone to run them, and you have to pay at least an extra $15 a month for a data plan that in all likeliness is going to be crap and will barely be useful for anything with its tiny data cap. You could buy an unlocked phone, but then you can look forward to paying an extra $400 versus what you'd pay on a contract.

The biggest problem with phone gaming is that you have to put up with a phone company. If you have lots of money, that's fine, but for those few of us who fall through the cracks, phone gaming just isn't a viable option. My Blackjack II does two things: make calls, and send text messages. Maybe if I'm desperate I'll play Solitare on it or the pack-in demo for some crappy billiards sim, but that's about as much gaming I'll get out of it. But considering I pay about 1/8 for my bill what most people pay on their monthly iPhone bill, I am OK with that. Until the phone companies can figure out a way to make a smart phone that I can actually afford a monthly plan for, I am fine using my crappy old cell phone and carrying a handheld game system on those rare occasions that I expect I'll have enough downtime to play a game.

I know it may sound like I am whining, but I do sincerely think that phones are way too expensive right now and that the contracts are getting more and more unreasonable. I already get bad reception on my phone, so why should I pay even more to get a handicapped internet service on it? I'd rather save all that extra money I'd spend on a new contract and instead spend it on games for the systems I already have. The games on iOS may only cost a dollar, but a dollar's worth of games is probably all I'd be able to afford every month if I were to get an iPhone and a new contract.

So you don't have a smartphone but think that the data plan is crap?

Get a smart phone. THAN you'll be singing a different tune entirely. The thing is so useful for EVERYTHING. Being able to play the games on it is just icing on the cake.

I have my NPR, Associated Press and LA Times on it. I have my GameSpot, JoyStiq and Bungie on it. I have my FaceBook and LinkedIn on it. I have my Amazon, Ebay, Cnet Product reviews and Paypal on it. I have my bank on it. I have my Kodak film reel, I have my lightmeter, I have my maps and clock which can tell me the time in the world for my family not in my area for me to be able to call them at a reasonable time. On top of it all, I have my games. My free games. My 99 cent games. And soon, my Square-Enix RPG games. My upcoming Professor Layton game made for the iPhone and many others.

If you don't have a smartphone, you're just that kid talking trash about something that is 100 times better than Nintendo and Sony's stupid handhelds.

The MSRP for those phones are beyond laughable. Some of them are supposed to be $500 wiithout signing a contract. Even with the contract, they are still far too expensive for the junk hardware they are.

I'm still a fan of the free phones you get with a plan. They tend to last much longer than the high tech ones, and usually provide better phone call quality.

I have a blackberry with a full data plan. I pay 60 dollars a month in phone bills, if I don't buy any games. And I don't buy many games, I use the phone for everything else. But I pay way more in games. I bought my phone outright instead of signing a contract. My phone cost 300 dollars, the same price as a home console basically. And if you buy a game once a month, it's the same price as my monthly bill. (And be advised that not all data plans cost as much as the one I have.)

Also, a phone is used for more than gaming... obviously. So if you bought a smartphone instead of the phone you and instead of your gaming console, and played games only on your phone, you would likely be saving money. You'd be able to buy more games for cheaper, plus have email, facebook, browser access, and much more on your phone anytime.

He's right it is more expensive. I don't know how u could deny such a thing? If ur on veriozon or AT&T u have to pay $30 for data, another $30 for text, and 60 for miniutes, then u have tax, and the actual price of the phone. Also lets not forget the activation fee's :P Tmobile is signifcantly cheaper, but its still pricy & the service is poop(i have tmobile) :P Regardless i love my Galaxy S2 :P

You can always use the iPod touch as a multimedia player - it's cheaper and it plays games too. Personally that's the route I went with as having to use my smartphone for everything wouldnt last long battery wise as I use my phone as a GPS, a social networking device, an organizer, a portable means to for email services a portable browser, a pocket camera and so on.

Let's ignore the fact that the phones do alot more than gaming?

Let's ignore the fact that the phones do alot more than gaming?

GD1551

lol ... people are bringing up data plans and contracts ?

you're paying for those services seperately, none of that has anything to do with the Apps you download. You can pick up a bricked smart phone add minutes to it and still game for cheap.

My phone cost $100 at the time (Iphone 3GS) and I pay $133 a month for unlimited calling, text, and a 2GB data plan I've never gone over. It's awesome. I'd never go back to using anything less. Bread_or_Decide

Is that just for you?

My wife and I pay 120 or so a month for our two phones. Unlimited data, calling, texting, and she has a Samsung Galaxy S, which is 4G.

[QUOTE="Bread_or_Decide"]My phone cost $100 at the time (Iphone 3GS) and I pay $133 a month for unlimited calling, text, and a 2GB data plan I've never gone over. It's awesome. I'd never go back to using anything less. Pug-Nasty

Is that just for you?

My wife and I pay 120 or so a month for our two phones. Unlimited data, calling, texting, and she has a Samsung Galaxy S, which is 4G.

Sprint

Although we do get a discount from one of her old jobs, so that might be the thing that's making it cheaper.

Phone gaming is cheap for people who have already decided they want smartphones, and would be paying those fees anyway. I do manage to get by on the $15 data plan. I'm not sure what most people use all that bandwidth for, but I only really need it for things like surfing the web, GPS maps, e-mails.

By the way, you don't by any means need a phone to play iOS/Android games. A $199 iPod Touch would do the trick just fine. iOS (and Android) extends across three different types of devices, and it usually ends up that most people own either a tablet, smartphone, or portable media player.

There are some good phones out there you can pick up for "free" these days. The 3GS can run pretty much everything on the App Store. Android devices that are a year old can be picked up on Amazon Wireless for a cent. The ~$199 phone price is really just for people who want to stay cutting edge.

I've owned the iPhone since release, and it is in no way expensve. I'd spend around £40 a month on my phone without the contract, so throwing in a free £550 phone is a ridiculously good deals.

That being said, i'm due for an upgrade, and i've decided against the iPhone 4s, A 12 month Samsung Galaxy S2 contract seems a better offer.

Edit: Not sure how it is in America, but most premium contract come with unlimited data as standard, or with atleast an option.

Smartphones are awesome. Whenever I don't know something, I can easily look it up.

It is a thing I have, I have learn whatever I don't know quickly, whenever I realize that I don't know it.

I can't afford an iPhone, Android, or any other smart phone that is capable of playing what is considered "standard" games for the iPhone. I'll get that out right now. I have been grandfathered into a family plan where I don't have to buy a 3G subscription, so I'm very fortunate to be paying a reasonable rate for the crappy service that AT&T provides me. The games for iOS may be cheap, but the fact of the matter is that you still have to pay $100 or more for a decent enough phone to run them, and you have to pay at least an extra $15 a month for a data plan that in all likeliness is going to be crap and will barely be useful for anything with its tiny data cap. You could buy an unlocked phone, but then you can look forward to paying an extra $400 versus what you'd pay on a contract.

The biggest problem with phone gaming is that you have to put up with a phone company. If you have lots of money, that's fine, but for those few of us who fall through the cracks, phone gaming just isn't a viable option. My Blackjack II does two things: make calls, and send text messages. Maybe if I'm desperate I'll play Solitare on it or the pack-in demo for some crappy billiards sim, but that's about as much gaming I'll get out of it. But considering I pay about 1/8 for my bill what most people pay on their monthly iPhone bill, I am OK with that. Until the phone companies can figure out a way to make a smart phone that I can actually afford a monthly plan for, I am fine using my crappy old cell phone and carrying a handheld game system on those rare occasions that I expect I'll have enough downtime to play a game.

I know it may sound like I am whining, but I do sincerely think that phones are way too expensive right now and that the contracts are getting more and more unreasonable. I already get bad reception on my phone, so why should I pay even more to get a handicapped internet service on it? I'd rather save all that extra money I'd spend on a new contract and instead spend it on games for the systems I already have. The games on iOS may only cost a dollar, but a dollar's worth of games is probably all I'd be able to afford every month if I were to get an iPhone and a new contract.

Timstuff

I have a smartphone and I like it a lot.

I don't game on it though. Because it's a phone. I don't feel the need to play video games every minute I'm awake during the day.

LG Optimus V will play nearly all phone games and is $130 unlocked.

Eh I don't like smartphones much...

I recently got a Galaxy S II 4G from AT&T, the phone was free, the contract which is unlimited everything snf 2GB data is only like $85 a month... And I just don't use it for much... When I am on my way to class I can usually get there before the thing loads any web pages... And by then I can just use my laptop... And when not in class I am usually over in my dorm where I have a desktop... And when I am in any of these places I am usually with the people that I would talk to on facebook and don't even need the internet anyways...

Not to mention I hate handheld gaming.

I just can't find a lot of use for the phone other than phone calls and music...

iPod Touch?