So are handheld games that are based off of cartoons & movies viable

After getting an few DS games that were based off the Bayformers and Disney movies, I felt that I was wasting my allowance on a $30 or so title that either; hardly adds anything to the source material or it was too bland and short for my tastes. Rather than shelling money out for around four hours of borderline torture and something that I've probably seen before, I'd invested into something that I've never heard of, like Fire Emblem Awakening.

Fast forward to earlier this week, where my semi-autistic stepbrother is holding this against me for not getting Lego's Chima on 3DS in favor of the aforementioned game. Which in turn, inspired me to write this thread since it's causing an rift in our family and he can't stop talking about it.

Now keep in mind that my "don't buy fame bait on DS" situation happened an few years ago. And since it's been a few years, the technology and quality is supposed to improve over time, and I'm pretty much out of touch with the genre (save for an failed test with Rise of the Dark Spark); I'm kind of curious as to how good are they now. Since I actually got depressed off this.

The Problem with Licensed Games is still the general rule for movies and TV tie-ins.

Also, how can you be semi-autistic? I think you mean high-functioning.

edited 22nd Jan '16 11:01:11 AM by Karxrida

I call him "semi-autistic" because sometimes he behaves normally, sometimes he shows his autistic side, and we haven't officially diagnosed him yet. And he's in special ed...so he's probably on the high-functioning range of the spectrum on a good day.

I LOL'd at this page. I actually have the DS verion of that game, but the plot summary somehow manages to be more entertaining than the game itself! You know that an game is shit if the review provides better entertainment than it's subject...

Anyways, it's patch day for me, so I'll check in tonight if Fighteer doesn't 404 this thread.

edited 22nd Jan '16 11:12:13 AM by RabidTanker

The technology in making games has improved, but whether the relative quality of games has, is up in the air. You have AAA's that suck, AAA's that are good, but licensed games that are good are the exception rather than the norm.

However, since you mentioned Chima, the LEGO Adaptation Game series made by Traveller's Tales are generally average to great. Keep in mind though, that on the 3DS, the Lego Movie adaptation is kinda chopped down in terms of levels. I believe Lego Jurassic Park is also watered down, particularly in the create-a-dinosaur part.

However, props to you for buying Fire Emblem Awakening instead of licensed games. On average, better value and gameplay to be had there.

THAT SAID, the amount of cartoon and movie tie-ins on handheld consoles has actually gone down, for two reasons:

• Many tie-ins are usually sent to mobile games now, rather than multi-platform
• Disney tie-ins are usually not only mobiles, but also as part of the Disney Infinity package

From here there are two things you can try:

• Maybe you can redirect your brother to mobile games instead of the 3DS? There are a lot more choices there in terms of tie-ins, likely including a port of Chima. Plus, games there are cheaper on average, if not free-to-start with some oppressive freemium model.
• Get your bro to play Awakening

edited 25th Jan '16 2:37:55 AM by Malco

I'm confused by the wording of the thread title, since viable in terms of products typically means "economically profitable". And I suppose, if we're going off of that, they must be, otherwise companies would've stopped making them by the time the Game Boy Color even came out. Judging by the number of crap licensed titles I have in my GB/A collection, I'd say it's probably working for them so long as it's the parents buying the games.

Maybe "can cartoon/movie handheld tie ins be good" would have fit better.

The days of shovelware aren't completely behind us, but a tie-in can still be a worth at least 3-5 hours of your time. There are quite a few soulless Skinner boxes on mobile devices, but there are exceptions. The Adventure Time 3DS games are apparently pretty good games, and even on mobile, there's a faux-Pokemon Rick and Morty thing that's reportedlt good, but more importantly hilarious.

Like with any form of art, it all depends on how many shits are given. Movie tie-ins rarely come out well, because of tight deadlines, and a lack of creative passion. The best tie-ins are usuallt standalone tales that tell a little story within the show's world. Developers have more breathing space, and room to do crazy things.

edited 25th Jan '16 2:10:53 AM by mrsunshinesprinkles

About FEA, he usually makes through the first fifth or so of the game before he starts over (he's an perfectionist, I'm his opposite) and he's currently obsessed about Lego games and stuff that happened around an year ago. I doubt if we'll get an iPad or some other clone (they all look the same to me) for gaming. About the thread's title: I kinda wish that I could edit it and there wasn't an character limit. But let's face it; I doubt if the forums will be improved like that.

You can holler (the yellow triangle button) for a moderator to change the thread title if you want.

I would ask them to change it, but it's not that big of an deal to me and I've actually written threads more confusing than this.

I think I know why most Licensed games suck:

The publishers don't care and only want to make a quick buck.

Chances are the movie studios give the game devs a deadline, not understanding how long it takes to make a decent, not-terrible game.

Games based on cartoons and anime don't really as bad an issue of this. Probably because most games based on cartoons and anime are made a few seasons into the show's run rather than when they premier like movie games.

counterpoint: Sonic Boom game

Cheap licensed games go to the platform that has the greatest install base of casual gamers that are more likely to buy based off a brand instead of quality. That platform is currently mobile.

The Vita obviously has too small an install base for these games to be worth making for. As for the 3DS, it's worth it to some extent since that targets the youngest demographics of the currently active dedicated devices and has a decent install base, but compared to mobile you're not likely to make much profit on it. So the quality teams get put on mobile while the 3DS gets farmed out teams that just want to make a quick buck because that's all the 3DS is worth.

I honestly think you're underselling the 3DS's qualities. It may not be "it prints money" like the original DS, but there are a good amount of quality games on it.

edited 25th Jan '16 8:50:30 PM by Karxrida

I said it's worth it, but not nearly as much as mobile. That's certainly how publishers see it, as the 3DS doesn't get nearly as much as the DS did, and obviously mobile dominates those sorts of games. Obviously some studios see some value, as Lego and several other licensed games still consistently come out.

The 3DS's main advantage is that its games are just buy to play, so studios gets their ~$15-$20 instantly instead of having to hope people spend on microtransactions. Some studios are also far more capable of making games meant to be played with a traditional control scheme instead of just a touch screen, so naturally they continue to work on the 3DS. These games also don't need constant support for months/years.

But really, the potential profit ceiling is much higher on mobile, so most games go there. Which is sad, since I remember having fun with some of those cheap licensed games on the DS. There was a Transformers game I enjoyed far more than it deserved.

Odd: I said "most", not "all". Sonic Boom isn't in the "most" section.

Astro Boy: Omega Factor on the GBA still stands bazungolf. Sadiy quality doesn't equal success.

edited 26th Jan '16 7:52:48 AM by TAPETRVE

Oh man, that game was so baller.

That said, I feel like this topic is more focused on non-anime adaptations.

The topic was mainly about games that are based off the materials from Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network; but then again, my threads have an habit of derailing. I'm not sure if video games made from anime & manga are subject to the cash cow on handheld treatment, since Naruto's Path of the Ninja series are relatively good.

Disney is hit-or-miss (hits include Kingdom Hearts, the Nintendo Entertainment System DuckTales + remake, Disney Infinity), and I have no idea about the others bar the Adventure Time games being solid.

edited 26th Jan '16 9:19:33 AM by Karxrida

I don't think that Anime and Manga in general are given the licensed games treatment as much as western shows on any console. Only really popular ones like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, Sailor Moon, or Inu Yasha have really had video games released (I know there are others, but I named really popular anime/manga).

I think Madoka has the PSP game and I know there are a few handheld Inu Yasha games but that's it for my knowledge.

For Disney: I think the Remastered version of Ducktales (though that was done by Wayforward) is really good. As is Toy Story for the SNES. I do enjoy Monsters Inc, Scream Arena on the Game Cube. (It's a dodgeball game with the Monsters Inc cast in it), and I liked The Incredibles and Cars on Game Cube. Can't say much about handhelds.

For CN: On consoles, I think Powerpuff Girls: Relish Rampage was decent, Ed Edd n Eddy The Mis Ed-ventures is also decent. I enjoyed the Teen Titans game. For handhelds, the only one I enjoyed was the DS version of Cartoon Network Racing. I have not played the Adventure Time games.

For Nick: I liked Nicktoons Unite on consoles. On handhelds I liked Spongebob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom

Anime games: I can only talk about consoles here, but I enjoyed Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 and Inu Yasha: A Feudal Fairytale on PS 1.

I don't think anyone deralied the thread. I believe the analogy is, "you had a specific set of rails but you forgot to lay them to guide the train".

That said, I think think anime/manga/tokusatsu/sentai licensed games are still subject to being generally average-to-bad just like series/movies/comics/western animation licensed games. Because we have seen a small decent subset of them, doesn't mean that bad ones don't exist.

Let's talk about fighting games since that's one of my favorite genres and I played a lot of different ones. Have you played J-Stars Victory? That game is bad. Fun, but bad. Other bad examples I can think of are the Bleach fighting game for Wii, the Sailor Moon fighting game for the SNES, and Fist of the North Star by Arc System Works.

The Adventure Time games range from bad (Explore The Dungeon) to above average (Ice King) to great (Battle Party MOBA).

edited 26th Jan '16 8:43:47 PM by Malco

As I said, I've only played 3 anime fighting games: Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 on the PS 1 (bad), Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 on the Wii (decent) and the Inu Yasha one on the PS 1 (My second most dominant fighting game after Smash Bros).