CivRev : what devices ?

sorinache

Chieftain
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Messages
6
Location
Europe
Ok so I understand there is a X-Box and PS3 version, as well as a DS and iPhone version. What other devices has Civ Rev been ported to ? The PSP ? Any Samsung / LG smartphone running Windows Mobile ? Any Nokia smartphone running Symbian ? Android maybe ?

More importantly, I know CivRev is old now and Firaxis is concentrating on Civ 5, but does anyone know of any plans to port CivRev to some of the platforms mentioned above ?
 
You just about covered it (the iphone version runs on the ipod touch).

For some good information about how this came to be and maybe some insight into what might be coming, check out RevCast episodes 11 & 12:

http://civcomm.weplayciv.com/polycast/revcast/season1.php

My suspicion is that there won't be anything new for CivRev ever, but we can hold out for a sequel.
 
As per one of the podcasts, the iPhone version was started as a skunkworks project, i.e. unofficial. However, if the iPhone version of CivRev is profitable then I could see Firaxis exploring other platforms. Of course, it also depends on:
1. the platform is powerful enough to handle the CivRev engine
2. the interface is standardized & large enough to accomodate the UI (and ideally can be ported from one of the other versions without much effort)
3. the development tools are up to the task (again, without much effort)
4. the store & packaging provides for reliable payment & prevents piracy
5. the probable revenue from the platform ensures a sufficient profit margin
 
As per one of the podcasts, the iPhone version was started as a skunkworks project, i.e. unofficial. However, if the iPhone version of CivRev is profitable then I could see Firaxis exploring other platforms. Of course, it also depends on:
1. the platform is powerful enough to handle the CivRev engine
2. the interface is standardized & large enough to accomodate the UI (and ideally can be ported from one of the other versions without much effort)
3. the development tools are up to the task (again, without much effort)
4. the store & packaging provides for reliable payment & prevents piracy
5. the probable revenue from the platform ensures a sufficient profit margin

Now is there a mobile platforms specialist reading this forum ? I would very much like to know whether the iPhone, which I find horribly expensive, has any serious competition ? Who is abreast of the latest offering from Nokia, the Koreans, the Taiwanese ? Has anyone toyed with the latest smartphones of these constructors ?

I remember back in the days when CPU power counted in the PC world, I used to read (apart from Tom's Hardware) a website called realworldtechnology.com, which was analyzing in great depth the CPU stage (most recent offerings from Intel, AMD and VIA at that time; it doesn't seem to exist anymore). It was a great source of insight. I'm sure there is an independent website today somewhere that does the same for the smartphones, only I don't know this website

Thanks a lot
 
Now is there a mobile platforms specialist reading this forum ? I would very much like to know whether the iPhone, which I find horribly expensive, has any serious competition ? Who is abreast of the latest offering from Nokia, the Koreans, the Taiwanese ? Has anyone toyed with the latest smartphones of these constructors ?
From what I understand, Android is about the only true competitor to the iPhone (although the iPhone has about 5 times the market share). And while you may find the iPhone expensive, there are millions of people who have "bought" iPhones (either outright, or rent-to-own via phone contracts). But it really comes down to numbers.

gross profit = gross revenue - gross cost
gross cost = development cost + deployment costs
gross revenue = (sale price - costs per sale) * number of sales

Also relevant is the profit margin = gross profit / gross cost. This must be higher than other potential investments, no matter how high the profit or low the costs.

Development costs are largely platform dependent. How difficult the platform is to develop for, costs for DevKits, and how large (and therefore cheap) the development pool is. Deployment costs includeone time licensing fees, marketing, and server rental for example. Costs per sale can include per sale license fees and cuts to Apple etc.

But the big difference between the platforms is the revenue side. Number of sales is influenced by the size of the user base and how much those users spend. That's one advantage of the iPhone - a large user base who actually buy applications. On the downside, the large number of applications means that spend can get spread pretty thin, especially since the sale price is often very low.

Any iPhone competitor is going to have to create a marketplace where the developers make money.
 
From what I understand, Android is about the only true competitor to the iPhone (although the iPhone has about 5 times the market share). .

You mean the current version of the S60 is not up to snuff ? That may be so, which could explain the recent announcement of the Nokia - Intel collaboration on MeeMo ...

And while you may find the iPhone expensive, there are millions of people who have "bought" iPhones (either outright, or rent-to-own via phone contracts). But it really comes down to numbers.

gross profit = gross revenue - gross cost
gross cost = development cost + deployment costs
gross revenue = (sale price - costs per sale) * number of sales

Also relevant is the profit margin = gross profit / gross cost. This must be higher than other potential investments, no matter how high the profit or low the costs.

Development costs are largely platform dependent. How difficult the platform is to develop for, costs for DevKits, and how large (and therefore cheap) the development pool is. Deployment costs includeone time licensing fees, marketing, and server rental for example. Costs per sale can include per sale license fees and cuts to Apple etc.

But the big difference between the platforms is the revenue side. Number of sales is influenced by the size of the user base and how much those users spend. That's one advantage of the iPhone - a large user base who actually buy applications. On the downside, the large number of applications means that spend can get spread pretty thin, especially since the sale price is often very low.

Any iPhone competitor is going to have to create a marketplace where the developers make money.

Nokia is trying to do so with Ovi. The problem (for the developers) is that all these numbers are more or less unknown beforehand. As you note, while there is a big installed user base for the iPhone, there are millions of applications already ... I'm not sure there are many developers for the iPhone actually making serious money from their effort ... unlike Apple and the telcos ... where I live the cheapest iPhone contract is 35 euros/mth for at least 24 mths (subscription; actual call time charged on top). My average mobile usage is about 10-15 euros / mth. Going iPhone would mean more than tripling my mobile budget for at least 2 years ... not a very economic proposition ...
 
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