When I think of mobile games, I think big companies spending a lot of money to get people like Arnold Schwarzenegger to narrate over CGI explosions. Maybe the occasional arcade game fad like Flappy Bird or Angry Birds. What I usually don't think of is quality gameplay and mechanics, but there are games who break the mold and achieve this regardless.

First, I'll have to talk about Monument Valley. What Makes Monument Valley different is its game-changing puzzle mechanics. The app is paid with paid DLCs, but that's a small price to pay for an app that is this amazing. You can also get it for free on Amazon's Underground app store. The game combines a beautiful geometric aesthetic with physics-defying gameplay. The goal is simply to get from the beginning to the end while moving the environment. Seems simple enough, but simple is what makes a good mobile game. Each level is well thought out and just the right amount of challenging. It's great to play when you have down-time, or just binge it all in one go.

You know when I gave Angry Birds as an example of a fad in the first paragraph of this post? Well, the studio that made Angry Birds, Rovio, made a game that doesn't rely on Angry Birds branding to succeed for once. The game is called Retry, and I think it is a great example of how to make a game that strikes the perfect balance between user experience and profit. The game is fairly simple, you pilot a plane through various levels, collecting coins and other things along the way. I think the best part of this game is how it is monetized. Lots of mobile games basically rely on micro-transactions to win. Pay-to-win is common among mobile games. While Retry has micro-transactions to get more coins and gears, you don't need them to succeed. Coins are used to unlock checkpoints, but even if you don't have any coins to unlock a checkpoint, you can watch a simple 30-second ad or grab some coins from another level. I think this is a very non-obtrusive way for a game to make money.

How can I make a post on games without talking about Neko Atsume? Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector is a game that's gained widespread popularity, and the weirdest part? Nobody knows why. I don't even know why I keep coming back to it. The game is simple, you put items down in your yard for cats to come and play with, and they leave you fish to buy more things. The game is laid-back, which I think is important in a mobile game. Sometimes it's nice to just check and see how your cats are doing. Maybe snap a picture of a cute cat. The game is slow, but rewarding. Games like this where you have to wait and do little things throughout the day are another great way to utilize the mobile platform.

So what is it that makes a good mobile game? Simplicity, elegance, mobility, and originality. There are too many games that are all the same lately. Luckily, we have games like the ones I've listed above trying to break the mold. I don't need a 50th Candy Crush or Angry Birds. I don't want a war game that exploits women. I'll stick with my beautiful art styles, airplanes, and cats.

So you're looking to buy a new device. That's awesome and exciting! The problem is a lot of people don't know what to look for. If you don't want to get stuck with a device that disappoints you, or one that you regret buying, keep reading.

The first major point you want to consider when buying a new device is the software. I know, you probably don't think about this as much as the branding but it's important. Whether you want iOS or Android, and which skin inside of Android you prefer. Each manufacturer has a different skin they apply over Android. Samsung has Touchwiz, HTC has Sense, and LG has its own UI. Personally, I'd consider any skin worse than stock Android which can usually only be found on Google Nexus devices and kind of on Motorola flagships. Check out the latest versions of the software you're looking at and see how they compare to stock.

Second, check out how well that software runs on the hardware. How fast is it, is it prone to hiccups, etc. Also, make sure your manufacturer is known to give prompt updates. When the next version of the OS comes out, make sure they are known to give your phone the update quickly and efficiently. Obviously the best brands for this would be Apple and Google's Nexus, as both of them directly make the software.

Last but not least, check out the design, size, and feel of the phone. Also check out any features they may have that distinguishes them from other devices. Fingerprint scanner? How nice is the screen? What about the materials it's made of? These can all play major factors in how much you'll like the device you're getting. Price also revolves around this, so make sure it's within your price range and see how much price matters to you. (See: Your 'Free' Smartphone Isn't Free, and Why You Should Buy Unlocked)

You'll see a lot of people worry about the specs of the phone such as the RAM and CPU. And while these are important, most major flagships now-a-days already have good enough specs that it doesn't matter the majority of the time. Consider these things last. After you've considered all of the things above, you should be able to see what device would be the best option for you.

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We all know of those people who say iPhones suck, or that Android sucks and iPhones are way better in every way. This isn't true at all. Neither sides paint the full picture. To understand both sides of the argument, you have to understand the pros and cons of both sides as well as what both sides' goals are.

Apple and Google have completely different methods of obtaining profit. Apple is primarily a hardware company, meaning they obtain their profit from selling iPhones, Macs, etc. On the other side of the coin, Google is primarily a software and advertising company. They make their money from the most possible people using their software, collecting data, and selling advertisements. What does this have to do with iOS v. Android? Well, many of the arguments against Apple is that iOS is such a closed system and they never release any of their apps for Android. Reason being, they want people to buy their products for their OS. If they released iMessage for Android, they would lose a lot of money due to people no-longer buying their hardware to use it. Google, on the other hand, releases almost all their apps for iOS and Android because they want people using their software to sell ads. Both companies have different business models, so it's unfair to dock either side for what they choose to do in that department.

Customization is also a major talking point, but again, both companies have different audiences. Apple focuses on the common user, making iOS less customizable, but at the same time easier to use. Android tries to strike more of a balance between customization and simplicity, but ends up missing the common user at some points.

Being locked inside a certain ecosystem can cause users to refuse to change sides. For example, iOS users use iMessage, iCloud, iTunes, etc. and there is no way they're going to just abandon all that to try something new because some random person on the Internet told them to. Android users are ingrained in Google's ecosystem as well. Neither side is going to get the other side to change their opinion if they're already ingrained in the OS.

So next time you see an iOS user that refuses to acknowledge Android as a legitimate option, or vise-versa, remember that you probably aren't going to change their mind and it's just a waste of time to argue with them. iOS and Android both have their respective audiences and goals, so who cares what anyone else uses as long as you can still use your preferred option?

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