EPIC VP isn’t sold on “second screen” tablet gaming. Me neither, brah.
Mark Rein of Epic is not down with the concept of second screen tablet gaming. I’m going to level with you, I ain’t either. I’ve never been a fan of handhelds, and I don’t I’ll ever be interested in playing some gorgeous game within the confines of my iPad.
Second screen gaming found in SmartGlass or companion apps has yet to show its real value, Epic Games vice president Mark Rein recently told The [a]list daily.
Speaking with the publication, Rein explained that though the concept could be big one day, he still isn’t convinced it currently fits into gaming.
“Where I really use SmartGlass is for choosing things from the menu and navigating the store instead of using the controller,” Rein said. “It’s great for watching a movie and then continuing it on my tablet when I walk away. There are lots of great uses and applications.
“Where it fits into gaming, I don’t know. I’m not sold on picking up my tablet to choose my play and then putting it back down and picking up my controller. It’s kind of a wonky way to choose a play, so I don’t know if that’s how it’s going to go or not.”
According to Rein, developers should be experimenting with the concept, and perhaps even trying to have fun with it.
“Sooner or later there will be a killer app for that sort of thing, too,” Rein said.
[Polygon]
I do like the idea of using my tablet as an auxiliary menu or some shit. A go-to map that I can reference while running around Fallout 4 or Borderlands 3. More conducive to immersion (maybe?) than pausing the game. But actually playing it? I don’t know, yo. I’m not sold either.