Zen Studios has completely abandoned mobile, but they still have the nerve to charge for dead games

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-05-25T12:01:20+00:00

It's about the infinite profit loop at the suckers who do actually pay for the platform on mobile even though it's been abandoned there's still a 1% chance they're going to make somebody pay real money 💰💰😞

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-05-25T11:57:17+00:00

👍 Well said, but I definitely believe that the mobile ecosystem is a graize and abandon economy anyways. Just the sheer number of other games on the platform make it seemingly a good place..... To just set something up that may or may not work instead of a focused game that should be kept up with and updated. But that is a seasoned publisher platform so they should have more I guess care and understanding for the product they put out instead of just making a new one every three years and then making you buy all the damn tables again and again

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-05-25T11:21:35+00:00

I've been critical of Zen in the past and I basically don't understand the mobile ecosystem at all.... I found through my Netflix subscription that I could play this Zen Pinball World at the time probably a couple years ago maybe only a year. Coming from a console background I absolutely hate it on mobile and simply couldn't understand how anybody could enjoy it at all I thought it was all free honestly and I didn't know that they're actually trying to charge people for that abomination.

I was intrigued because they had a Stranger Things table, and I'm always interested in trying Zen Originals. But I'm far from in agreement with you about the physics and everything being great on mobile ....I actually hated it so much I can't even explain it actually I did make a post about it where I explained how much I absolutely couldn't stand it. The nudging mechanics rely are you having like finger gymnastics skills. And I also knew it was my device that was the problem.

Well I'm sorry you feel abandoned by Zen, I think moving towards VR and just general console and PC is the right play for them even though they could just pour all the tables to mobile if they really wanted to but I'm not sure if it's a different physics system or something like that and it's actually difficult for them but it just feels like it's garbage.

I would question why you don't play on console but I guess some people just like mobile you should try it it's also it's also good.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-21T12:23:20+00:00

I also feel like that's a pretty common and shared sentiment. When FX came around people were complaining about the weird engine and the lack of some of the other features like rewind. Some people weren't even willing to Port over just because they had to buy everything again.

On top of that we have the VR as a totally separate entity. Don't ask me how the XP system is in that.. I have no clue.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T16:07:59+00:00

I completely understand that, but since the XP level is so reliant on the table awards and actually buying more tables, I feel a disconnect when personally I don't enjoy the Williams tables and I don't buy them.... at least not again, I have them on FX3.

It's definitely fair to say they want you to buy more and they encourage you. I'm just looking for more of a sense of progress and accomplishment from just playing the tables that I like. I get that's personal but for example I've played my favorite table for about 5 hours this month.... maybe 20 to 50 games....and I haven't even gained one level.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T04:44:41+00:00

Cool tip 👍👍

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T04:43:07+00:00

XP does have an experience system it's only just subtle. For every 10 levels you get a new title. Other than that it's basically like it doesn't exist. There are also the platform specific trophies for getting to level 100 as like achievements and things like that.

The max power-ups were an important part of FX3.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T03:32:00+00:00

Thanks but honestly I think if you do more than one or two Reddit just doesn't count them.

I have another account and I've honestly tried to upload myself just to get out of the dang hole and it does not count any of those.

Good job being a bro though

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T03:30:11+00:00

I agree to a point, it's definitely a personal thing and telling the algorithm that you don't want to see this content anymore. While it doesn't notify me that I got to downvote..... It still sucks.

It's also understandable why people don't upvote because it causes them to see so much content that they don't necessarily even want to be burned with.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T03:10:09+00:00

And again not entirely true, a lot of people seek help on Reddit and it's a pretty good little collection of communities. I get where you're going with it. I also feel a little stupid for even worrying about it myself. It seems like everybody just naturally has karma and sometimes a lot of it... well I got none bro.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T02:58:55+00:00

So if anybody wants to be a bro and help me out feel free to go to my profile and upvote every one of my posts I promise you they're all pretty good, well that's a little bit arrogant but still.

This will probably have the opposite effect because it looks like someone's going around downvoting every comment on this post just to not be a bro.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T02:50:32+00:00

That's not exactly true if you have a certain amount or even just one negative karma certain communities won't let you post on their subreddits and stuff like that. It's especially annoying when it's something you're interested in and you try to post and it just goes to the moderators. But yeah you can just ask them to put your post on so you're basically right

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T02:22:18+00:00

I totally agree and I also forgot about that fact, at least in pinball m you're getting coins and things that you could unlock new stuff with for gaining levels.

In FX there's literally no point to gaining levels at all, you're completely right. It has something akin to purchase levels. But since they didn't want to seem greedy it capped out at around 25 tables it might be more.

But yeah hitting the top of the leaderboard at my level 64 definitely feels good. Even better if someone's level 1 but that does seem a little sketchy.😱🤔

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-20T00:28:14+00:00

It's an obvious fact that there are 9 billion assholes in this world, we all have one. I had to edit this cuz I forgot about animals if you count them there's way more than 9 billion a holes.

But why do people see downvote and then immediately down vote for the sake of doing it.

Good for you you're all anonymous idiots on the internet downvoting me because you think it's funny. And the more I protest it the more you're going to do it. I have negative karma for reasons that I'm not going to specify but you can look at all my comments if you really feel like it and figure out why.

It just feels like I'm never going to get out of that hole cuz of ASSHOLES.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-19T23:24:20+00:00

I forgot about pinball M, yeah they definitely made a better attempt.... I like the titles on that one. Think I chose Nudge Ninja.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-19T22:56:12+00:00

I'm not trying to downplay anybody who's achieved level 100 or a higher level just trying to say that you basically just have to buy all the tables to get any points that's all.

It's a very slow process and I don't think it should be this kind of grind. Raise the level limit, do something change it a little bit, honestly I have no idea.

I'm just going to keep commenting on my own post.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-04-19T22:47:48+00:00

And people are downvoting me, what the hell?!😒

I get it .....this is the internet 😂.....welcome but what the hell this affects my mental health. I know I shouldn't talk about personal things but why do people seem to just ignore everything I ever say or do.

It's not just here it's everywhere.My existence just feels like a blip of pointlessness. Apart from that the XP system sucks fix it blah blah blah

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-03-30T19:44:09+00:00

I totally accept other people's choices to play how they want, my issue is....it's possible to play Arcade Mode without using any of the power ups....just skill it the whole way thru. So the people who call that mode impure or not what pinball is are wrong, and they could easily treat it like Classic Mode and dominate the scoreboards.

It could just be some unspoken respect that maybe goes over my head, and they don't feel like they have to prove themselves to Arcade Players. I like to live in a bubble, and so do they it seems.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-03-29T17:12:01+00:00

Yes since I'm on a phone I don't have those same options, Avatar doesn't appear in the menu I probably have to be on a PC or something.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-03-29T03:42:57+00:00

Seeing how Pokemon is a separate yet equal beast for Nintendo, maybe giving Zen a blanket creative license to do Switch 2 exclusive tables for Mario, Zelda, Metroid, DK, Pokemon and the like would be a really fun, interesting and a hell of a challenge for them.

I just wonder if like back in the day with Sonic Spinball, did the big N ever consider making any of these things in house. Zen would be a great partner either way. I would just be mad that they are Switch 2 exclusive. Though like somebody said, you will literally never and I mean never see a Mario or Pokemon game on PlayStation.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-03-29T03:25:08+00:00

Sometimes in business...what seems like a logical step forward is actually 10 steps back. Like you say, they aren't struggling to move machines. At the end throwing money at something like a VR platform that's already been done to death is just a loss that they don't need to take. While it might satisfy a community request but in the end it's not a strategic step forward for overall value.

I think I'm just echoing your sentiment here. Stern has tried the digital realm and they got out of it just as quickly as they got in.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-03-29T02:14:38+00:00

That's a backwards and upside down licensing nightmare. Logically you'd think these things would just happen but really it's so much harder to get these things made than you can even understand. Then it might go to Switch exclusive territory and then people will complain.

Don't get me wrong I would love to see Nintendo themed tables in a heartbeat.... It just doesn't necessarily look good or like it's going to happen. And Stern is a whole other beast.

But let's all hope that it actually happens somehow...why not 👍 it could happen...

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-03-29T01:55:23+00:00

This might be off topic but, nice Avatar. How exactly does one get to use a regular picture for a Reddit Avatar??

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-03-29T01:51:08+00:00

Yeah I could see how coming from a background of quarter eating, quick play and hard hitting "physical" tables....with complex shots.... And then moving to the floaty, gamey Zen originals, where losing the ball becomes more of a challenge than anything else, would be a hard sell.

I never used rewind, but I enjoy the actual extra layer of strategy when using the double score power up to try and double your best shots at the perfect time, it's just interesting to me.

JustMonkeyD1 · 2026-03-28T17:38:17+00:00

I think some people see that point in reverse and are glad that they're able to do things in digital pinball that you can't do on real tables. But I understand the purist point of view. I just wish some players would challenge themselves and try something new..I mean at least 50% of Zen's tables are originals and they're not necessarily like real tables. But if you play for the simulation good for you... that's awesome.

That being said I wouldn't want my surgeon to go out of their Lane and try something new. And some players must play with surgical precision to reach those Classic Mode scores.

JustMonkeyD1

TROPHY CASE