Portrait or Landscape?

[Fenikso]

AoP Alpha test brought and interesting question. I am just curious...

Do you guys play in Portrait or Landscape mode? Why?

[Fenikso]

To answer my own question: I play in portrait as it is more natural for me to hold the phone like that and I can play using just one hand. It is very important for me as majority of the time I can play mobile games is in public transport or similar situations which requires me to use the other hand for another purpose.

[xdesperado]

Landscape here because it "feels" like I can see more of the map on my phones small screen.

[Fenikso]

xdesperado - Really? On my Galaxy Nexus I can see in portrait 6x8 sectors, but in landscape 9x4. Only 4 does not feel right. I guess that is because the resolution is 16:9 as opposed to 5:3 on my older phone.

[athios]

Almost exclusively in portrait, mainly due to habit. It is easier to hold the phone, but my fat palm also frequently accidentally activates the buttons on the bottom of my phone.
I'm also used to using the ST menus, so I don't care about the extra buttons in landscape.
I am usually on landscape when I come to the forums though, so I've also gotten accustomed to holding the phone in landscape.

[Cory Trese]

This is very interesting. I wonder if we are making trouble for ourselves by making games that lack portrait support.

[rsgong]

I play on a Kindle so have I nice sized screen. I mostly use landscape because I like to easily access the map, rumors, and contract buttons. I have recently started using it in portrait because more of the none space screens without scrolling too much.

What I have found that I like about switching between them, is when I am in autopilot and have my sails badly damage in an unavoidable combat. Switching them stops the movement and I can take a detour to the nearest star dock for emergency repairs. I have greatly reduced mutinies this way.  

[slayernz]

I LOVE portrait style games. I hate having to use two hands to hold the phone.
There are a few games that play both portrait and landscape, but I still choose portrait wherever possible.

[John Robinson]

With the Kindle Fire HD. I prefer both. Auto orientation is great as well. My case rotates the screen into flip slots for no hands stability. I would really miss the extra screen real estate you get on landscape view. I'm with rsgong on this one. ST in landscape let's you see more of everything and some text takes fewer lines to display. Maybe in the "Options", you could check one box for smart phones, another for tablets. My dream game takes advantage of the tablet screen for bigger fonts and larger game displays, without sacrificing the needs of smart phone users.

[johndramey]

I generally don't mind either and don't have strong feelings on the subject. I can say that I used to play pretty much exclusively in portrait mode until I realized that there are extra buttons in ST when in landscape. Now I can't really play ST in portrait because I need those extra buttons.

[slayernz]

Those extra buttons you crave are found very quickly by pressing the menu button on your device - nothing new, nothing different

[rsgong]

But it is soooo convenient to have the buttons right there. 

[johndramey]

rsgong - Bingo! I like just having the buttons there. Menu button requires finger stretching and I have ity-bity hands.

[tenbsmith]

Everyone should probably include the device they use.

Playing on a Kindle Fire, I play mostly in portrait. This let's me see content lower on the screen in urban zones, combat, etc without scrolling.

[johndramey]

Good point, I play with a Samsung Galaxy Note. Either way I play I have a bigger screen then most phones.