Apple Video Game Console

[brent0saurus]

What does everyone think about this?
I don't see Apple releasing a console for hardcore games or anything, but what if they made TV a video game system... Like basically keep all the functionality of TV but throw in the iPhone OS and a controller with an accelerometer (or maybe just use your iPod/iPhone as a controller!) and people could develop for it immediately (just like iPad)
Thoughts?

 

[maflynn]

I get a 403 when trying to connect to the link but then apple tried a foray into the game console market Pippin Largely unsuccessful.

 

[brent0saurus]

I get a 403 when trying to connect to the link but then apple tried a foray into the game console market Pippin Largely unsuccessful.

Hm, sometimes i get that error and sometimes I don't. It's really not worth reading anyway; just says it's a possibility... haha.
But i think the Pippin was different. I feel like a home system that used the iTunes ecosystem could be successful; especially since it would also be an TV

 

[0098386]

It's been discussed here time and time again. I personally don't see this happening at all.

 

[maflynn]

It's been discussed here time and time again. I personally don't see this happening at all.

Agreed, there's barely enough room to have 3 game makers, never mind a new entrant.

 

[ArrowSmith]

Considering AAPL is filled with geniuses, there's no reason they can't make something better then the X-Box. Heck, they can get into aircraft engines!

 

[brent0saurus]

Considering AAPL is filled with geniuses, there's no reason they can't make something better then the X-Box. Heck, they can get into aircraft engines!

The only issue with Apple making something "better" is you need to get developers on board. A console is really only as good as the games it has. Microsoft, Sony and Xbox all have their own developers that are either themselves, or they have bought. These usually produce the best titles. Read: Mario, Halo, Uncharted 2...
Apple obviously has an insane amount of developers at their disposal, but I don't think anyone willing to do something as big as Uncharted 2.
In my opinion, if Apple made some kind of gaming system, it would basically be an TV with iPhone OS for short, fun games. Nintendo and Apple have both proven there's a huge market for these types of games. Imagine Apple releasing something that plays these types of games and is also a great media center at the same price point as the Wii. Of course it wouldn't have Mario and the like, but it would be a way better media center than the Wii is and have the advantage of Apps.
So, again, not better, just something for everyone else.

 

[pdjudd]

Apple obviously has an insane amount of developers at their disposal, but I don't think anyone willing to do something as big as Uncharted 2.

Not to mention that the costs of developing a 5 dollar iPhone game are massively different in scale, cost, and time when you are talking about games like Uncharted 2 - They are practically as much work as movies nowadays.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Not to mention that the costs of developing a 5 dollar iPhone game are massively different in scale, cost, and time when you are talking about games like Uncharted 2 - They are practically as much work as movies nowadays.

Yeah, a huge game like Uncharted 2 or God of War III is probably in the 20mil-30mil dollar range.


Lethal

 

[maflynn]

You do realize that for the most part that the console vendors sell the game consoles at a loss and make up the difference in the software. Apple does the opposite, they use software to sell hardware. There's no way they'd be able to make money in such a saturated market, plus major game manufacturers would be less inclined to spend the sizable $$ to support yet another platform of questionable value.

 

[NoSmokingBandit]

MS and Sony are competing well enough on their own that Apple wouldnt be able to jump into that end of the market, so they are pretty much restricted to competing with the Wii/Nintendo. Can Apple come up with something that rivals LoZ, Mario, Pokemon, Metroid, and SSBB? This is why i can never take anyone seriously when they say the iPod/iPhone is a veritable gaming system. Sure you can play games on it, but do $5 ports of Flash games really count compared to what the PSP and DS do?

 

[Silvereel]

MS and Sony are competing well enough on their own that Apple wouldnt be able to jump into that end of the market, so they are pretty much restricted to competing with the Wii/Nintendo. Can Apple come up with something that rivals LoZ, Mario, Pokemon, Metroid, and SSBB? This is why i can never take anyone seriously when they say the iPod/iPhone is a veritable gaming system. Sure you can play games on it, but do $5 ports of Flash games really count compared to what the PSP and DS do?

Six words. Grand Theft Auto China Town Wars.

 

[NoSmokingBandit]

Thats one game vs how many...?

 

[MacsRgr8]

How about a Mac mini,  TV, and  GameBox in one... i.e. a Mac mini with good grfx, HDMI, and some sort of iPad OS running on top of Mac OS X.
So, Mac OS X for "usual" Mac mini stuff, a better ( TV like) Front Row for HTC, and iPad OS for gaming on your 50"...?

 

[Silvereel]

Thats one game vs how many...?

It's true that most of the indie titles on the app store are basically flash games... but a lot of the major game companies have produced some really top notch stuff. Take as look at EA's offerings, for instance, in particular. And a good indie title would be Ravensword.

 

[mysterytramp]

You do realize that for the most part that the console vendors sell the game consoles at a loss and make up the difference in the software. Apple does the opposite, they use software to sell hardware. There's no way they'd be able to make money in such a saturated market, plus major game manufacturers would be less inclined to spend the sizable $$ to support yet another platform of questionable value.

But the gaming market could definitely benefit Apple by inspiring more hardware sales, or at least stem the loss of sales to people who switch to PC for gaming.

And it's pretty much a low-risk, high-return venture. Apple could serve as an angel investor to a gaming startup, with the caveat that the software has to run on OS X. Might inspire the company to switch to better Nvidia video cards or create an Apple-branded Bluetooth controller.

mt

 

[maflynn]

People don't switch from Macs to PCs for gaming, they're already on the PC at that point.

I disagree that its a low risk high return venture, quite the opposite. They'll have to pump serious money into a device, some how convince game writers to support yet another platform and show they'll be in it for the long haul.

The video game market right now is flooded, sales have been flat, games cost around 60 dollars a pop, few people are willing to spend that much money over and over. The cost of producing a top of the line game is staggering, sometimes (most of the time?) reaching into 6 figures.

imo there is little room for a 4th game console. Look at how much sony had struggled with their PS3. Admittedly probably the most advanced game unit, but until they cut prices it wasn't going anywhere fast. I don't see how apple can squeeze into that market segment when they're known for high prices, i.e., the apple-tax.

Apple has been very successful these past few years because they've been quite adept at seeing opportunities and avoiding other areas. This is one area that would take a lot of money dedication and effort to grow a business that would only return a small amount of profit.

Edit:
Besides they do seem to be moving into a "mobile" company philosophy. While they still offer desktops they're main focus has been the mobile market segment for some time.

 

[dukebound85]

Considering AAPL is filled with geniuses, there's no reason they can't make something better then the X-Box. Heck, they can get into aircraft engines!

yes, computer coders are awesome turbine engineers

 

[*LTD*]

Six words. Grand Theft Auto China Town Wars.

Now up the power, the video, the gfx . . . everything. iPad.

 

[roadbloc]

I do not recognize the iPad/iPhone as a gaming platform. I don't think "I need a new games console, how about an iPad." No, I think: XBOX or PS3.

I know no1 else who also thinks they are gaming platforms. It is as much as a gaming platform as Mobile, which comes with a free Tetris game.

 

[*LTD*]

I do not recognize the iPad/iPhone as a gaming platform.

Everyone else is starting to.

Every purchase of an iPod Touch in order to play games (a big reason for purchase) means it's a gaming platform. Take those same games (i.e., Chinatown Wars) and improve them for play on the iPad. Whole different ballgame.

Times are changing. We're already way, way beyond mobile Tetris.

 

[roadbloc]

Every purchase of an iPod Touch in order to play games (a big reason for purchase) means it's a gaming platform.

You buy an iPod Touch/iPhone to play games then? Good for you. I'd buy one to play music and call people.

Let's see how the equivilent of vamped up online flash games on an iPhone compaires with a bit of COD on an XBox. Even the Nintendo DS better than an iPhone for gaming.

See sence in this one please *LTD*. Someone looking for a games console is not going to purposly choose an iPod/iPhone/iPad. Games are a nice touch to a mobile device, I have killed at least an hour all together, playing tetris while waiting for a bus. But thay are not at all the reason they are bought and what they are recognised for.

 

[*LTD*]

\But thay are not at all the reason they are bought and what they are recognised for.

Wrong. iPod Touch. This isn't 2005.

Check out what's driving iPod Touch sales.

Nintendo DS is already in trouble. Let's take Chinatown Wars again: the iPod/iPhone version is actually better than the DS version.

http://www.maclife.com/article/news/sales_double_ipod_touch_near_iphone_status

Once seen as an expensive, unnecessary product for most, sales of the iPod touch have doubled over the past year. This puts its selling rate nearly that of the iPhone itself. One of the reasons behind this recent explosion in sales is the availability of attractive games available in the iTunes App Store.

http://theappleblog.com/2009/08/12/ipod-touch-cutting-into-handheld-game-market-top-analyst-says/

http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-dominates-tokyo-game-show-and-the-company-isnt-even-attending/17275

Again, check out the games on the App Store. You'll see we're way past Tetris.

 

[roadbloc]

It will only ever compete with DS's/Gameboys. Which are for children. I have a bigger processor in my car engine management system.

The DS is struggling? Well the DS is only a games console. The iPhone is much more for it is also a Phone and MP3 player.

I agree, the iPhone can now play games; and with the multi-touch, this can be quite fun. But who in their right mind will choose an iPhone over an XBox?

People do not buy iPhones just to game on. Gaming isn't what they are made for. I have just done a poll in the studio just now. Out of 30 people; NONE said they would buy an iPhone for gaming.

You can show me as many links on the interwebz as you want, the iPhone is not recognised as a gaming platform. At least it isn't in my town.

 

[LethalWolfe]

From one of your links *LTD*:

For Pachter, the crucial challenge for the iPod Touch as a game platform is pricing. “The sticking point is whether we’ll see these games offered at $9.99 or at $29.99. If at the lower price, the developers/publishers would take a profit hit; if at the higher price, the popularity of the iPod Touch as a gaming device will suffer.” (Currently most of the top-selling App Store titles, even from major game publishers, sell for well under $10.)

At the moment, Pachter noted, Sony and Nintendo have access to better games, including exclusive first-party titles that will never show up in the App Store; this gives both companies a distinct competitive advantage over Apple: “Everyone who owns a DS or PSP is a potential game customer,” as he puts it, “while only a fraction of iPod Touch owners will buy expensive games.”

That said, Pachter still believes the iPod Touch’s expanding market and lower prices “will ultimately make a dent in the PSP and DS software markets.” The question is whether it’s supplementing the existing handheld market, or cannibalizing it.

“[M]y guess,” Pachter told me, “is that it’s a bit of both.”

This is the biggest question mark w/regards to the apps for the iPhone OS going to the next level, IMO. Free and $0.99 throw away apps will always be popular but how many people are willing to pay $30-$50 for a game or productivity app? I also question how well the iPad is going to translate into games because of the ergonomics. The iPhone/iPod has a better form factor for gaming while the iPad's size basically limits you to single hand interaction unless you find a surface to set it on and that detracts from the play anywhere, anytime element needed for mobile gaming. I think for app price and convenience the iPhone OS platform is certainly setup to open up the low end of the market, but as a true competitor to the PSP and DS I have my doubts. With that being said though, the mass market tends to gravitate towards cheap, convenient and good enough so...

Also, where were you reading that the iPhone version of Chinatown Wars is the better than the DS version? Pretty much everything I read about it said it was a must have iPhone game but it had a cramped/cluttered screen and poor controls (especially for driving) compared to the DS and PSP versions. But all the negatives are usually covered w/a caveat that it's a $9.99 version on the iPhone/iPod Touch so you can only expect so much. Kinda like how the iPhone's keyboard is very good... for a small, touch screen keyboard.

TouchAracde.com

The main difference is how the controls have been adapted to the on-screen virtual joystick and buttons of the iPhone. Like other games that use a similar control scheme, there is always an inherent lack of precision without physical buttons that take a little getting used to, but this didn't hamper my enjoyment of Chinatown Wars in the least bit.

IGN.com

Chinatown Wars uses a virtual stick for on-foot movement that is just about as good as you'll find on the iDevices. Combat controls would benefit from some sort of targeting system, but I experienced few problems with digging into a violent crew and trading bullets or putting shoe prints on their faces. When driving, though, you default to a pair of arrows for turning left and right, which you use in conjunction with gas and brake pedal buttons. All of the virtual buttons (gas, shoot, kick, carjack) are simply too small. They work -- but they are not easy to manage and often require you look at the buttons to make sure you are hitting the right one.

PocketGamer.co.uk

With a slightly cluttered screen and lack of a targeting system to take up the slack on the controls, it's probably reasonable to say the iPhone version of Chinatown Wars is third in line when it comes to playability.

But when it comes to cost and portability, the DS and PSP aren't even in the running.