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iFicS

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 30, 2008
5
0
With the large sucess of the iPod Touch, specifically as it's use as a gaming handheld, do you think Apple will eventually make a gaming console, or at least an iPod Touch that is devoted to gaming? Microsoft was able to suceed in the market, and with Sony's PSP losing horribly to Nintendo's DS I think Apple could do well in at least the handheld gaming market. What do you think?
 

zap2

macrumors 604
Mar 8, 2005
7,252
8
Washington D.C
Nope, and it shouldn't be


First off, while the iPhones gaming is growing, I don't think its ready to take on DS and PSP head to head.


And home consoles, no way...they'd have to pour cash in like crazy, and build a market share. MS lost billions on their first console, Apple had little reason to jump in that market.

Get a netbook out the door, and I'll be happy :D
 

~Shard~

macrumors P6
Jun 4, 2003
18,377
48
1123.6536.5321
With the large sucess of the iPod Touch, specifically as it's use as a gaming handheld, do you think Apple will eventually make a gaming console, or at least an iPod Touch that is devoted to gaming? Microsoft was able to suceed in the market, and with Sony's PSP losing horribly to Nintendo's DS I think Apple could do well in at least the handheld gaming market. What do you think?

I doubt it, but I suppose anything is possible. As we all know Apple already released a console-based gaming system and it didn't work out too well, so perhaps they should learn from that mistake and stay the current course. ;)
 

NoSmokingBandit

macrumors 68000
Apr 13, 2008
1,579
3
Theres really nothing in the video game market that isnt already covered. If Apple wanted to make it in the industry they would have to make a console much superior to everyone else (very likely) and more affordable (not likely at all). Even then it would only be the fanboys that would buy it probably.
 

~Shard~

macrumors P6
Jun 4, 2003
18,377
48
1123.6536.5321
Theres really nothing in the video game market that isnt already covered. If Apple wanted to make it in the industry they would have to make a console much superior to everyone else (very likely) and more affordable (not likely at all). Even then it would only be the fanboys that would buy it probably.

Once again, Apple tried this already and it failed. Let's not repeat history, shall we? :p :cool:
 

Luftwaffles

macrumors regular
Nov 25, 2008
172
0
Kansas City, MO
The whole mentality that Apple should branch out into more markets needs to be disposed of, and fast.

Microsoft is a company that tries to do everything and be everything, and look how they're turning out. Their Zune programmers don't know what a leap year is, their zero-day exploits are followed by one-month patches, and the quality of their products is sub-par and that's somehow acceptable to them.

Don't think for one second that Apple can't possibly go that same route.

Monkey Boy once said that in this industry, you're either branching out or you're dying. Shouldn't we have already learned that whatever Ballmer says, we should be doing the opposite?

Do one thing, do it well. That's the key to success.
 

dmw007

macrumors G4
May 26, 2005
10,635
0
Working for MI-6
Anything is possible (as ~Shard~ has pointed out), Apple did release the Pippin back in 1996. However, I doubt that they will release another gaming console for the time being. :)
 

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~Shard~

macrumors P6
Jun 4, 2003
18,377
48
1123.6536.5321
Yep, the good old Pippin, how could anyone forget? :p ;) :cool:

Btw, good to see you dmw007, our paths haven't crossed in a while - Happy New Year! :)
 

dmw007

macrumors G4
May 26, 2005
10,635
0
Working for MI-6
Btw, good to see you dmw007, our paths haven't crossed in a while - Happy New Year! :)

Good to see you as well Shard! :)

I have been busy this past year (work, life, graduation, etc...), and have not been able to make as much time for MR as I would like. Hopefully, I will be able to spend more time here though. Happy New Year! :)
 

JNB

macrumors 604
Not really caring one way or another, but this reminds me of the post-Newton/pre-iPhone years.

First one's out of the way, got some in-house exposure, others have gone into the market, let it mature a bit, then bam!

Considering the closed nature of gaming consoles though, I see this as a slim-to-none chance. A home media server :)apple:TV/Time Capsule/Mac Mini) is a more likely new offering than anything at this point.
 

hhlee

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2005
255
1
apple already thinks they have a gaming platform with the itouch/iphones. they will probably keep to that and not enter the xbox ps3 market considering it sounds like you need exceptionally deep pockets to do so. while apple probably have enough capital, i don't think we've seen any evidence that they're willing to do so.
 

petermcphee

macrumors 6502a
Aug 20, 2008
631
0
Anything is possible (as ~Shard~ has pointed out), Apple did release the Pippin back in 1996. However, I doubt that they will release another gaming console for the time being. :)

I was previously unaware of the Pippin. Thanks for enlightening me!
 

hhlee

macrumors 6502
May 19, 2005
255
1
me neither - it might be fun to try to get one to play with...

kinda looks like an xbox lol.
 

~Shard~

macrumors P6
Jun 4, 2003
18,377
48
1123.6536.5321
You are welcome for the enlightenment! :D :)

Yes, you are indeed welcome! dmw007 and I always enjoy enlightening people with our superior Mac knowledge. :p ;) :cool: Being an Apple fan and not knowing about the Pippin is just wrong - it's almost as bad as an Apple fan not knowing about the Macintosh TV! :eek: :p :D
 

iFicS

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Dec 30, 2008
5
0
The whole mentality that Apple should branch out into more markets needs to be disposed of, and fast.

Microsoft is a company that tries to do everything and be everything, and look how they're turning out. Their Zune programmers don't know what a leap year is, their zero-day exploits are followed by one-month patches, and the quality of their products is sub-par and that's somehow acceptable to them.

Don't think for one second that Apple can't possibly go that same route.

Monkey Boy once said that in this industry, you're either branching out or you're dying. Shouldn't we have already learned that whatever Ballmer says, we should be doing the opposite?

Do one thing, do it well. That's the key to success.

I can't argue that what Apple does it does it well. I was thinking more along the lines of an iPod Touch that is more devoted to gaming with upgraded hardware.

BUT, I do have to argue about your views on Microsoft. While most of its computer software (including Vista) is shoddy, And their Zune is crappy, you have to give them credit for creating a good gaming console. I bet that almost all of you have played Halo sometime in your life. Yes, the Wii is kicking it's butt in sales, but the xbox 360 was released a year before it andthe fact that it is still up to par shows how well they made it. THey do make SOME things good, even if they are few.
 

Luftwaffles

macrumors regular
Nov 25, 2008
172
0
Kansas City, MO
I can't argue that what Apple does it does it well. I was thinking more along the lines of an iPod Touch that is more devoted to gaming with upgraded hardware.

BUT, I do have to argue about your views on Microsoft. While most of its computer software (including Vista) is shoddy, And their Zune is crappy, you have to give them credit for creating a good gaming console. I bet that almost all of you have played Halo sometime in your life. Yes, the Wii is kicking it's butt in sales, but the xbox 360 was released a year before it andthe fact that it is still up to par shows how well they made it. THey do make SOME things good, even if they are few.

I'll agree with you on the Xbox family. Having owned both the original and the 360, I think they're great. What I was really trying to stress is that the amount of effort Microsoft put into making the Xbox could have been diverted and used to make a better Zune, or a decent OS that was actually better than its predecessor. Microsoft is the Gatling gun of the industry - put a thousand rounds downrange and one's bound to hit something. That's not a path that I'd like to see Apple take.
 

pdjudd

macrumors 601
Jun 19, 2007
4,037
65
Plymouth, MN
Yes, the Wii is kicking it's butt in sales, but the xbox 360 was released a year before it andthe fact that it is still up to par shows how well they made it.

True, but that could also say that Microsoft's huge assets basically ensure that MS is going to keep it around as long as they want to until they replace it with a newer version. The X-Box is largely a loss for Microsoft (They mostly loose money on each console) really making up for their losses with the third party game sales that they generate since MS has few first party titles they can rely on (unlike say Nintendo).

Microsoft can afford to prop up Xbox, they have tons of cash to do so. Of course Sony has that same problem, they loose a ton of money on PS3. Of the tree console makers, Nintendo makes a profit...

Furthermore, length of time in the business isn't all that relevant anymore since they are proving to have similar lifespans to each other and they all come out at different times. Also I would like to point out that age != quality. You can keep a console on the market for a long time, its just going to get supplanted by something new later on. Eventually the age becomes a hindrance.
 

Rodimus Prime

macrumors G4
Oct 9, 2006
10,136
4
apple is to much of a control freak to give a them a console a chance. Apple TV over all is pretty crappy and way WAY to limited. Apple would try to inhouse most of the games and it would just flopped there. They do not have the power ninetido has.

MS put a ton of money into the Xbox program and I believe the 360 has turned a profit. While it has not made up for the money lost on the Xbox it showing that it will over time make money.

The Xbox is an example of what it cost to get into the industry. The Xbox to MS is considered a success. It got them in the market. They never planned on the Xbox making a penny. It was made for one reason and one reason only. to get into the market.

Sony had to do the same thing when it broke into the market. If apple wants in it is going to have to throw a lot of money at it for it to happen.
 

mysterytramp

macrumors 65816
Jul 17, 2008
1,334
4
Maryland
apple is to much of a control freak to give a them a console a chance. Apple TV over all is pretty crappy and way WAY to limited. Apple would try to inhouse most of the games and it would just flopped there. They do not have the power ninetido has.

[...]

If apple wants in it is going to have to throw a lot of money at it for it to happen.

But haven't Nintendo, Sony and Xbox moved forward because they're "control freaks" too? When you look at the control Sony, for example, has placed on Playstation games, it resembles Apple on its worst day. At least you can create and sell Mac software without Apple's blessing. I don't think that's true for the Playstation.

As for money ... well Cupertino supposedly is sitting on $25 billion. Frankly, I could easily see Apple evolving into selling an appliance that surfs the Internet, provides a media server and let's you play games on your HD TV. Most of those components already have Apple logos.

mt
 
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