Mac Mini as Gaming Console?
Here's a
blogger who speculates that perhaps Apple will create a Mac mini that will be the centerpiece of a media center
product. Not a new idea. The difference between his speculation and that by dozens of others in the Mac Web is that he
suggests this Mac mini media center product might also be a gaming
console. His reasoning is that if Microsoft can make inroads into the media center market with the Xbox 360, then
so can Apple with an updated Mac mini.Interesting speculation, but I think it's just wrong. Apple hasn't been interested in being in the gaming console market for more than a decade. For the vast majority of game manufacturers, making their games run on Macs is an afterthought if ever at all. Already they must consider four versions of their games: Xbox, PS2, GameCube, and PC, and as most gamers know, some games never make even to the four major platforms. And now....if this speculation is correct, they'd have to consider a very small 5th platform? It's just not going to happen, even if the new Mac mini can run PC games natively (Wine-like execution layer, Windows-native OS, etc.). Furthermore, Microsoft has been buying their way into the gaming market for years, taking a loss on every Xbox ever sold (to the tune of $300 on each Xbox 360) and they're still not "killing" their competitors Sony and Nintendo.
Apple doesn't need to be in the gaming console market to succeed in creating a successful media center product. Simply creating a product that's attractive and easy-to-use--perhaps incorporating a nice programmable remote control--product to play media content from our PCs and from the iTunes Store will be enough to make it successful.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael said 9:32AM on 12-31-2005
Apple Gaming Console! Yes Please.
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fcodc said 9:39AM on 12-31-2005
I see it more possible for Apple to add videogame functionality to the iPods. With their huge popularity, they'd easily could become one serious competetor for Nintendo's DS and Sony's PSP.
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Jonesy said 9:46AM on 12-31-2005
Lack of games has in the past killed Apple for many - PC owners claiming it couldn't shift polygons etc made it look sluggish and odd. A mac that could sling Call of Duty 2 about would rule (yes I know that it may come over as a port - I mean simultaneous released apple-ready games).
Of course the irony that the Xbox uses our "old" chips isn't lost on us I guess.
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Thomas said 9:59AM on 12-31-2005
I'd like to see some really good networking between nintendo's revolution and an updated mac mini (or similar). Nintendo are effectively ignoring the media center elements that the xbox and playstation seem to be going for and apple aren't seemingly interested in games. Have them able to be connected together and play off of each others strengths would be very cool.
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Jaime said 10:02AM on 12-31-2005
As flash game programmer, I like the idea that apple takes games more seriously, maybe as fcodc says, ipod could support games, and maybe there could be a service like the itunes store where I could sell my games!
What maybe Apple has in mind is getting exclusive games to get more switchers, but I think that is not possible, there should be a big ammount with enough atractiveness to it, and looking how the sector is right now, I find it very difficult.
So if it indeed wants to get a foot in gaming, I would advise them to join Nintendo, the Revolution already looks a little like the mac mini, and I think they're games are the best, so go for it! Otherwise, what do you think of the iTunes game store for macs, ipods and phones ?
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narco said 12:10PM on 12-31-2005
HIGHLY unlikely. I do plan on purchasing a Mac mini and loading all of my NES/SNES/GENESIS/2600/5200 ROMS onto it and playing video games on my projector. Since that will be the main use, I guess it could kind of be considered to be a gaming console.
Fishes,
narco.
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tom barta said 2:43PM on 12-31-2005
All the Mini needs to make it happen is a more current video card. Remember: Microsuck LOSES money on the Xbox; Apple MAKES money on the Mini.
Hard core gamers tend to extol the console, and, to be sure consoles have been a steeply rising fraction of the computer game biz. But, with console prices RISING and Mac prices FALLING, there WILL be a tipping point.
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Darrell said 3:00PM on 12-31-2005
I love the idea of a collaboration between Nintendo and Apple for a new game console. As Thomas (#4) suggests, they could play off of each other strengths. The team idea makes me ponder great things including sugar plums dancing in my head. Peace.
Dar
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Tyler said 3:04PM on 12-31-2005
can't wait to join the TUAW iHalo guild on iLive.... :)
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guerro said 3:33PM on 12-31-2005
Apple is going to introduce a media center mini. Intel are building the motherboards for them now. I doubt it will have any gaming function, however.
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ChillyWilly said 4:28PM on 12-31-2005
Considering Apple's last venture into a gaming device never saw the light of day (Pippen), I would say that this is very unlikely.
But, I can see a Mac mini-based entertainment system, but mostly for TV shows and movies.
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Noah said 1:21AM on 1-02-2006
You mean http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Pippin ?
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JL de Vries said 12:06PM on 1-04-2006
Speculation has it that the revolutions CPU is just a souped up gamecube CPU which in turn was a slightly modified G3... Couldn't rosetta then deal with emulating the Revolution CPU? Also the GPU from ATI appearantly is not that stong, and could be handled natively by a mini ATI GPU.
With the gamecube nintendo had a cooperation with Panasonic for a special gamecube that could play dvd's, so why not this time with apple? Apple has the infrastructure nintendo still needs for distributing the games. Buy your snes games through ITMS?
Would definately be cool to be able to play revolution games on the mini!
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Duncan said 8:06PM on 1-04-2006
Only if they are going to run MAME and license ROMs is it going to work :-)
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