EA mobile prez: iPhone is hurting mobile game development

sorry for the double post.

In my 25+ years in the game business, including six years at Activision where I was the VP of Technology, I have never seen such an incredable misstatement in the gaming media.

The iPhone is a AWESOME game platform. We've released eight iPhone game titles (Blackjack, Darts, Bowling, Backgammon...) as well as partnered with TableStar to launch the multi-player strategy game Swatches, where up to 6 players can chat and play this cool board game. All these games run in Safari (no install) and they run very well.

I'd stack our card and casual games against any mobile title. The iPhone's touch screen interface is exceptional and we see thousands of new players every day.

What's more the ad-sponsored model works on the iPhone for two reasons. First, the iPhone browser supports most e-commerce sites, so the users can actually buy something ... Seconds, multiple portals feature and rate the games and other applications so the best games get an instant audience.

You can see these games here:

http://www.mynumo.com/iphone/fun4iphone.htm

In my 25+ years in the game business, including six years at Activision where I was the VP of Technology, I have never seen such an incredable misstatement in the gaming media.

The iPhone is a AWESOME game platform. We've released eight iPhone game titles (Blackjack, Darts, Bowling, Backgammon...) as well as partnered with TableStar to launch the multi-player strategy game Swatches, where up to 6 players can chat and play this cool board game. All these games run in Safari (no install) and they run very well.

I'd stack our card and casual games against any mobile title. The iPhone's touch screen interface is exceptional and we see thousands of new players every day.

What's more the ad-sponsored model works on the iPhone for two reasons. First, the iPhone browser supports most e-commerce sites, so the users can actually buy something ... Seconds, multiple portals feature and rate the games and other applications so the best games get an instant audience.

You can see these games here:

http://www.mynumo.com/iphone/fun4iphone.htm

Apple is going to produce its own games first and sell them for $2.99 and make gazillions before other developers have a shot.

Actually, here's what is more bothersome if you think about it.

If EA is lamenting about games on the iPhone, and they, in theory, have some kind of magic relationship with Apple, that means that EA isn't getting a beta or early access to the SDK.

That brings in to question whether there are ANY 3rd party devs who have access to the iPhone SDK. This is important because if there WERE some devs with access, then when the SDK is released in Feb, then in theory we'd have some 3rd party apps being released at the same time.

So now we have to wonder if and what Apple's app distribution model will be for 3rd party apps, and will it be ready for casual users upon release of the SDK (whatever the SDK may entail).

Because whenever that SDK hits, I guarantee that we will have apps available in less than a weeks...Days most likely.

Does Apple trust absolutely nobody to have an early access to the SDK? I mean, wouldn't it be nice for a couple of simple productivity apps or games to come out on the NEW iPhone store (or whatever) from 3rd parties on the day the dev kit is released? Wouldn't it be nice to get some dev kit feed back from folks outside of Apple before they release it?

And if they're going to give access to anyone, why NOT someone like EA?

Mind, I'm still guessing that the SDK will be a Widget SDK. I'm betting we won't be able to ship compiled code to the device. But that's me.

I think INIS needs to do what phase did with guitar hero to their own touchscreen rhythm game, (osu, tatakae, ouendan/elite beat agents). Would be fairly brilliant.

TTR FTW

Apple wants to control iPhone games in the same manner as they do on iPods. That means the only games available will be sold through the iTunes Store. Apple will also control iPhone applications the same way. If you don't like it, don't buy an iPhone!

Apple was loathe to let game developers into the original Mac also. I think it was Steven Levy that covered that years ago in one of his books.

As a result, the PC took off and left the Mac in the dust. Gamers drive this industry.

If you've just got some beef with EA, Steve, that's fine, but gimme SOMETHING to play with while I wait for the next email update.

Maybe Jobs is worried of eroding any headway he's made against all the people claiming Macs aren't serious business machines. He doesn't want people to start saying "all you can do with a Mac is play games..."

I thought of something interesting. When I had a Nokia phone, I was offended at the idea of paying for a game on my phone. After all, it was a phone, and I never used it for anything else.

Now that I have an iPhone, though, I would totally pay a few bucks for a game because I use my iPhone constantly. My cell phone is no longer a second-class citizen in my world. So, I think Apple will eventually be credited when the flood of game purchases happens after the SDK is released and game companies make great games for the iPhone, etc., etc.

Cheers,
Scott