Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Gaming, Hardware, iTS, Rumors, Software, iTunes, App Store
The evidence for an Apple game console
I think the whole "Apple buying Twitter" rumor floating around is about as much of a crock as the "Apple buying EA" one. But I give slightly more credence to this conclusion: that, despite the painful experience of Pippin, Apple is once again putting together a game console. Why? Let the evidence from BNET convince you. First, Apple is picking up game execs and console chip makers left and right. Second is a whole slew of recent patents, for everything from mixing up media and game environments to management of games acquired from a media server. And third, though BNET doesn't actually connect the dots and say it, we will: Apple is sitting on what might be the best library of independent games anywhere, and it's sitting right in front of us in iTunes' App Store.
For years, console makers have depended on the mercy of publishers to keep their hardware going -- they sell the hardware at a loss, and then rely on the software sales and licensing to make it all back up again. But think of what Apple could do here: improve the AppleTV or Mac Mini, throw in some kind of Wii-like interface, and then break the whole thing open in the same way they did with the App Store: let developers in with a really low cost of entry, give them the tools they need to create solid games, and just take a nice cut from all of the tiny transactions flowing back and forth.
BNET claims that the iPhone's interface wouldn't work on a larger console, but why not? All Apple has to do is figure out a way to translate the iPhone's gestures and taps into a console system, and then they can practically run the games natively. Sure, the resolution would be a little low with a straight port, but that's a small problem to fix. Apple already has the makings of a game console with the iPod touch, and while the rumors may still just be rumors, there's never been a better time for them to leverage what they've already got.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Hari Seldon said 10:53AM on 5-08-2009
It's all about the tablet, there won't be a separate games console, the tablet will do it all. The UI will be the same as the iPhone, and yes - of course it will work on a larger screen, in fact, it will be better. Can't wait. . .
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Luxu said 11:01AM on 5-08-2009
i had heard that steve jobs had spoken about entering a new market, if im not mistaken it was roughly october/november of 2008, first thought that came to my mind is game console, seeing as its a market that has recently taken a huge push and im sure they have to tools to develop it, expanding the Apple brand. Consoles usually enter in the apple concept of how to design a system, and through it they can promote their own products more by adding connectors between them and also add gamers on apple laptops and so on. hopefully im right but with the technology in the iphone, it can easily b used as a bluetooth controller and also it could be the basis for controllers cos of bluetooth accelerometer and so on.
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gerdozain said 11:36PM on 5-09-2009
Just think about this. When Steve jobs said that video on and iPod was ridiculous, they ended up doing just that a few months later. So, the gaming console, not yet, but I think a tablet or some sort of
Cool netbook is definitely coming. A larger iPhone per say, that could also compete with the kindle and any other cheap netbook out there.
david said 11:03AM on 5-08-2009
they wouldn't need to develop a wii like controller - they already have one in the form of iphones & ipod touches, no? don't they have velocimeters (or whatever they're called), and touch screen controls already? just develop games for the mac (or higher res versions of existing games for iphone & ipod touch, as you mentioned) which can be controlled by an iphone or ipod touch, right? you can already use either of those devices as a remote control for your mac, so why not as a game controller?
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John Bruce said 11:09AM on 5-08-2009
I don't know about you but don't fancy throwing my iPhone around like a Wii controller!
david said 11:15AM on 5-08-2009
@ john bruce: fair enough :) i have to claim ignorance, having neither an iphone, ipod touch, nor a wii. the games i've seen my nephew playing on his iphone, though, don't seem to involve too much throwing around - mostly tilting and tapping, from the looks of it. I can definitely sympathize with your sentiment, though - i remember being flabbergasted when i first saw those people on youtube using their brand new macbook pros as lightsabers ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK4AonfnFaM ) !
Microdot said 11:39AM on 5-08-2009
for the love of all that is holy.. PLEASE dont let it be a 'wii-like controller'. there is a (large) portion of us out there that dont want to jump around our living rooms like bafoons, and would rather kick back in the lazy boy with a controller and enjoy ourselves. gaming is a time to relax and unwind for me... not get a workout. if i want a workout, i'll go for a jog or hit the gym which is a hell of a lot more effective.
crankbait said 1:49PM on 5-08-2009
@microdot
You know you do not have to jump around and can simply sit back and use minor gestures to control the Wii right, no need for exaggerated movement.
Brian Reading said 10:45PM on 5-08-2009
Seriously? The iPhone/iPod Touch are way too expensive to be used as controllers.
Microdot said 10:31AM on 5-09-2009
crankbait:
some games... sure. zelda is a good example. others however, you cant. wii sports for example.
i own a wii (or rather.. my son does). the only time it gets turned on anymore is when i want to play one of the classic games from the vc. my son hasnt played it in almost 24 months. the ps3 gets the most usage in our home... with the 360 being a close runner up.
Ed said 11:11AM on 5-08-2009
I bet they could get very far with the existing AppleTV hardware and iPod Touch/iPhone controllers connected over WiFi. Some of this is already implemented with the "Remote" app, which works very well.
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Todd said 10:20AM on 5-09-2009
I totally agree. AppleTV has so much of what a good game platform needs: mac-like processing power, built in hard-drive, wifi, hd output and a tie-in to an online store. And it doesn't have to compete with video playing hardware, since it already does that well. I do think the iphone/ipod touch as the primary controller doesn't fly very well, but as an ad-hoc guest controller there is potential.
Chris Pratt said 11:26AM on 5-08-2009
I think these rumors are a little over the top, personally. While it's possible Apple is developing a competing game console, it's far more likely their plans are a little less grandiose (at least for the moment).
The huge success of the App Store, combined with the accidental revelation that the iPhone and Touch make for a pretty good handheld gaming platform, has caused Apple to switch marketing gears and promote gaming. While the iPhone and iPod Touch already handle gaming pretty well, in truth, they were never designed for that purpose. Subsequently, there's certain limitations to what games can do and things like device crashes are not uncommon.
That said, it's much more likely that Apple, seeing the writing on the wall, is gearing up to turn the iPhone and iPod Touch's into full fledged handheld gaming systems with better graphics chips, better software integration, etc.
Were Apple to release a console gaming platform, they'd be treading into a market that's already highly saturated. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo already have market share, already have experienced shops churning out games. I'm not saying it would be impossible for Apple to get a piece of the pie, but why bother?
In the handheld gaming market, Apple has lucked into a relatively low competition environment. Sure Sony has the PSP and Nintendo has the DS, but the iPhone and iPod Touch ended up being pretty on par if not superior to those systems in terms of capability. That combined with the easy distribution of the App Store and Sony and Nintendo are already worried. If Apple spends a little to soup of its handheld devices with graphics and speed that truly rival those systems, it will be a serious contender and could take over completely.
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dastranger said 11:28AM on 5-08-2009
I agree with Chris here. I'm extremely skeptical of an Apple game console. Additionally (as a gamer), imho a game *console* needs to have a good controller that has physical buttons. Before anyone brings up the Wii (or the DS), remember that both of those have real buttons.
I realize that many of you will "pooh pooh" the buttons thing, but as a game console physical buttons are a must.
timepilot84 said 5:02PM on 5-08-2009
They could be in trouble, if they didn't pay attention to what was happening with the iPhone and Appstore and tried resting on their laurels, but that's pretty clearly not the case, as both Nintendo and Sony have announced updates to their online sales venues, with Sony going so far as to hint that the next PSP will rely entirely on online distribution for its content, ditching the current optical disks completely.
I think Apple blundered into its overwhelming success with the app store, and is trying to figure out just what it needs to do in order to maintain momentum. I'd imagine that instead of a full on console system, they would be looking to make something more along the lines of an AppleTV app store. The AppleTV is pretty much an iPod without a battery already, why not add some sort of gaming control and give it the rest of the capabilities (except portability, of course)?
M said 7:01PM on 5-09-2009
Yeah, i think if apple makes a game console, it wont use the ipod nano with the flip screen as a remote, or the apple tv as the console, or connection between my iphone and apple playa (my unofficial name for apples game console) becose, really, i use my apps to kill time. I tweet on twitter, or i use dog whistler to annoy everyone on the train. I dont want the apple playa to be a suped-up iphone, i want it to be an actual, real-live game system. Maybe allow a network to be set up, so half of the apple playa could function as a appleTV, but thats about it
bioadam said 11:29AM on 5-08-2009
The technology exists for a cool, quiet, power efficient game console to rival the Xbox 360 and PS3. Put another way, the technology exists for a Nintendo Wii with next gen graphics. By technology I mean Nvidia's 9400M and its iterations.
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Justin said 11:34AM on 5-08-2009
>> Sure, the resolution would be a little low with a straight port, but that's a small problem to fix.
Uh... what? That contradicts your earlier statement that they would be able to take advantage existing apps. Nearly all of the apps in the app store are laid out specifically for 320x480 (or 480x320 in landscape.) They won't automagically adjust to a higher resolution or something. That's not to say Apple couldn't *start* something new with new tools, etc. But I can say for sure that existing apps won't run any bigger than that resolution. You blow it up on a large screen and it'll look like it's blown up. (Forget about putting it on a TV.)
If there is truth to this, they probably would have a different development process to target that device separately. (Interface Builder can do higher resolutions fine.) But as far as existing apps, it would be like a small emulator at best... similar to old ported Arcade games on XBOX 360.
(I'm a full time iPhone developer)
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Otsego_Undead said 4:35PM on 5-08-2009
I completely agree with Justin. My thoughts exactly. I'm a full time graphic artist.
And this is the same issue with a tablet or even a "iPhone mini". All the apps are developed specifically with the resolution of the iPhone in mind., button sizes, etc. are pixel for pixel how they are intended to look. Change that, and it will look like garbage.
The "game console" or anything else would require a complete overhaul of each graphic/texture... and I think apple will have a hard time convincing devs to jump on board for a single purpose device like a game console, or even a tablet... they will have to sell like hotcakes like the iPhone did.
The iPhone is doing well because its a phone first. The app store was introduced later, and had a very large install base with people foaming at the mouth for more functionality. It transcended the "PC vs. Mac" war for that main reason.
So Mike, nice try, and hell, I even give you credit for going out on a limb and offering up your wild opinion, but I just don't see it happening.. at least anywhere in the near future.
bingo said 11:39AM on 5-08-2009
2 chip & 1 ex-Xbox360 exec hirings lend credibility to this game console rumor:
http://theappleblog.com/2009/05/01/another-new-apple-hire-this-time-its-all-fun-and-games/
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