apple Apple preparing a physical game controller

[Muhammad Farrukh]

With Google's Android operating system already bundling rudimentary support for external gaming devices,

Apple is reportedly working on its own physical controller to similarly enhance gameplay on its iPad and other mobile devices.

In his review of Apple's new iPad and its gaming graphics prowess, AnandTech's Anand Lal Shimpi reports that he has been made aware of "an internal Apple project to bring a physical controller to market," but said his sources were unable to determine whether the company has made a definitive decision to follow through on its efforts.

Regardless, Lal Shimpi believes such devices may soon be a necessary accompaniment for hardcore mobile gamers, especially as smartphones and tablets come close to equalling the performance of existing game consoles.

He adds that the iPad maker may also be feeling some pressure to this end from rival Google, which has baked in basic wired and wireless controller support into its Android operating system since the release of Honeycomb 3.0 roughly one year ago.

Along with their Android counterparts, iOS devices have emerged as a new frontier for game developers, with one research firm indicating that the two platforms saw their combined share of U.S.-based game software revenue rise more than threefold from just 19% in 2009 to an estimated 58% by the end of last year.

Their success has come at the expense of incumbents Nintendo and Sony, who saw their respective share of software sales slip from 70% to 36% and 11% to 6%, respectively, over the same period.

The situation faced by Nintendo and Sony shows signs of worsening this year, with Sony recently reporting a staggering loss of $1.2 billion for the December quarter shortly after Nintendo reported the first ever operating loss ($575 million) in its corporate history.

Meanwhile, Apple has quietly been assembling an arsenal of seasoned gaming executives to help leverage its momentum in the gaming space as it takes a head-on approach to combating encroachment from Google and others.

Most recently, the company was reported to have lured Robin Burrowes away from heading up Microsoft's overseas XBox Live team. His hiring followed the recruit of Nintendo's public relation's chief Robert Saunders last year, as well as Nick Grange -- who also at one point ran public relations for Xbox, as well as for gaming heavyweights Activision and Electronics Arts.

[c3ntury]

... why?! Unless they're going to bring gaming to the Apple TV.

[Dick Montage]

... why?! Unless they're going to bring gaming to the Apple TV.

Playing streetfighter and other such games without physical buttons is abhorrent!

[c3ntury]

Playing streetfighter and other such games without physical buttons is abhorrent!

Can you imagine how awkward it'd be though, positioning the iPad, or whatever.

[AbandonedTrolley]

It's why proper gaming on touchscreens is pointless, I've recently tried playing Dead Space and Shadow Gun on my phone, it's okay but I have issues when my fingers take up the screen and I can't see what I should be able to!

Touchscreen gaming should be limited to click and drag games.

[Japlabot]

I didn't know Android supported game controllers, interesting decision to support Wired ones too when game controllers are all wireless these days.

[Dick Montage]

Touchscreen gaming should be limited to click and drag games.

And it would be! This wouldn't be touchscreen gaming would it? It would be controller based.

Can you imagine how awkward it'd be though, positioning the iPad, or whatever.

Still better than the current setup. And for an iPhone it'd be fine.

[AbandonedTrolley]

I didn't know Android supported game controllers, interesting decision to support Wired ones too when game controllers are all wireless these days.

There are apps that enable support for both the Dual Shock controller and the Wiimote that i'm aware of.

[AbandonedTrolley]

And it would be! This wouldn't be touchscreen gaming would it? It would be controller based.

Still better than the current setup. And for an iPhone it'd be fine.

But the idea of gaming on the phone/tablet is surely portability?, having a controller in my pocket might impress the ladies from the bulge it causes but would be a pain to carry about.

[Dick Montage]

But the idea of gaming on the phone/tablet is surely portability?, having a controller in my pocket might impress the ladies from the bulge it causes but would be a pain to carry about.

Ah sorry, I can't comment. I've not seen it yet so it's form factor is not something I know of.

[philcruicks]

But the idea of gaming on the phone/tablet is surely portability?, having a controller in my pocket might impress the ladies from the bulge it causes but would be a pain to carry about.

Depends on the controllers worm factor....if you can make it like a PS vita without the screen...so just 2 of the flat joysticks and a few buttons could actually be quite small.

[123456789A]

So Android already supports this? That's nice.

Of course when Apple's version comes out, they'll market it as something new and innovative.

[what]

Can you imagine how awkward it'd be though, positioning the iPad, or whatever.

I don't think you're supposed to use it on a bus or something.

[UndergroundWire]

... why?! Unless they're going to bring gaming to the Apple TV.

Can you imagine how awkward it'd be though, positioning the iPad, or whatever.

AirSync

I didn't know Android supported game controllers, interesting decision to support Wired ones too when game controllers are all wireless these days.

Android: http://www.zeemote.com/