I can recall the first time I played on my brand spanking new NES, back in 1991. Now it seems that Apple has come in at the right time, with the right product. Their foray into video games has been a knock-out success. The New York Times reports from the floor of the Tokyo Game Show. There, giants like Sony and Microsoft presented their latest inventions. The gaming giants are truly dreading Apple with their iPhone, iPod Touch and the accompanying App Store. Their absence from the Show shows how confident they are in the new iPod Touch versions introduced 2 weeks ago.
While Sony and Microsoft sell games at prices up to $50, Apple sells games through its Apple Store as low as 99 cents. When, in 2007, Apple launched the first model of the famed iPhone, Masato Shibata, an executive at Hudson, a games company, was so excited at the myriad possibilities. "I got goose bumps. I knew this was going to revolutionize the world of gaming," Mr. Shibata said. "And I knew it would hit Japan in a big way." Since then, Hudson has released 26 games for the App Store and reached 3 million downloads. So, it seems, in Japan the cellphone game market is expanding rapidly.
Sony is of course dismissive of the rising cellphone games market. "The quality of cellphone games is varied, and you couldn't play many of them for hours," said Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony's games development arm. "Will a company be able to operate completely on these games? No," Mr. Yoshida said. "After all, we're talking about the kind of games people make sitting in a cafe with a laptop."
Their concern is understandable, but in the end the consumer decides what will succeed and what not. Trends change quickly, and also disappear rapidly. It's true however that Apple has made a good decision to aim the iPod Touch at the mobile gaming industry. It has worked beautifully for them so far.
There is exactly NULL relation between the iphone/ipod to consoles or PC gaming.
Console gaming will be always way ahead of mobile gaming. So no, it will never replace console gaming.
Mobile gaming has caught up with gaming from 20 years ago. That's still a LONG way to go, baby.
Online games on the go is a distant dream still, since service providers charge an arm and a leg for decent wireless internet
Apple aren't even targeting the majority of the gaming industry.
Mobile gaming has caught up with gaming from 20 years ago. That's still a LONG way to go, baby.
And whe it catches up to today's gaming, where do you think console gaming will be?
He's also not an arrogant prick.
The threat isn't in the form of better technology for gaming. The iPhone and iPod touch have some definitive flaws when compared to a psp or even the ds. The threat is the larger market the iPhone and touch appeal to.
As for me, I haven't touched my ds since I got my iPhone. There is a decent enough selection of ammusing games in the app store that keep me busy when I'm on travel.
Most funny comment I've read this month, thanks for the laugh Tom! hehe
I've heard these broad covering claims before.
“640K ought to be enough for anybody.” -Bill Gates (1981)
Never say never i say.
Mobile gaming at the moment is not close to console gaming, but who knows what is coming in the future. Consoles might go mobile. mobiles might get more power.
/shrug.
it would be like where today's consoles are compared to the consoles 20 years ago?
I think this is more luck than design for Apple, I don't think they thought it would be quite as popular as a games console as it is but they learnt quickly as was evident with the improved graphics processing in the iPhone. I would love to see Sony and Nintendo open up development on their systems to allow for independant developers to work on the systems. If they don't they may find themselves start to lose a lot of market share as almost every game on the iPhone/iPod Touch is under 5 whereas almost every game for the DS and PSP is at least double that, often quadruple.
Whatever happens it should be an interesting time for handheld gaming
Quite honestly, it's more or less a rehash of flash games on it. There's not much new or revolutionary about it. As mentioned in my above post it's seldom to even get a good game, as with flash games online. Some are fun time wasters you can go back to, other several million are mostly primitive rubbish plain and simple.
That is rubbish - there are loads of great games on it that are not flash rehashes. Trism, Luxor, Dexter, Spider, Zen Bound, Castle of Magic etc etc - loads. There is a reason that magazines like Edge are now reviewing iPod/iPhone games and it isn't because they are Flash games, that is for sure.
There are some games on par in terms of content, graphics, and sound with PSP and DS. What lacks is the controls aren't classic ones.
Again, people like you who have ADD just simply can't handle a game that's a bit more complicated than point-and-shoot games.
There's nothing wrong with the new games, you're just stuck in an old dimension of gaming.
There's nothing wrong with the new games, you're just stuck in an old dimension of gaming.
Wow...aren't you nasty.
There's nothing wrong with the new games, you're just stuck in an old dimension of gaming.
I agree.
Developers do and will - yes 50% is a lot to lose - but some independant developers have made hundreds of thousends for games on there and they deserve to as well - some of the games are superb
Apple takes 30%.
And yes if you manage to sell say 30.000 copies to the 50M iphone/ipod Touch users, I think the money is preety good for me. On this platform people buy more and are less reluctant, it's right there, just a click away and costs just 99 cents. Many people will buy it!
If it wasn't for the app store then probably people would not develop for the iPhone that much.
The 30% Apple keeps is not that much if you consider that you get hosting and mainly marketing. Apps without the app store would not make that much money.
Uh, this is big business and companies are moving to mobile device development all the time, and it's not untrue that Apple is emerging as a big player in the mobile gaming indudstry. The title could have been more specific, although the actual article content is alright.
Even better news for Apple is that I, like others here, believe that mobile gaming will keep eating away market share from PC's and consoles. I don't even think it'll take very long. PC gaming is even today in a pretty poor shape compared to consoles with only WoW, a few RTS games, and some popular shooters making up the vast majority of its market. Simultaneously as the mobile gaming market is exploding right now as the devices keep gaining performance once reserved for more stationary devices.
I'm just waiting for some killer MMO game for the iPhone that'll merge reality and fantasy via the built-in GPS device.
Even better news for Apple is that I, like others here, believe that mobile gaming will keep eating away market share from PC's and consoles. I don't even think it'll take very long. PC gaming is even today in a pretty poor shape compared to consoles with only WoW, a few RTS games, and some popular shooters making up the vast majority of its market. Simultaneously as the mobile gaming market is exploding right now as the devices keep gaining performance once reserved for more stationary devices.
I'm just waiting for some killer MMO game for the iPhone that'll merge reality and fantasy via the built-in GPS device.
The day that MMO for the iphone will come out, I predict a massive increase in the number of people walking into lamposts...that is if they even leave their bed.
Plus, PC gaming isn't in a poor shape..sure consoles are gaining more and more market share, but pc gaming isn't out just yet.
Playing FPS and RTS games, in my opinion, is 10x better on the pc than on a console.
Indeed. When those of us who are serious gamers see the iPhone talked about in that light, we can't help but laugh.
The iPhone is eating into the bottom of the barrel TigerToys/handheld gaming market. It's its own business sure enough, but it's no threat to console or PC gaming.
I bow to your wisdom...
Emerging as a big player? Maybe for the volume of game sales through the AppStore. But seriously, Apple isn't threatening any of the console makers. Let alone PC's...
Perhaps that business model is good for profit margin but I don't think in the long term Apple will commit it's phone/player hardware for gaming.
I play more games on my iphone, than my DS or PSP.
I play more games on my iphone, than my DS or PSP.
Most people I know that are buying iPhone don't even know about the AppStore. They are getting it here because is a "trend" and is cool.
However, I prefer devices with Windows Mobile.
I play mostly on my computers and from time to time (depending on the game) in my Xbox360.
The iPhone will hardly become a portable gaming device like the PSP o DS.
If Sony and Microsoft are nervous it's not because Apple threatens the gaming industry, its because Apple has found a niche that has profit potential for very little investment.
Hell I've been torn between all three and I finally hit on the touch because it seems to be the most expandable of the three platforms
It mentioned Microsoft and $50 games, which obviously points to consoles.
Yes, the PSP and DS have something to worry about - but why even mention Microsoft in this article? Comparing the iPhone/iPod Touch game market to the massive console market is ridiculous. Why in the world would MS care? It's not like people are going to start playing Call of Duty and World of Warcraft on their iPhones.
Yes, the PSP and DS have something to worry about - but why even mention Microsoft in this article? Comparing the iPhone/iPod Touch game market to the massive console market is ridiculous. Why in the world would MS care? It's not like people are going to start playing Call of Duty and World of Warcraft on their iPhones.
Exactly. It's a horrible article.
But hey, Apple's absence from the game shows shows their confidence in their ability to dominate the gaming industry. That sentence in particular really had me laughing... LOL
Wow, I missed that entirely. I must Wiki this... LOL
These people need to stop listening Apple's BS they are feeding everyone. That bit in the last Apple event about their gaming status only made me cringe.
Basically... iTouch/iPhone gaming DOES NOT even compare to any other gaming format out there.
These people need to stop listening Apple's BS they are feeding everyone. That bit in the last Apple event about their gaming status only made me cringe.
Basically... iTouch/iPhone gaming DOES NOT even compare to any other gaming format out there.
Search for "iPhone gameplay" on youtube and watch some actual gameplay footage. The iPhone/iPod touch is better in terms of graphics and sound when compared to the DS, and about the same level as the PSP.
It basically lacks good controls for some games. But if the game is geared towards the touch interface then it works great. I don't really care for onscreen controls, however
That is flat out LUDICROUS.
They are competing with the mini market PSP, free flash games on the PC, etc. But that's like comparing rotten apple wedges with a bunch of fresh bananas.
That is flat out LUDICROUS.
They are competing with the mini market PSP, free flash games on the PC, etc. But that's like comparing rotten apple wedges with a bunch of fresh bananas.
Exactly...The question apple needs to ask is, will people be willing to pay more than $1 for games? Because if they ever intend to offer better quality games that will compete with the DS or PSP, the development costs, and subsequently the retail price of the games will increase...
Apple will never compete in the gaming market.
Apple will never compete in the gaming market.
Agreed. This article is really poor. It's as if it were written to be misleading.
But you are all idiots, I didn't get from this article that Apple games are better than console and pc games.
It just simply states that Apple is quite successful in the gaming industry, in other words, their games are selling.
Not everyone one wants to pay 60$ for a game and then have to isolate themselves from the world to be able to finish it in a week (or more if its a game like WoW). So again, for you feeble minded pple out there, Apple games are not better than console games....Apple games are just very successful, people are buying them.
Most Neowinians don't actually read the articles.
But you are all idiots, I didn't get from this article that Apple games are better than console and pc games.
It just simply states that Apple is quite successful in the gaming industry, in other words, their games are selling.
You actually read the article. Congrats to you Sir for being one of the few!
Yeah, exactly. The article is very misleading...
But you are all idiots, I didn't get from this article that Apple games are better than console and pc games.
It just simply states that Apple is quite successful in the gaming industry, in other words, their games are selling.
Not everyone one wants to pay 60$ for a game and then have to isolate themselves from the world to be able to finish it in a week (or more if its a game like WoW). So again, for you feeble minded pple out there, Apple games are not better than console games....Apple games are just very successful, people are buying them.
Yeah, exactly. The other issue with the Apple games model, is that, similar to the other developers developing software for the App Store, competition is very difficult. There are a lot of great games, as there are apps, that customers never even see.
Not only is there a HUGE difference between console games and mobile games (A difference this article tries to play down), but it's easier to get console games in front of customers as well. They see them at stores, they are barraged with advertisements (Which these small App Store developers can't afford), etc.
The fact of the matter is that, though Apple is making money on the App Store and the games, the developers often are not. This model is unsustainable...
And then you find Need For Speed Undercover on your iPod for $4.99 while it's $20 for the Nintendo DS or $30 for the PSP.
If this is the start of a trend, you bet that Apple will win some ground. You don't need $50+ game to be credible.
Apple is not and will never be a serious player in the real gaming industry.
Just in no way do 'touch' games compare with anything on DSi and PSP.
Yeah, suuuuuuuuure... I don't know that I buy this at all... If Apple were really interested in competing in the gaming industry, they would appear at the game shows... I can't believe someone could twist their not attending the game show into a positive for them... Very fan boyish... LOL
I would even bet 'good' money, that applications/games released through providers like Verizon, sell a lot more of their games than the less than 1% of the market that is the iPhone.
So where does this come from, really? Does this mean the Free Samsung Hue that little jimmy got for XMas two years ago and had 10 purchased games on it is replacing his consoles because he bought 10 games for it at 2.99 each?
This is about the most insane article I have read, and why I believe it is wrong that Apple gives away so much free product to journalists, and journalists accept it...
Why? Will they release Frogger, Pacman and Donkey Kong?
Exact opposite here
The iPhone is just a big player in the crappy games industry.
apple slams PSP and DS during iphone/ipod conference
http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6217042.html
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