Pachter: Apple set to release own games console


Recommended Posts

http://www.gamesthirst.com/2010/02/28/apple-set-to-release-new-console-will-rely-solely-on-third-parties-for-software-says-pachter/

There?s been a lot of speculation concerning Apple and what some believe will be it?s inevitable entrance into the gaming industry. But still many analysts have doubts, arguing that the company already has three gaming devices: the iPhone, iPod Touch and now the iPad.

But there?s one analyst who believes that Steve Jobs and the gang will make a full play, introducing a standalone console, adding one more machine to compete with Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo?s systems.

?I think Apple?s going to be a serious gaming company,? the Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst, Michael Pachter said on the latest episode of his show. ?The difference between Apple and Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft is, Apple is not known for internal software development. So I don?t think you?re going to get an Apple Games Group like you have Microsoft Games Studios making games ? you?re certainly never going to approach the quality of games you get out of Nintendo.?

He added: ?So Apple?s going to be solely dependent on third parties to support their console in the future.?

Apple will introduce a console because according to Pachter, the success of the iPod touch has basically proven to them that in the gaming industry, software sells hardware, and so they?ll continue to promote and encourage software development to sell hardware, which, according to Pachter is what they care about.

No reason Apple couldn't buy a couple of indies, or just buy EA, in order to get in-house 1st-party software. Or just go the MS route and publish 3rd party exclusives

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't see it happening. Maybe for the portable market, which they are technically in with the iPod Touch and iPhone, but not in the home console market. It just way way too crowded for them.

Also, knowing Apple it will be too expensive to buy. :p Just a joke, btw. Apple fanboys, don't get your panties in a twist.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I could see this working out EXTREMELY well for everyone.

1) It would probably be the first console without disk/cartridges. If done right it would have an internal hard drive, and have its own app/game store.

which would be absolutely awesome.

2) Consoles coming out after would be forced to improve there consoles in order to compete. ie, everyone moving towards physical format free consoles, and focused more at online purchase/game play.

3) If apple can do with it, what they did with itunes, the costs of games will end up dropping a lot since all manufactures would be competing on a fairly even playing field, plus since theres no physical format or production costs, AND no extra

retailer fees.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If it encourages third party developers to quit signing exclusives and go cross platform I'm all for it. Unfortunately it's more likely that Apple will just sign up their own exclusive developers and there will be yet another group of games I can't play without wasting money buying a gaming machine with only minor differences in functionality from the one I already own.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I could see this working out EXTREMELY well for everyone.

1) It would probably be the first console without disk/cartridges. If done right it would have an internal hard drive, and have its own app/game store.

which would be absolutely awesome.

No. Just no.

2) Consoles coming out after would be forced to improve there consoles in order to compete. ie, everyone moving towards physical format free consoles, and focused more at online purchase/game play.

As above. No. Just no.

3) If apple can do with it, what they did with itunes, the costs of games will end up dropping a lot since all manufactures would be competing on a fairly even playing field, plus since theres no physical format or production costs, AND no extra

retailer fees.

Don't go with the app store for 1+ gig games pl0x

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hm... This would be interesting to see, but I see a couple of hurdles that Apple would have to address:

1) The gaming industry has shown in the past that it can support 3 major competitors at a time. This may or may not be the case in the future, but this is something that 3rd parties (Which I agree Apple would have to rely on) would likely look at. Because, let's be honest here, Apple isn't in a position to replace one of the big three... Meaning that there would not be enough units sold to warrant things like 3rd party exclusives... Also, if there were not a lot of units sold, 3rd parties may be less inclined to port their games to Apple's console...

2) Based on Apple's game niche thus far, it's casual games... In that regard, they would be taking on Nintendo more than the other two and Nintendo's strength is first party titles... And they would just whoop Apple in the casual game department... And Nintendo is flush with cash too (Heck, they had a lot in their coffers BEFORE the profits generated by the Wii. Aside from Nintendo, XBox has the Arcade Games, so they are in that market as well, and they have pretty good development tools available in that space as well... They're pretty well cemented... I'm not sure if Playstation has arcade style games to be honest.

3) How about buying a development house or publisher? Apple could do this (Though EA would be a shock), but here's my issue here. Apple would want to take this purchase and make any games being published exclusive to their console. That's Apple's way really... So, there's nothing wrong with that, but they are now taking a development studio / publisher that was making a profit on the XBox, Playstation, Wii, and PC, and taking those sales down to zero... Starting from scratch... And now the sales can be no more than the number of consoles sold by Apple... Apple may be able to swing a big purchase like this, but how long could they bleed at the seams like this?

4) Maybe Apple has some revolutionary idea for interacting with game content (Similar to the Wii's claim to fame). That might be cool. New things are always nice. But since they're reliant on 3rd parties, who would take advantage of something unique like that? 3rd parties would be hesitant to make the investment. And not being geared to release first party titles, means that unique features would be virtually untouched... And depending on how unique the feature, it may actually scare 3rd parties away...

I don't know... I would definitely be curious to see what happened if Apple were to get into the gaming industry, but I think they would have a hard time with it...

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I could see this working out EXTREMELY well for everyone.

1) It would probably be the first console without disk/cartridges. If done right it would have an internal hard drive, and have its own app/game store.

which would be absolutely awesome.

And what about people that don't have their console connected to the internet? I don't think the gaming market is to the place yet where they can eliminate physical media... Not to mention that the size of some games is even prohibitive...

2) Consoles coming out after would be forced to improve there consoles in order to compete. ie, everyone moving towards physical format free consoles, and focused more at online purchase/game play.

They're pretty well positioned to make games available through their online services now... But not foolish enough to rely on it...

3) If apple can do with it, what they did with itunes, the costs of games will end up dropping a lot since all manufactures would be competing on a fairly even playing field, plus since theres no physical format or production costs, AND no extra

retailer fees.

I would be SHOCKED if the cost of anything went down... This could be like eBooks and the cost will go up as a result... Keep in mind, Apple doesn't have the clout in the gaming market to negotiate for the consumer... They would be struggling to get support for their console, and that would be a make or break thing for them... They wouldn't be able to afford to have these game studios walk away, and these studios would know it...

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I could see this working out EXTREMELY well for everyone.

1) It would probably be the first console without disk/cartridges. If done right it would have an internal hard drive, and have its own app/game store.

which would be absolutely awesome.

2) Consoles coming out after would be forced to improve there consoles in order to compete. ie, everyone moving towards physical format free consoles, and focused more at online purchase/game play.

3) If apple can do with it, what they did with itunes, the costs of games will end up dropping a lot since all manufactures would be competing on a fairly even playing field, plus since theres no physical format or production costs, AND no extra

retailer fees.

I buy most of my games second-hand. What am I meant to do?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

why does this have the word "FAIL" all over it. you know that if Apple were to make a console it would have to be made out of the same tech as the PS2 or original xbox and charge $300-$400 more than the PS3 and the 360.... following the same build strategy as their macbooks and imacs. using tech thats 3 or 4 cycles older than the latest and greatest and charging more than needed for this older architecture.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, Pachter has no clue.. He was claiming WiiHD this year.. that's not gonna happen.

mario bros in 1080p would be amazing imo

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What will always baffle me is how they give this clown so much attention. All he does is sit there looking creepy throwing out random estimates any one of us could have made.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just youtube it, it's out there. Scaled and emulated, but it looks great!

well I mean to play on my tv that would be epic zelda and mario games in 1080p/legit 3d

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What will always baffle me is how they give this clown so much attention. All he does is sit there looking creepy throwing out random estimates any one of us could have made.

Leave Patcher alone, he's hilarious. :D

He does get called out a great deal with his outlandish predictions but he does have some valid points when he's talking in general about the industry.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

....with a low low price of $1,299

1299? y would they price it the same as the 13" mbp? that would be stupid

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone who knows anything about how Apple works knows it's a hardware seller first and software on the side just for kicks, the fact is, Apple will NEVER enter a market where hardware sells for a huge loss out of the gate in the hopes of making that back on software.

Apples model is to sell it's devices for insanly high margins, 50%+ in most cases. They also have no inhouse gaming going on, the iPhone gaming is all from 3rd party devs, it's just not the same. They also have their hands full with the new iPad coming, and they have to try to now fight off and keep hold of their iPhone market from Android and WP7s, plus BB is still around.

Sure they have a good chunk of cash on hand, but they're also way more valnurable compared to say MS who got into the console game back then. The clear difference between the two is also that A:) MS has a big inshouse gaming studio and a good # of IPs it can work with already, B:) They have the tools and APIs from windows with DX, and VS and so on that supports the devs, Apple doesn't have these things.

The closest thing to a living room device Apple has done is the AppleTV and it's a flop. They're not going near that place again. The idea going forward for them is all based on Portable, on the go, hardware that they can sell 2-3x what it costs to make.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone who knows anything about how Apple works knows it's a hardware seller first and software on the side just for kicks, the fact is, Apple will NEVER enter a market where hardware sells for a huge loss out of the gate in the hopes of making that back on software.

Apples model is to sell it's devices for insanly high margins, 50%+ in most cases. They also have no inhouse gaming going on, the iPhone gaming is all from 3rd party devs, it's just not the same. They also have their hands full with the new iPad coming, and they have to try to now fight off and keep hold of their iPhone market from Android and WP7s, plus BB is still around.

Sure they have a good chunk of cash on hand, but they're also way more valnurable compared to say MS who got into the console game back then. The clear difference between the two is also that A:) MS has a big inshouse gaming studio and a good # of IPs it can work with already, B:) They have the tools and APIs from windows with DX, and VS and so on that supports the devs, Apple doesn't have these things.

The closest thing to a living room device Apple has done is the AppleTV and it's a flop. They're not going near that place again. The idea going forward for them is all based on Portable, on the go, hardware that they can sell 2-3x what it costs to make.

Also good points...

I really can't see this happening...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.