Pachter: Apple set to release own games console


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Lets see

G1 with Firmware 1.0 (bare minimum)

  • SKU 1: 8 GB, 128 MB ram, wired controller, wired internet - $299.99
  • SKU 2: 16 GB, 128 MB ram, wireless controller, wireless internet - $399.99

6 - 12 months later ...
G2 with Firmware 2.0 (NEW FUNCTION X)
  • G1 upgrade to Firmware 2.0 - $9.99
  • SKU 1: 16 GB, 128 MB ram, wireless controller, wireless internet - $299.99
  • SKU 2: 32 GB, 128 MB ram, wireless controller, wireless internet - $399.99

6 - 12 months later ...

G3 with Firmware 3.0 (REVOLUTIONARY FUNCTION X)

  • G1 & G2 upgrade to Firmware 3.0 - $9.99
  • SKU 1: 16 GB, 256 MB ram, wireless controller, wireless internet - $299.99
  • SKU 2: 32 GB, 256 MB ram, wireless controller, wireless internet - $399.99

6 - 12 months later ...
G4 with Firmware 4.0 (NEVER SEEN BEFORE FUNCTION X)
  • G1 What G1?
  • G2 & G3 upgrade to Firmware 4.0 - $9.99
  • SKU 1: 32 GB, 256 MB ram,wireless controller, wireless internet - $299.99
  • SKU 2: 64 GB, 256 MB ram, wireless controller, wireless internet - $399.99

Repeat above for subsequent generations.

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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.

this will prob never happen since alot of isp's have b/w caps

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^ Pretty sure Sony had that one covered :)

Anyways, it won't happen. No market for it for Apple. The closest will be expanded the AppleTV to allow App Store apps and casual gaming. But a full fledged console? Not in this lifetime.

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I think it's unlikely. Sure the iPod/iPhone combo has been a success but thats because they went into a niche that had no real competition, as Nintendo did with the Wii. Apple got big in gaming because it was a good platform to exploit cheap production and distribution of games. While other portable platforms exist, you are looking to pay an aweful lot more for those games on a DS and PSP. Not only is there that cost but both Nintendo and Sony were slow on the uptake for digital distribution and both are more or less selling dedicated gaming platforms where the iPhone excels in that cheap "it's $1 and I already have the phone or mp3 player" sort of mindset. Also people still buy the hardware to use as an mp3 player of phone...if these were dedicated gaming devices I'm sure less people would buy them.

So unless they are looking to do something drastically different then I see no real reason for them getting into consoles. They won't enjoy the same market niche they had with the iPhone given the other consoles have indie development happening too so they would need another way to distinguish themselves. It doesn't help they haven't shown much interest in game development for the Mac and in many regards their success with the iPod/iPhone was blind luck....the market could easily have rejected gaming on a touch screen device and I'm unsure whether Apple really anticipated it's own success in that field.

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Games can not compete with anything apple may have. Games can not contain anything adult. Games must be approved by rating boards and apple. You can not put your own music on it to play in games, you must purchase all music from the itunes store. Every controller will come with a battery pack locked in that you can not change, you will have to send controllers in for new batteries. There will be side parts galore that you will need for anything to function with your apple gaming machine, like a ethernet cable adapter..

No, sorry, apple can keep out of my gaming industry. It's already screwed up enough.

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I can imagine Apple doing the following -

Creating a small, portable games console or something and have a this kind of thing -

70% Casual Indie Games ( Buy companys like PopCap and stuff)

5% Decent Exclusives.

25% Shovelware (My little pony and co)

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I can imagine Apple doing the following -

Creating a small, portable games console or something and have a this kind of thing -

70% Casual Indie Games ( Buy companys like PopCap and stuff)

5% Decent Exclusives.

25% Shovelware (My little pony and co)

Well that's not going to have much success then in amongst Sony/MS/Nintendo - You need exclusives/own IPs to move hardware.

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Well that's not going to have much success then in amongst Sony/MS/Nintendo - You need exclusives/own IPs to move hardware.

technically the "casual indie" section would be pretty exclusive

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= failure.

That combo doesn't even have that wow factor that made the Wii sell well. It's totally a waste of time and money on apples part to even try that.

Like I said, they're too busy trying to defend their iPhone market AND trying to get into the ebook/tablet market.

I agree with all of your points. It wouldn't make sense for them to get into the game market (Nor do I honestly thing they could)...

They should bring back the Dreamcast. That console was amazing. Imagine a new Dreamcast!

Yeah, I loved the Dreamcast... *sigh*

I don't see this happening. Apple is not a follower. It would take them years to build up a console to match the leaders. Unless they have something new up their sleeves, that is.

Yeah, absolutely. And if they had something completely revolutionary that changed gaming, they don't have the clout (Or first party push) to gain adoption anyway... The only reason the Wii had the success it did was because it was Nintendo (Who has phenomenal first party titles). Since Apple doesn't have the ability to publish first party titles (Nor are they a "Nintendo"), any revolutionary technology they may try to push would be completely dependent on 3rd parties to adopt and make use of... And without considerable market share, that would just never happen.

Sega was clearly never going to last. They ****ed everyone with the 32X/CD Megadrive expansions and they ****ed everyone by dropping the Saturn quickly. EA refused to support them which made sense, and Sega began relying on promises of expansions for the Dreamcast like the MP3 and DVD player. Discontinuing the Dreamcast and giving up on consoles was a great move, as now Sega develops for all platforms so we all benefit.

Well, I for one loved Sega... And they've never been the same. Sega publishing games on multiple platforms on the surface looks great, but look at what they publish... They just aren't taking risks like they used to, and they aren't developing outstanding IP anymore either. Panzer Dragoon, Skies of Arcadia, etc., etc... Where are these games? Instead they focus on licensed properties... It's very depressing.

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I can't wait for Choplifter 2012

And maybe they can do Akalabeth and Zork too.

/you hits your head against the grate as you attempt that feat.

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