iPhone is "future of gameplay" - Apple Comments by Ellie Gibson

but what platform has Phoenix Wright? ;)

Wow, a lot of negativity, dismissiveness and general lack of objective thinking.

iPhone gaming isn't there yet, but it won't be long. A lot of games out at the moment are short on content, in part becuase when the sdk first came out developing for the iPod Touch/iPhone was considered far more risky. Now, at the end of 2008, the iPhone is in a very strong position and I think you'll see more resources being directed to developing games for it. Having said that, sinceit launched this summer, there have been more games released on the app store than for the PSP and DS combined for their entire lifespan. Of course most of them are rubbish, but then I think a lot of developers are producing simple copy cat games as a way of learning the ropes or to cash in on being first to market. With time we will definitely see more 'proper' games.

In particular, from a development point of view, iPod Touch/iPhone has some distinct advantages over PSP/DS:

* Nice API & powerful hardware
* No NDA (there was one but it has since been lifted)
* Very easy distribution model & revenue share model
* Low development cost & few barriers to entry
* Bells and whistles: accelerometer, multi touch screen, location awareness, wifi, internet connectivity, large inbuilt storage, ability to continuously update apps etc.
* Indie friendly

And in case anyone wants to compare this to 'phone games', which are widely regarded to be mostly rubbish, there are also the following important differences:

* All of the above as well as...
* Single powerful API/hardware combination meaning developers can work to the strengths of the platform, rather than write for the lowest common denominator of supported features.
* A single huge, well established and thriving marketplace for applications, justifying higher development expenditure
* Apple brand loyalty.

From a consumer point of view:

* Easy purchase of new apps
* Generally low price points and frequent price drops
* New game genres due to those bells and whistles already mentioned
* Can replace multiple personal devices: phone, music player etc.

Of course, it isn't all rosy, there are other factors working against Apple:

* Nintendo / Sony brand loyalty, especially amongst hardcore gamers as well as anti-Apple backlash.
* Lack of games industry connections or gaming heritage.
* Vagueness of Apple's approval procedures and general anti-competitive behaviour.
* Objective-C learning curve
* Lack of physical buttons (this is probably the least important factor)

Frankly, anyone who simply dismisses Apple's handhelds as gaming platforms isn't looking at the bigger picture. Yes, there are hurdles to overcome and I haven't even mentioned the price point, or that the DS and PSP currently seem far more appropriate for parents to buy for their children. At the end of the day, there will be a lot of people out there with devices that can play genuinely good games without even so much as a trip to the shop and there will be a ton of small developers eager to produce those games. I honestly don't see how it could fail to explode or become a huge success.

But maybe I'm not thinking clearly...

Biggles is right and covered a hell of a lot of ground there, I don't think it's reasonable to be completely dismissive when the IPhone and touch are still in their formative years.

Haven't got an iPhone or Touch (though having to suffer daily from using a Samsung i600 with Windows mobile makes me wish my employer wasn't so cheap) so can't really comment on the quality of Apple's games.

I personally think iTunes as an electronic distribution channel is miles ahead of the PSN store, WiiWare and Live and having cheaper games for my mobile devices is definitely appealing.

I'm not especially attached to my PSP or DS. They both are rather clunky and as I'm not female and therefore still feel rather insecure when toting around a handbag (irrational though it may be), I can see certain benefits of combining several portable devices in one. As with my keys, phone and wallet I'm quickly running out of pockets, especially in the summer.

So I can definitely see some potential for the iPhone as a portable games device but it isn't there yet IMO. Key of course is that there's quality content. If that's ever the case, I'll have little trouble retiring my current portable consoles.

Well, believing in Apples "predictions", all competitors might as well, close their doors and turn the lights out... they're the future of everything...

Music distribution; TV; OS; Laptops; desktops; media players; mobile phones; gaming...

with no input buttons at all, strictly for casual gaming. The battery life on the iphone is shockingly low.

Nope. Sorry. All Market Hype.

@Biggles

Good post.

Maybe this is a matter of timescale. My take was that Greg was comparing the current iPhone to the current portable gaming alternative, and perhaps that was shortsighted in my part and created a false impression in my mind.

I don't doubt the business model of selling games for the iPhone (the mobile phone game market is huge and makes sacks of cash), but I do raise question over the quality. Maybe I should expose myself more to iPhone games, as I'm probably a bit out of touch and I might find myself surprised.

The iphone will do for games what the itv did for TV. LOL

Not saying there isnt potential and a market but thats what it is, a choice of a gaming platform not THE portable gaming platform.

People still use PCs, people use other MP3 players and people still use other phones.

Apple employees spend to much time kissing Steve Jobs ass and not enough time in the real world.

It wouldn't be the first time an Apple product has turned into a great white stylishly-designed elephant (e.g. Newton, Apple TV) once all the hype has died down. I don't buy the iPhone/iPod Touch as a gaming platform, at least for anything other than casual games. Try and imagine (insert hit DS/PSP game here) with touch controls operated by fingertip. I don't think Mario Kart would quite be the same.

You can't plug CPU/3D horsepower and a five pound price point in the same paragraph, unless you're talking about hundreds of sparkly gems with 3D zoom in Bejewelled.

MacOS X may do many things well but it doesn't have a history of games development. If Apple bothered about games before it'd have more credibility but as it is the Apple PR bloke is speaking to the 18-25 year old male who has 150-200 quid burning a hole in pocket and doesn't know what to do with it, hence the interview in T3 instead of a games industry rag where any interviewer worth his salt would have picked up on the PR bullshit before he'd finished speaking.

Dan, as much as I loved the video you linked to earlier, this version of Cube is more representative of the iPod Touch / iPhone's capabilities.

"hence the interview in T3 instead of a games industry rag where any interviewer worth his salt would have picked up on the PR bullshit before he'd finished speaking."

LOL. Yeah, video game 'rags' are known for excellent journalism...

Reading some of the comments here, I'm getting deja vu. Haven't we had similar arguments over whether the Wii is competition for the PS3 and 360?

The Wii is making more money than the PS3 or 360 and the iPod Touch/iPhone has the potential to make more money than the DS and PSP, whether gamers like that fact or not. So in that way it could be considered the future.

My CUBE! is more advanced, it doesn't need to load images all the time.

Les: I was thinking about Edge or Gamesindustry, but you're probably right for most of them...

You can get a 1st gen 16GB Ipod Touch from Argos for £148.97 and get £25 worth gift vouchers back at the moment.

So what a shocker. An electronics company engaging in publically upselling their own hardware. WHAT A CRIME. It seems the real problem is that when EG report something as 'news' you lot act like it's Gospel and tear it to pieces. I love Apple stuff but even I can see that interview for the marketing silliness it is. Of course it's not the 'future of gaming', but it is encouraging some very innovative ideas. And yes of course some of them aren't anywhere near as sophisticated as PSP and DS games, but he's not going to admit that, is he?

My God. People get really really angry about Apple, don't they? So much misplaced aggression in here, a psychologist would have a field day with most of you people.

"Apple - I don't care if they make any nice products, they're run by prats and sell to even bigger prats." (Um no, you just don't like their products and have bought into the dull cliche that all Apple users are prats because it's easier than being mature enough to let people buy what they want)

"It would help if Apple weren't charging for updates the newer models get for free and changing the specs every now and then :)" (this is technically incorrect by the way - all iPhones get software updates for free - only the iPod touch users have to pay for them, and that in itself isn't always the case)

""Joswiak" is such an amalgamation of "Jobs" and "Wozniak", it's not even funny." (insightful - that should put Apple in it's place)

"Dear Apple,
I do not need your pretty looking products in my life. I have fully functional products which already meet my need, which include items such as a phone and a DS. Thanks anyway. Please continue to sell the latest iteration of whatever you have released to people in the media and your ardent followers. I am not interested.

Thanks " (Utterly pointless anger. You don't want an Apple product - great! So don't read the article, numpty!)

"Dear Apple,
Going on your past form and commitment to gaming unless there has been a revolution in your corporation i will think of this statement on iPhone gaming as lies and hype designed to lure people in before you drop gaming support and make pretty calculator apps and hypercard slides like usual.

Rodger Applehategaming
President of Vice, Pull the other one Inc." (more pointless bile. Yes, their computing history is not kind to gaming. But the iPhone gaming scene is making them vast amounts of money. Of course they'll be dropping gaming support on the iPhone, why on earth would they encourage it?)

"the IPhone isn't even the future of music players ffs." (Who said it was?)

"I don't want anything to do with your sniffing own fart smugnes, silly Apple." (Yawn. Don't read the article then. I don't read articles about companies I don't have any interest in. Why would I want to make myself angry? Bizarre)

Blah, like there haven't been cheap, crappy downloadable games for other mobile phones before Apple..

Oh Schrodinger... Are your fingers made of marshmallows? How long does it take you to answer a call? It rings for MORE than enough time before going to answering machine if your fingers fail to slide the slider in time (occasionally I have to do it twice, VERY occasionally). I've never missed a call. Not Apple's fault if you don't get to a call in time.

And what version of the software are you running? In Mail I can delete as many emails as I like in one go. Hit Edit, then hit the button next to each email to select the ones you want to delete, then hit the big red button at the bottom that says DELETE. Bingo, lots of emails gone in one go.

But you're right about the camera shutter button, it's annoying. I also understand the speakers on the first iPhone aren't great either. But hey, first generation Apple tech. You knew that stuff was always a bit ropey, right? Right?

Many questions to ask Apple's Greg Joswiak..

What is Iphone's market share to its competitors ? I only know 1 person who owns a Iphone..

A good proportion of handheld owners are young children.. Simple easy to use hardware (DS) Will parents allow their children to play games on a contract phone ?

Great games sell hardware.. Nintendos foundations are built on this philosophy.. What must games do Apple have and are Apples R&D labs up to Nintendos standards ?

Would you say it would make more sense for Ninteendo to release a gaming mobile considering it has the IP content ?

"It's just bloody unnecessary. Why not just press the damn home button to pick up a call instead?"

My brother has the 2nd generation iPhone and I must say I thought it was one of its better features. No accidental phone calls while the phone is in your pocket. Or fumbling the thing out of your pocket and accidentally hitting the reject button. It's not ideal but IMO better than the currently available alternatives.

"Wow, a lot of negativity, dismissiveness and general lack of objective thinking."

This is a blog and people are allowed to be oppinonated here!

"future of gameplay" - Is Apple IThink not!