iPhone to support paid DLC

By Oli Welsh Published 18 March, 2009

Bluetooth multiplayer too in OS 3.0.

Apple has announced the feature set of the next version of the iPhone operating system, OS 3.0, and much of it is relevant to the game's burgeoning gaming scene - especially paid-for App updates and peer-to-peer Bluetooth connection.

Although iPhone users will probably be most excited about the arrival of cut, copy and paste (finally!), in-application purchasing means developers can start charging for downloadable content for their games.

At yesterday's preview event, this was demonstrated with a preview of EA's iPhone version of The Sims 3, in which you'll be able to buy virtual items directly from an in-game store. The game also makes use of in-App access to your iPod library for your own music.

Peer-to-peer connectivity via Bluetooth will make local multiplayer possible for the first time, and there will also be in-game voice support and notifications pushed to your phone within an App - for example, notifications of a request for a match with another player.

Rolando publisher Ngmoco showed two new games at the event: the Nintendogs-style Touch Pets, and Live Fire, a multiplayer FPS with 3G and wireless internet support and an in-game weapons store.

OS 3.0 is due for release "this summer". Touch Arcade has all the details and some photos of the games.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (12) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • NickDude #1 3 years ago

    Lovin my iPhone 3g and loving all the newly announced features, especially cut and paste. In game DLC not so much as there aren't that many iPhone games that appeal to me :(

  • penhalion #2 3 years ago

    Damn! The neighbourhood went down quicker than I thought. Just yesterday when they announced the premium store I was saying it was downhill from there, as comapnies like EA pursuade apple to turn the iphone into a new handheld console and attempt to fleece all the customers with sub standard 20 dollar games.

    Now they want to also sell horse armour!

  • JDub #3 3 years ago

    You mean the 'phone's burgeoning gaming scene', surely?

  • Banjax #4 3 years ago

    They announced a premium store?

  • stampax #5 3 years ago

    They showed a demo where in a FPS someone has the option to buy a rocket launcher for 99p. For me, thats a really bad way of doing dlc.

  • superdelphinus #6 3 years ago

    wasn't there a game on the pc where everyone went batsh1t crazy when they had to buy a new gun?

  • skillian #7 3 years ago

    They showed a demo where in a FPS someone has the option to buy a rocket launcher for 99p.

    Next to a 99p fart button that almost sounds like good value. Mobile phones, and particularly the iPhone, seems like the the perfect place for bad value DLC.
    Edited by skillian at 18/03/09 @ 13:43

  • onyxbox #8 3 years ago

    love my iPhone, games are alright for a bit of time wasting but nothing for PSP or DS to worry about just yet IMO

    One thing I do like about the iPhone over PSP is that you can listen to MP3's whilst playing a game... I always though it was such as waste that on PSP I had to choose between listening to music and playing a game.

    :-/

    Here's hoping PSP2 does all of that kind of stuff... in game XMB Yay! ;-D

  • photoboy #9 3 years ago

    Hopefully the in-game DLC won't be used to nickel and dime players but instead to allow companies to offer demos like on XBLAh, where you download the demo and then unlock the full version. That way Apple can do away with the need to have "Lite" versions of apps to let people try before buying.

  • Dan234 #10 3 years ago

    Copy and Paste! MMS! Bluetooth tethering! Um, have I gone back in time five years?

    Never mind, it's Apple. This is special Apple Copy and Paste, which as we all know is a giant leap forward.
    Edited by Dan234 at 18/03/09 @ 14:44

  • iago71 #11 3 years ago

    "love my iPhone, games are alright for a bit of time wasting but nothing for PSP or DS to worry about just yet IMO"

    Couldnt agree more - As fun as it is playing things on the iPhone its very much short lived gimmicky experience. My PSP and DS will remain my handhelds - Monkey Ball was an abortion I thought (if youd played the original).

  • ps3owner #12 3 years ago

    - iFart -

    Would you like to touch a button to fart??
    That would be 99 pence please.

    Cancel Accept

    ------------------------------

    99 pence for a rocket launcher... ouch. I bet the rockets come extra though. 10 pence a pop. this is almost RL ;)