tech.gadgets.video.geekculture.gaming.kittens.
Apple in the handheld gaming world
I was listening to the gdgt roundtable this morning, and they started talking about the iPhone / iPod Touch as a gaming device. Josh Topolsky insisted that Apple was trying to drink Sony and Nintendo’s milkshakes, while Ryan said that Apple is just going for the “value add” of having games.
This got me thinking about my iPhone and the experiences I’ve had using it as a handheld gaming device, especially compared with the Nintendo DS and the PSP. Granted, gaming on my phone has not been my number one priority, but I’ve download a few decent ones: Spore Origins, Tris (which I believe is now unavailable) and Tap Tap Revenge. But at the end of the day, was it more fun for me to play games on my iPhone than if I’d brought along the DS or PSP? Well, no, not especially. Was it more convenient to not have to carry a second device? Of course. Yet the overall experience quality is still going to be better on a standalone gaming platform. I just wonder if people really care all that much about having the absolute best experience… maybe they just don’t need it.
This brings me to another point on the podcast: do mainstream users really care about the nit-pickings of technologists when it comes to their buying decisions? Yes, there can definitely be a trickle effect of opinion that can sway people (“Oh, I’ve heard this phone is very buggy, I’m going to wait for the next version”). But what about mainstream gamers? Are games on the iPod/iPhone ever going to effect the number of handheld devices being purchased, and the amount they’re used? Is it just a nice added benefit to the phone, or a major selling point?
Developers are cranking out some beautiful looking games for the App Store, and I’m sure they’re enjoying the direct-to-buyer system (that is, if their app makes it through the approval process), but I wonder what other frequent gamers are thinking.
Do you think people will eventually buy the iPod or iPhone with the primary function of being their gaming device?
Image courtesy of Apple.com
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A good post Veronica!
As somebody who puts themselves in the *Not a gamer* category I think your correct. The main stream user probably doesn’t care. I have two games installed, Spore Origins, and Texas Holdem (Only cause one of the characters looks like you, in Texas Holdem, not Spore
)I know I, and several of my friends, are of the same opinion. We like games on our iPhones that we can pick up and put down. The type that doesn’t really require a lot thought or dedication. I mean how involved do you want to be on a tube or bus. I also think people don’t want to be a walking electronics store. The die hards like there diet pop and high end machines in a dark room, something your never going to achieve on a mobile device and who would really want to.
I think you also make a valid point about the over analysis of the tech pundits. While they have valid points I feel they do tend to think about how “they” use there devices and not Joe Bloggs (Sorry Jane Doe).
Keep up the good work! Loving Revision3!!!
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#3 written by Glugory 3 years ago
The iPhone will never be a better gaming platform than devices like the DS and the PSP. Some argue that the graphics are better than the current gen handhelds, but that’s because those handhelds are years old. Once the next generation comes out they’ll be even better than the iPhone. Not to mention that the control scheme for iPhone games is pretty limited. I’d imagine playing N+ or any kind of platformer would be near impossible on the iPhone. The lack of buttons makes for some really innovative games, but in the long run it won’t be able to become a truly exquisite gaming device. The iPhone does nothing to change my opinion about all cell phone games. They’re good to kill about 10 minutes and after that I want to stab myself in the eye.
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#4 written by Dave S. 3 years ago
I agree with Ryan that it’s a “value added” thing on the iPhone. I’m sure Apple would love to dominate the handheld gaming market, but there’s no way it will happen on this device because as cool as it is to control the game by tilting, that gets really old really fast. To a serious gamer, I think buttons are crucial. However, the iPhone games are PERFECT for the following scenarios, aka, the story of my life:
* stranded in the airport
* bored in the subway
* bored in traffic
* did I mention stranded in the airport?
* oh yeah, stranded in the airport too.(there’s a theme here.)
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I don’t own any portable gaming devices. I do have a 1st gen iPhone. As a console gamer, I can’t believe that people would ever buy the iPhone (or any other phone for that matter) for the games. I agree it’s a “value add”, and nothing more. I suppose they are great time-killers, but I forget that they’re on my phone.
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A good post on how Apple should think to extend iPod’s capabilities and what markets they should look into. But there are issues, firstly to compete with PSP or Nintendo devices apple will have to increase processing power of iPod. Current processing(+graphics) wont allow them to compete.
Secondly, multitouch is a great thing for iPod, but how well it will do in gameplay is a big question. Right now, none of the games could utilize mutitouch/accelerometer capabilities fully. Its fun to play for some time but we do not get addicted to it, and that addiction is the reason for any game to be success. -
I was once a gamer (two decades ago), but I wouldn’t consider myself one today. However, I’ve always up to date with the gaming world. That said, I’m currently considering buying my first game system of this century, a Wii. As someone constantly looking at technology, I know the specs of this crop of “next gen” systems and I know that the Wii is the weakest, however it’s the most popular, because the (popular) games are designed around game play instead of the latest video and sound technologies.
What does this have to do with the iPhone. Well, people are designing and exploiting features of the iPhone and Touch to create some interesting gaming experiences.
Two excellent examples are Stars Wars Force Unleashed and Ms.Pac Man (yes I said Ms.Pac Man!). Force unleashed is not a poor port of a platform game, but takes advantage of the touch screen in ways that few would have imagined. Yes, it easy, but it’s fun too. Try playing Ms. Pac Man with the Accelerometer controls, it breaths new life in a classic.
So can the iPhone and Touch be a new gaming platform, sure can and it will only get better. And did I mention that it’s a phone!
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Regarding the nitpickings of technologists–I see your point. The tech/gadget bloggers tend to be over-exposed to their specialties and may be more pigeonholed compared to their audience. Due to that, their demands may be more suited for them than the mainstream. My two cents!
Casual games are fine for the device since battery longevity can be an issue depending on the type of game you have on the phone.
Also, Wurdle is bad news! It’s like tetris where it makes me dreams of shapes…umm..but in this case, words.
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#12 written by Peter The Dane 3 years ago
I also see it as a value-add, not the primary function of the device – but consider the new iPod Touch:
Sure it’s $100 more than the Nintento DS – but you can do so much more:
Email, Maps, Internet, Nike+, Music, Video + 1000′s of apps that expand the possibilities.
And, on top of that the games usually cost 50% or less of what a typical DS or PSP game cost.
That’s some pretty compelling reasons if you want to do more than just play games.
Also, if you own more than 1 device you can have the same game on multiple devices (linked to your account) but only have to buy 1 copy.
Sure, not all games will translate well – but I’m hoping that developers over time will find new and creative ways of turning the interface into a strength instead of a weakness. A game like “Toy Bot Diaries” made especially for the iPhone/iTouch is a good example of something that works well. Gamelofts “Brain Challenge” is another example of a game that actually works better and more intuitive on the iPhone than on other platforms.
The games are not the main feature of the iPhone/iTouch, but it’s a pretty serious value-add if you ask me
So I understand why Apple is pushing it so hard.
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“Do you think people will eventually buy the iPod or iPhone with the primary function of being their gaming device?”
No. At least as long as the Iphone and the Touch are “touch screen only” devices, I don’t think that would work.
The Iphone only works for games which don’t require the tactil feed back of a real joypad. Certain games work for the IPhone, but other (fast paced) games do not work very well.
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#14 written by Parrotheader 3 years ago
They’re definitely a value-added item. Not to say some games couldn’t still be WILDLY popular in a Pokemon/Viva Pinata kind of way. But they’re still basically just glossied-up versions of the simple time-killer games we’ve always had on phones.
I would think that the iPod (moreso than the iPhone because of the extra barriers to entry involved there) could be pushed more heavily in that direction to a mainstream audience. But Apple has also kind of pigeon-holed the iPod as a music/video brand at this point in the mind of most consumers and it’s tough to change that mindset. Plus, given their aversion to buttons in general that doesn’t seem too likely. You’re actually probably more likely to see future generation Zunes emerge as a handheld gaming device rather than the iPod IMO (MS has no platform in this segment yet, which is still surprising to me.)
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#15 written by Andy 3 years ago
I think you are polling the wrong people. I don’t know if the iPhone can overtake psp/ds, but it certainly is possible. People care less about “quality” than you think. In fact, I think we’ve seen that convenience trumps quality every time, and nothing is more convenient than the phone that you’re always carrying around. Look around us: MP3s have overtaken CDs and higher-fidelity audio, youtube and streaming audio has taken over standard definition tv, let alone HD. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that people only care about “good enough” if it’s convenient enough. It’s true that the iphone doesn’t have a good control scheme, but I can easily imagine a good Final Fantasy or role playing game developed for it, and once that happens…
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#18 written by Selleys 3 years ago
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#19 written by ufing10 3 years ago
I think it is a possibility that iPod Touch will rise as a gaming device. I doubt that people will start buying iPhone 3G JUST for games, as 2 year contract is not an easy commitment for anyone (especially not for teenagers). However, iPod Touch is relatively affordable; If amazing games are made, people will buy. I was genuinely surprised by the quality of games, like super monkey ball and spore, on the iPhone platform, because it looks so good! The gaming market is full as it is right now. But if they get amazing games from lots of companies, I’m sure people will start buying iPods just for games as well.
Apple seems to be pretty good at entering saturated markets and taking market shares
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#21 written by hanconscious 3 years ago
i believe there’s another category of gamers out there, aside from hardcore and casual – the secret gamer.
these are folks, who are not even casual gamer enough to be called casual gamers – who wouldn’t know what a bejeweled clone was, because they would all be in the “coloured matching” category.
secret gamers are people in business suits, who need to carry a phone for work, but wouldn’t be caught dead carrying a portable gaming device around with them. they are husband who enjoy playing games, but can’t justify to the missus why they need a proper console. secret gamers are everywhere. and their secret smiles belie the games that they are hiding.
so, the iphone, and phones in general, provide fantastic places for secret gamers and secret games to hide. and as gaming phones go, the iphone takes the cake. it, like facebook, has made games instantly accessible to huge markets. and unlike facebook, the iphone making lots of people money through games.
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With all due respect, I think this question is a bit silly:
“Do you think people will eventually buy the iPod or iPhone with the primary function of being their gaming device?”
First off, which “people”? Hardcore gamers (who want and use a portable gaming platform)? Light users (who just want to kill time with the thing in their pocket at the doctor’s office)? Kids (who just want to game cheaply)?
Second, I think this question is a bit like asking if I think that people will ever buy a PS3 primarily as a blu-ray player. There are certainly those who will, but it’s a pointless question.
Now, to me the bigger question is this: What impact on casual gaming will this powerful and constantly attached device have?
I think we are going to be seeing more and more gaming generally as people who have cell phones and want to kill time start to realize that gaming is fun. The real issue is how game developers are going to use these time capturing moments to translate them into console/PC gaming experiences. To me, that’s the part that’s failing now, and not just on the iPhone. Sony has failed (surprise!) to generate much interest in their PSP/PS3 connections. Can Apple push that into new territory?
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#24 written by Falco 3 years ago
Your questions if the iPhone will ever replace gaming consoles will be irrelevant in a couple of years. Video processing power is less of a limitation and with creative interfaces in the development pipelines (e.g. http://www.emotiv.com/) making their way to portable devices like the iPhone and add to that a next gen myvu video glasses (http://www.myvu.com/) and you are getting to an experience PSP and the likes can’t come near. I think the device makers have much to fear.
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I think that the value-added angle in and of itself is huge.
Of all the people out there that do not already have an iphone the majority of them would probably like to own one.
The thing is there are these barriers that cause resistance such as, price, inconvenience of switching carriers, having to wait for contracts to end.
Each time the value gets added the resistance falls some more and for each of these adds more converts will get added into the fold.
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First of all let me start by telling you I am a big fan! You are so funny. We watch Tekzilla all the time. Keep up the good work, both & Patrick. Now getting back to business, I don’t think that the game apps on the iphone will ever replace the gaming consoles. For a hardcore gamer it is better playing these games on the consoles, rather then the iphone. We have not purchased a game app yet, have been trying out the free ones. My husband just did a review on the “Wurdle” app, feel free to stop by & check out his review if you get a chance.
http://thejoereview.com/2008/10/28/iphone-app-review-1-wurdle/ -
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I’m iffy about buying games on the iPhone. For one thing, I don’t have a lot of time to play games. I wake up, go to work, work, go to the gym, go home, play (WoW, WAR, XBL). A game has to be special for me to buy it on a handheld (eg: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core).
I’d like to believe that mainstream (hardcore?) gamers understand the technology behind a platform, but look at the PSP vs. the DS. The DS destroyed the PSP, even though the PSP does so much more than the DS. But the DS had better software. Don’t get me wrong, I love both, but I really though the technological advances of the PSP would have toppled the DS. I was wrong.
Also, there’s an issue with the input of the iPhone. Could you play Quake on an iPhone? Maybe. It would be clunky. I haven’t tried Super Monkey Ball but I’d bet it kicks butt on an iPhone. Sometimes it’s about the “killer app”. I don’t like carrying around a PSP, but how else can you play the latest portable version of Final Fantasy?
I think the iPhone will have a niche in the gaming market but over time I don’t think it’ll be an issue.