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.

“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?

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.

I only have an iPod Touch.. and it’s becoming my main portal gaming device. I also have the DS Lite, which I loved.. but it’s currently gathering dust right now. But hey, if you pick me up a DSi in Japan, I may start using that instead. j/k!

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.)

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.

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.

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.

It’s really not something they’d have a chance of breaking into with their arbitary hardware setups.

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!