Comments on: Apple: "The iPhone is a Gaming Console"

By: Valkyria Chronicles Kid

Valkyria Chronicles Kid — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:55:53 +0000

Yeah sure, the iPod Touch (I will not mention the iPhone cause its a phone and it feels better to say iPod Touch), is a gaming system, which is why most games are free to $10. Now granted the games on the iPod Touch, and the accelorometer and multitouch features could make it into a very fun, great gaming device. But take games such as Resident Evil 4 on iPod Touch (I am not talking about physical controls… cause Im sure the touch screen works fine), but what really makes it look like its ruined is the lack of a story in the game, yes gameplay is more important. But the DS can handle essentially big stories and cutscenes (Kingdom Hearts anyone)… the PSP/PSPgo can handle big stories and cutscenes (everything else anyone). But the iPod Touch needs more than just casual games and fun ports of old games, it needs stuff like big RPGs or games with big stories such as Kingdom Hearts (rumor has it that coded could be coming out for iPod Touch) or Final Fantasy. Hell look at Metal Gear Solid, Apple gains a watered down version of the franchise (its essentially an arcade like shooter). The touch screen and controls are great for the iTouch, but no stories for games (not every game needs stories, but a certain number of games should not just be about gameplay) makes it a watered down competitor, fix this and you got a winner in my book.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:45:58 +0000

Bull. You're a fanboy in denial. iPhone OS games have sold more than legit console games, but you just can't believe it, can you?

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:42:21 +0000

You've hit the nail on the head. A lot of the game industry fanboys are also in serious denial. Just check out most of the comments on the iPhone OS game reviews in IGN. Most of them are "Of course the game won't be good, it's a cell phone game!!" Trying to get the Wikipedia coverage necessary for the explosion of the gaming industry on this platform is ridiculously difficult also.

It should be noted that despite this, the iPhone OS game industry has certainly taken off. Hell, the Tap Tap franchise is one of the most installed (shipped) in the entire history of video games with over ten million installs. That puts it up there with the Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, and Bomberman franchises. That's even more than the Doom and Animal Crossing franchises.

People like this just don't see what companies like Nintendo are seeing with their release of the DSi. It's obvious that it's meant to respond to the success of the iPhone OS.

By: Wulfsige

Wulfsige — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:00:13 +0000

I completely agree that the ipod touch is a gaming platform. To be honest it is the best out of three even now. As long as they don't raise the prices and keep it from 9.99 to free, people will continue to flock to it. Now if they really wanted to make it better, the next ipod touch verison, 3.0, would come out with a Camera attached, 3 times as long battery life, and bump the resolution up one more time.

The thing I love most about this system is the constant stream of games and UPDATES to games. Once you buy the game they usually end up updating it, adding more content which DS and PSP now only cost more but very very unlikely to get any updates. Plus the fact new games are coming out daily, you have a HUGE hit on your hands.

By: Paul O'Connor

Paul O'Connor — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:52:43 +0000

The iPhone is definitely a gaming platform — but it's a Trojan Horse of a gaming platform that is infiltrating our lives before announcing itself as such. I think the positioning of the iPod Touch as "the funnest iPod ever" is just the tip of the spear for what Apple has planned in the game field. I'm part of an iPhone games startup and we've certainly staked our fortunes on Apple's support of this platform for gaming.

By: Jayson Elliot

Jayson Elliot — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:12:08 +0000

I'm glad to hear that Apple has a long-term view of the iPhone as a gaming platform (or "console" as they are saying).

I agree, it needs to have dedicated buttons and big-screen connection to be a threat to "real" consoles, but I also think that is exactly what will happen over the next two years.

Coincidentally, I have been giving this a lot of thought lately, and wrote an in-depth look at exactly what it would take for the iPhone to challenge the Wii: http://jaysonelliot.squarespace.com/journal/2008/12/15/will-the-iphone-replace-the-wii.html

(Yes, that's right – not the PSP or DS, but the Wii)

By: steve

steve — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:30:34 +0000

if the iphone/touch had a few buttons i might agree. but without a d pad and a couple buttons itll never be a 'gAming device'

By: Amish Gangster

Amish Gangster — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:51:50 +0000

The "killer app" is the app store.
This is a revolution that might demolish the GameStop business model. It (or something very similar) will eventually.

Even WAY back in the mid 90s, the top Oracle dude was talking about how absurd it is to buy software in a store. That's just the way of the future.

By: Fattychan e

Fattychan e — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:38:35 +0000

I don't think that we will ever see the iPod touch at gamestop since it undermines their business model completely.

By: RaZrVIN

RaZrVIN — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:40:51 +0000

What Apple has managed to pull of takes a LOT of skill, I mean starting off as a touchscreen phone and iPod (TOUCHSCREEN! That was revolutionary by itself!) And midway they added PDA functions (Mail, Weather, ETC.), and now they managed to turn their revolutionary phone/iPod into a GAMING DEVICE! Does anyone know how incredibly hard that is? I give props to Apple for pulling of such a daring and amazing feat! It would be incredible to see Gamestops and EBgames selling iPod Touch 2Gs at their stores, which would be in a few years possibly!