Comments on: iPhone and iPod Touch Gaming Accessories… Coming Soon?

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:08:48 +0000

Most of the apps sold in the store are games so that must tell you something Fluffeh.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a controller for the iphone/ipod touch, my guess is that the major developers will support it. There has to be an option in game to use the touch screen or an accessory and i hope the controllers are universal which is able to work with any game that has accessory support, otherwise it would be very cumbersome to use different controllers for different games.

By: Aaron Sullivan

Aaron Sullivan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:09:39 +0000

@Fluffeh
It's a good question, but I think the answer is yes. At least, to be successful doesn't need a huge amount of gamers because accessories usually have decent margins. Especially iDevice accessories.

By: rob s

rob s — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:56:53 +0000

they did report this, im sure

By: Fluffeh

Fluffeh — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:41:51 +0000

Are there really enough hard-core gamers to make these add-ons successful?

By: Aaron Sullivan

Aaron Sullivan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:06:28 +0000

@C Lewis: Here, here. WIth that scenario, support goes directly into my game, ASAP. If it\'s a bunch of competing controllers… *sigh*

Very encouraging that Apple put that little blurb on the page.

I like the ideas here. Battery or a separate controller. Hmm…

By: St. McDuck

St. McDuck — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:57:41 +0000

I need a bluetooth light gun for all those shooting games.
Make it happen, faceless accessory-manufacturers!

By: qasim

qasim — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:41:15 +0000

Whoa! That's great newss!! Lol can't wait!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:14:52 +0000

How about an entirely separate controller, connected via bluetooth? Coupled with the ability to output game sound and video through the dock connector to my TV, using the cable I have that does that for movies, the iTouch/iPhone could be a standalone console!

By: C Lewis

C Lewis — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:49:13 +0000

E:
The answer is relatively straightforward–developers make game controller access optional, and leave in touch or tilt controls in for those that need it.

The REAL trick is that there should be an API (from Apple) that #1 The hardware developers design to spec, and #2 that developers use in adding external control schemes to their apps. Without this it is a moving target that Apple may or may NOT approve of. Ugh.

Otherwise, my fear is this: that these "fun new game accessories" will be specific devices, for specific applications. That sounds like NO fun to me

Chris

By: E

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:23:07 +0000

Apparently it's just me but I thought adding devices to the iPhone/iPod Touch would make it less portable/(slightly) less apppealing…oh well. Innovative gadgets couldn't hurt, though.