I read in the Economist that Apple is hoping the iPad will eventually become a gaming platform, in addition to its other uses. I need a computer and am kind of considering the new tablet, but I'm also a total geek about Starcraft. Does anyone know if there will be some way to play Starcraft (and its upcoming sequel) on the iPad, or is that some future goal a ways away?
Short answer: If you like RTS and other "deep" games, I'd get a proper PC for now. The ipad will definately evolve to become a go-to platform for such games, but we're not there yet and likely won't get there for another year. Only buy the iPad as your primary gaming machine if you are more of a "World of Goo" kind of gamer, or enjoy wonderful Retro remakes. Long answer: I have a Touch, an iPad and a gaming PC. I spend much more time playing on my iPad than any of the other platforms. However, that is more due to it being highly portable rather than being a great gaming platform. It's simply to heavy. The Touch offers some wonderfully innovative gaming concepts due to its weight and touch screen (try Tilt to Live, for instance) but the weight of the iPad breaks games such as Zen Bound and Fargoal. If you are into games such as Starcraft, I think the iPad can *become* the ultimate platform for casual RTS fans, once a lighter version comes out. Like tower defense games, the genre somehow seems like it should translate perfectly to a touch interface. There is a C&C game on the ipad that's been specifically designed for the iOS but while it is the best you can get for the Touch, it's somehow disappointing on the iPad. Not bad, just not nearly what you'd imagine an RTS to be on the larger screen. Like I said, I play on the iPad more than any of my other two platforms, even though the others are better gaming platforms. I love my ipad, and i love it as a gaming machine. but i wouldn't buy it as my *primary* gaming platform. If I lost all my machines and had to buy them again, id first buy a Touch, then a PC, then an iPad
You guys really find the iPad heavy for gaming. I've played games on my iPad for hours and never once thought it was heavy. It was awkward holding it when I didn't have the Apple case on it yet, but now that I have it on it's so much easier to hold the iPad and never thought it was heavy. My iPad has actually become my main gaming system...I don't really play my 360, PS3, or my iPhone nearly as much anymore. To me the iPad has become a really good gaming machine, among other things of course, even strangely replacing my laptop. iPad is a great platform for RTS games. I hope some really good ones are on the horizon, but I highly doubt Blizzard is on-board anything other that pc/Mac plats.
As a platform the potential is there, but looking at and comparing the current games library, I wouldn't be letting go of my consoles/laptop anytime soon. There are a number of good games, many of which I'm happy enough playing on the smaller iPhone screen, but they lack the depth of console/PC games, as evident by the absence of RTS games on the App Store.
If you're more of a hardcore gamer, then get a computer (or laptop, for portability). I don't see the iPad coming anywhere near the PC when it comes to gaming in the foreseeable future. Obviously if you're only into the more casual stuff, go for the iPad.
If you want portable gaming, iPad is a great choice - plays both iPhone and ipad games, can't go wrong there and ipad has only been out for several months yet it already has a good number of awesome games. I don't even take my Dell notebook with me anymore for playing games, I just take the iPad.
Groan. If they got Onlive working on it and the ability to hook-up a controller, by all means, of course. Anything else on the iPad AppStore just doesn't have enough depth for my taste.
Starcraft 2 was designed for a mouse and keyboard so it wouldn't make sense to play them on an iPad. Right now the iPad is basically an entertainment consumption device and I believe it will eventually evolve and transition into tablets with the full MAC OS designed for keyboards, mice and touchscreens but that's ways off.
