The evidence for an Apple game console
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Gaming, Hardware, iTS, Rumors, Software, iTunes, App Store
I think the whole "Apple buying Twitter" rumor floating around is about as much of a crock as the "Apple buying EA" one. But I give slightly more credence to this conclusion: that, despite the painful experience of Pippin, Apple is once again putting together a game console. Why? Let the evidence from BNET convince you.
First, Apple is picking up game execs and console chip makers left and right. Second is a whole slew of recent patents, for everything from mixing up media and game environments to management of games acquired from a media server. And third, though BNET doesn't actually connect the dots and say it, we will: Apple is sitting on what might be the best library of independent games anywhere, and it's sitting right in front of us in iTunes' App Store.
For years, console makers have depended on the mercy of publishers to keep their hardware going -- they sell the hardware at a loss, and then rely on the software sales and licensing to make it all back up again. But think of what Apple could do here: improve the AppleTV or Mac Mini, throw in some kind of Wii-like interface, and then break the whole thing open in the same way they did with the App Store: let developers in with a really low cost of entry, give them the tools they need to create solid games, and just take a nice cut from all of the tiny transactions flowing back and forth.
BNET claims that the iPhone's interface wouldn't work on a larger console, but why not? All Apple has to do is figure out a way to translate the iPhone's gestures and taps into a console system, and then they can practically run the games natively. Sure, the resolution would be a little low with a straight port, but that's a small problem to fix. Apple already has the makings of a game console with the iPod touch, and while the rumors may still just be rumors, there's never been a better time for them to leverage what they've already got.
TUAWThe evidence for an Apple game console originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 08 May 2009 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
I bet it's going to be called iGame or iPlay.
SpeedfreaK: I agree that the iPhone/iPod touch is a great gamingconsole. But what is most cruical for a gamingconsole to succeed is to win over hordes of gamedevelopers for their platform. And I doubt that they would be able to do so if they insist on utilizing the objective c-language considering most big gameproducers utilize C++/C# these days.
But who knows, perhaps the iphone sdk has created the basis for such a horde already
It's been confirmed! It's the Apple iBox!(joke)
It’s funny you would connect the dots and conclude that apple is making a game console. In fact your suspicions are right. My sources at apple tells me to look for a drastic change in the upcoming apple tv. The source also hinted that you already have the equivalent of a wii controller in the form of iphone/itouch. Imagine if the apple tv was beefed up to play games and have interactive support for voice chat with other apple tv owners.
Also, another rumor in the pipeline from my source is an upcoming Mac App store via iTunes. Same deal as the iPhone App store, but for native Mac apps for OS X.
[...] het dit misschien worden? [...]
they are already in the gaming market with their iphone and itouch.i think they can make a wonderful console if they combine all their experience from the ipod, apple tv, iphone and itouch
Dear god no, Apple in the games market is too horrible to imagine.
Tried…failed…
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