Slashdot Log In
Apple Console Rumour Resurfaces
Posted by
Zonk
on Wed Dec 06, 2006 06:46 PM
from the super-dooper-ipod-express dept.
from the super-dooper-ipod-express dept.
1up has commentary on speculation from an industry analyst, which GamesIndustry.biz has published. Prudential analyst Jesse Tortora gesticulates wildly in the direction of renewed interest by Apple in the games market. From the GI.biz article: "We think the videogame market represents a distinct possibility for Apple, especially considering that it recently announced the availability of videogames for its iPod through its iTunes store ... The game console device could be morphed out of some combination of the MacMini and iTV, while the handheld player could be developed as an enhancement for a future version of the widescreen iPod."
Related Stories
[+]
DarwiinRemote - A Wiimote Frontend for OSX 74 comments
jeckil writes "DarwiinRemote is a tiny piece of software which reads data from and sends data to Nintendo Wii Remote. It detects all 3 axis sensors, all buttons (except power). You can modify which controller LED indicator is on, and send force feedback. Right now it only supports a basic front row control scheme but they should be releasing a better version in a few days. All the source code is available and compatible with latest version of xcode. One can only wonder ... If the latest apple rumor turns out to be true, things could get very interesting for apple. Someone has already released a modified version of this app. It seems there have been some problems detecting the remote so an alternate version that uses the Wiimote's sync button has been released."
[+]
Hardware: Theorizing a Big Apple Push Into Gaming 364 comments
Ian Lamont writes "Terrence Russell has outlined an interesting theory about what industry Apple intends to break into next. He points to games. Forget Pippin II, or an iMac gaming rig — he thinks the mobile realm is where Apple will make a big product push. It's not the first bit of speculation about Apple's renewed interest in gaming, but Russell's theory may have more legs, considering Apple's invitation to develop games on the iPhone SDK, its strong mobile product line, and a Apple trademark extension filed three months ago."
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
Full
Abbreviated
Hidden
Loading... please wait.
Apple Need To Do Something ORIGNAL! (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
In any case, it would make more sense for Apple to get into some sort of collaboration with Nintendo (iTMS Channel on your Wii maybe?) then to enter an already full gaming market. If Apple already had a games development studio, it might make more sense, but as it is, they're better off interfacing with the existing consoles instead.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Apple Need To Do Something ORIGNAL! (Score:4, Interesting)
Parent
It'll work great! (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
The Turbografx 16 was also hugely successful, just not in the American or European markets. In Japan, where it was known as the PC Engine, it was more popular than the Sega Mega Drive (aka Genesis) and was a legitimate compe
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
No, by his logic, the Dreamcast was a failure, whereas the Saturn was a success. That's the "absurd" point you were aiming for.
Wrong end of the stick (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Fair view, unless you consider console games an essential foot in the living room door.
Re: (Score:2)
What do you mean, exactly? My PS2 is the center of my entertainment now (games, movies, and music). The PS3 will do the same thing for me. What else is there?
Re: (Score:2)
I think he was saying, in the opposite direction. With the PS3 and XBox, Sony and Microsoft are leveraging what is essentially a game console to establish a foothold in general entertainment (movies and music). The poster was suggesting that Apple, on the other hand, could leverage what is supposed to be a general entertainment system (the iTV, which will play music and movies), in order to gain a foothold in the game-console market.
I'm not sure it would work, but I'm pretty sure that's what he means by
Re:Wrong end of the stick (Score:5, Interesting)
On the other hand, they could put "casual" games on the iTV from the start. By "casual", I mean exactly the sort of games they're putting on the iPod right now: Tetris, Bejeweled, Pac-Man, etc. It would be a minor selling-point but be a sort of foot-in-the-door.
Really, Apple is in a good position to do this gradually. The first thing would be establish the iTV with these casual games. Meanwhile, they should be trying to get game developers to port more of their games to OSX, with simultaneous launches with the other platforms. Then they could release a decent bluetooth gaming controller (or maybe license the technology from Nintendo for the Wii-mote?) Finally, they could release a specialized iTV to run connect to this controller and play these games.
It wouldn't be so far different from what Microsoft has done. What's the Xbox, really? A computer running a modified version of Windows. It plays games which are not very different from Windows games (from what I've been lead to believe). There's no reason why Apple couldn't do the same thing-- release a specialized Mac that runs a specialized version of OSX, aimed at gaming. The difference might be that you could also take those games to your regular Macintosh and play them there, too (I wish Microsoft had done that, and made it so Xbox games could run on your PC).
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Despite what you may have read in the popular press, the Xbox isn't just a modified PC running Windows.
You're right, it's not a modified PC running Windows. It's a PC running a modified version of Windows.
If Apple were to try this themselves, they'd need to throw out most of OS X and drop back to just running the Darwin kernel. They'd need to pick a GPU and stick with it for a few years, and give the developers complete access to it's internals.
Oh, gosh, there's no way Apple could do that.
Re: (Score:2)
Here's an entertaining concept for you... (Score:2)
A stripped-down, customised OSX variant for the Wii.
Hey, they're both white. It's an ideal match. You heard it here first...
Re: (Score:2)
iTV not released yet (Score:3, Interesting)
Only problem is getting people in that particular age group and price point. But, one man told me, "Parents buy things. That's what they're for." [Insert inflamitory jokes about Paris Hilton here]
$0.02
Why not partner up with Nintendo? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Why not partner up with Nintendo? (Score:5, Insightful)
After the cell processor was more or less confirmed to win the battle for the console, but before Apple announced the switch to Intel this move seemed like a no-brainer. A virtual Nintendo console built into every mac would have been a real win. Now, however, the development for both the Wii and the Mac virtual console might be too hard. If Apple, Nintendo, and Sony were willing to shake hands in order to deliver a combined kick to Microsoft's groin they could to it as follows: build a single development platform on top of OpenGL and similar technologies that allow a game developer to target the Wii, Mac, Linux, Windows, and PS3 with minimal effort. Promote it like hell and hand it out to every college student everywhere. All the players are already behind OpenGL in one way or another. This would have a similar, but more widespread effect and threaten some of MS's lock-in with respect to their crown jewels (Windows). But then I've always been one of those "a strong offense..." types.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
For the same reason that Nintendo don't release Nintendo franchise games to non-Nintendo consoles. Exclusivity drives people to buy Nintendo consoles, which they actually make money off as well as the games. In addition they also lose brand recognition as the Nintendo console is no longer seen as a magical wonderful box but as something easily emulated. And lastly, what
Apple and Gaming (Score:2)
Apple's best bet may be to target competition with the Wii - leave Sony and Microsoft to fight over $500-700 game consoles (they are both the same price with HD optical media p [roughlydrafted.com]
About time! (Score:3, Funny)
Eh? (Score:2)
I know I get all tingley when I think about playing 'Pong' & '2-D Centipede in My Pants' on my iPod...ohhhhhhhh....ahhhhhh! Start of a revolution, that! Look out PS3! U 'pwned!!
What about emulated games on an iPod? (Score:2, Interesting)
I don't see this working..here's why (Score:2, Funny)
Steve Jobs is an idiot (Score:2, Interesting)
Apple may join the gaming fray, but they'll fall flat on their face with that egotistical moron running the show. He's gone out of his way to impede game creation on MacOS for fear t
It's always the games (Score:3, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
You're missing something... (Score:5, Interesting)
Noone would buy a Mac if it simply had Windows installed on it. People buy Macs because they love OSX, and its integration with the hardware. OSX is to Apple what Zelda and Mario are to Nintendo. People wouldn't buy a Nintendo, anymore, if Nintendo stopped selling great games, and stop trying to create an inspired atmosphere for developers to do the same. People wouldn't buy Macs if Apple stopped making OSX and stopped pushing developers to be more consistant, interface friendly, and created a framework for them to create better software.
It's all about infostructure, and both Nintendo and Apple have very similar philosophies when it comes to their developer frameworks.
The only real difference is how they ACTUALLY get their money. In the gaming industry, hardware is sold at a loss or at only a small profit (even Nintendo wouldn't stay in the game if they ONLY had their hardware profits to live off of). In the computer world, hardware is sold at a huge profit, and software is used to promote the hardware (iTMS and the iPod being a good example).
Simply because Apple, itself, doesn't "do games", per-say, has very little relivance. They don't do games because the Macintosh lost the gaming war LONG AGO, and it would be futile for them to put a lot of money into trying to win back that market. Also, Apple's plug-n-play, and hard-nosed infostructure is much better suited for the console market than the Computer Gaming market, which are very different.
So, you're right, Apple doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell in the Computer Gaming market. They have about as much chance as Nintendo does in the PC gaming market. Both have an attitude very well suited to the console gaming market.
Parent
A "Me Too" product from Apple? (Score:5, Insightful)
I wouldn't be surprised if they offered a few simple games, for the casual gamer, on a device like the iTV. Similar to what they do for the iPod. But, I wouldn't call that going after the gaming market, any more than I would call the iPod a GameBoy/PSP competitor.
Let's do the math (Score:3, Funny)
Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are battling it out for console supremacy, devoting massive resources to winning this war.
Hey, what a great time for Apple to jump in! Low barriers to entry. No entrenched competitors, and a vast unserved market with pent-up demand. It's *perfect*!!!
Makes more sence for them to buy out Nintendo (Score:2)
Apple should buy nintendo (Score:2)
Nintendo already uses powerpc chips and making another wii with macosx and frontrow would be great. They could use nintendo api's to backport alot of wii titles to teh mac if any developers want to target that market as well. Too bad Apple switched to x86.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
a.) it'd only play the games it wants to play, when it wants to play them
b.) the retail price will match the PS3 pre-release ebay price. c.) no one will be lined up to get one
don't forget (Score:5, Funny)
Parent
Re:don't forget (Score:4, Insightful)
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Re:don't forget (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Re: (Score:2)
Re:don't forget (Score:4, Funny)
Parent
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
As the article mentions, Apple makes it's money from hardware
(unlike everyone else who IS actually in the gaming market).
There would have to be some major changes there.
"We think the videogame market represents a distinct possibility for Apple, especially considering that it recently announced the availability of videogames for its iPod through its iTunes store," - Yeah, cell phone quality video games bring forth a new age of gamming only made
Re:apple + videogames = ? (Score:4, Insightful)
Last I checked, Sony and Microsoft were making hardware, too. The profits do come from the games. The game developers receive those profits and the hardware developers get a large cut. How many games do you see out there that are developed solely by the hardware manufacturer?
Apple has a brand, a very popular one right now. If they can tie their gaming platform to the iPod it will definitely get their foot in the door. If Apple enters gaming it most likely won't be to compete head on with the 360 or PS3, at least to start. As Nintendo has shown with the Wii, you don't need to have cutting edge graphics or processing speed, you need an innovative idea. And although a lot of us do not like to admit it. Apple has been an incredible innovator in the past few years and their products are highly desired in the areas that they focus on. I guarantee that Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have already considered Apple in their gaming business strategies.
Parent
Re:apple + videogames = ? (Score:5, Insightful)
As Nintendo has shown with the Wii, you don't need to have cutting edge graphics or processing speed, you need an innovative idea.
This is certainly true, and your observation almost touches upon an interesting parallel.
In some respects, Nintendo is the Apple of the console world. They produce quality hardware in an attractive package. They rely on interesting, well integrated features to sell their hardware. The Wii even looks like a MacMini on its side.
I wouldn't suggest that Apple couldn't do as good a job as Nintendo. But is there really room for both in the market? Especially when on considers Nintendo's (and presumably Apple's) target audience? If Apple made a compelling feature, Nintendo would be forced to retaliate with another. Ideas are a scarce resource, and I doubt Nintendo or Apple has a large enough cache of them to avoid lame gimmicks. Kids might be fond of gimmicks, but grown ups usually aren't.
In the end, this would erode both brands.
Parent
Re:apple + videogames = ? (Score:5, Interesting)
Pippin comes to mind and how that was a failure.
2 things are different now and maybe that is what the impetus is.
Apple's customer base knows how to use the internet.
There are thousands of free computer games available that can be played on computers today and people know pretty much how to do it today.
Their `iTV` or whatever will likely turn heads when it is released. I know I am interested. I do not own an iPod. I do like their interfaces.
If their iTV thing does what I think it does, it will become a gateway for their content to be delivered to the living room and that means games.
I bet that most people would like to play Bejewed or some other flash/java game outside of their computer.
That being said, most people have a computer so the TV isn't really all that important anymore as it used to be.
If the iTV will be a platform for specialized content (games) then maybe it will be worth looking into for casual gamers.
I doubt it will be the graphic caliber of the uber expensive Xbox and PS systems but it may have some content worth looking into.
Parent
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
The Pippin was both ahead of its time and a late entry into the console market. Consoles were not a multi-purpose multimedia station back in the mid-nineties like they are (or can be) today. The Pippin was too much too soon and not enough of a console too late. By the time the Pippin-based products were on the market the market was already dominated the Big 3.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
Just as Microsoft and Sony weren't really on the list when you think of gaming until they brought out their own consoles, and Apple weren't the first thing you thought of when you thought mp3 players a decade ago..
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Actually, Mac gamers are a huge part of the game industry... they're called "Console Gamers".
No, but seriously, we already have an Apple in the game industry: it's called Nintendo. They share almost identical business, interface, and design philosophies. If Apple were to have made the perfect handheld back in 2004, it would have been a DS. If Nintendo had made a digital media player back in 2000, it would have been an iPod. Sometimes I even start to forget which company is which, anymore, they've been so
Re:controllers will be like their mice (Score:4, Informative)
Your comment does not really deserve a reply being a joke and redundant at the same time, but if you've seen Apple's recent mice I'd say they are of the same mentality as the Wiimote. That is to say, they are designed to be easy and accessible to everyone and to encourage developers to do the right thing. At the same time, they can easily enable power users to have the myriad buttons they need and want. In fact, Apple's "mighty mouse" is the only mouse I've ever seen where a shared computer can have one hardware mouse with one button for kids and novices and multiple buttons for expert users. I've seen firsthand what happens when novice users try to operate one of those four button designs favored by power users and I've cursed at trying to use the same mouse (as I'm accustomed to three or more). I find it sad that people still drag this old horse out of the closet, even if they're trying to be funny.
Parent