Apple Console Rumour Resurfaces 201
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."
Apple Need To Do Something ORIGNAL! (Score:4, Funny)
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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.
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Re:Apple Need To Do Something ORIGNAL! (Score:4, Interesting)
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Now, from a business perspective, there probably is very little insentive to collaborate, so I'm not keeping my fingers crossed. And the world works just fine with these two companies separated, and in existance, anyway. It's just that sometimes the resemblence is uncanny.
However, the suggestion of an iTMS Wii channel is an awesome prospect... I do hope that they at LEAST have the foresight to do that.
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For the unsuccess of the N64, Gamecube, Virtual Boy and whatever other dumb mistakes they have made, Nintendo continue to make very very healthy profits each year (on par with what Apple make - they may have the iPod but Nintendo have the GBSP, DS, Zelda, Pokemon, Mario and every spin-off, and now the Wii) and I think it would be very, very difficult for Apple to stump up the cash for the real WORTH of the Nintendo brand, let alone the company, eng
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Where the Playstation and XBox have had long, fruitful lives right up until they were killed off by their next generation siblings (PS2 games still being released TODAY!) the Gamecube has pretty much not had a good game in 2 years, game store simply do not pay attention to it because of that, and it has been blamed for a poor quarter due to "low sales".
However you're right they never had a truly disasterous mainstream product
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Neither the N64
It'll work great! (Score:5, Informative)
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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
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No, by his logic, the Dreamcast was a failure, whereas the Saturn was a success. That's the "absurd" point you were aiming for.
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It'd be nice to know what you're talking about before posting. By your logic, the PC-FX [wikipedia.org] was a failure as that was the last console made by NEC (and it was). The TurboGrafx wasn't even the second to last system NEC made. That dubious honor goes to the SuperGrafx [wikipedia.org] (also a failure). And the Neo Geo wasn't even close to being the last console SNK made. Here's a list [wikipedia.org]. Note that they are all followups to the Neo Geo (an
Wrong end of the stick (Score:5, Insightful)
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Fair view, unless you consider console games an essential foot in the living room door.
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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?
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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
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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.
The iTV isn't a "general entertainment system", it's a glorified input switcher.
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Mood lighting (Score:2)
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).
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Oh, you mean like everyone knew about the 5th generation iPod which can play games? Even long-time Mac games developers didn't knew about it. Apple are usually able to keep their ne
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I don't think iPod games indicate anything... you might as well say that since Bejeweled runs on Motorola phones that Motorola is going t
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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.
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Apple has always been about computers and software, Sony has always been about separate devices, until recently. The fact that Sony has internal conflicts (Sony Hardware vs Sony Pictures+Sony Music) doesn't help them a bit.
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Besides, if you want to watch movie downloads on your TV, then both the 360 and the PS3 will do it from a single box. The 360's service has already started and Sony's can't be far behind. And both the 360 and PS3 cost less than buying an iTV and even a Mac Mini.
Apple's po
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There's a decent chance one of the major console manufacturers will give up making hardware after t
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...
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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.
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What's a "Revolution"? Wasn't that the predicessor to the Wii?
What a silly name. Glad they changed it.
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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
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I have a better idea.
Just port iTunes over to the Wii.
People will want to buy music on the Wii, and people will want to watch movies and TV shows, so let them buy them from iTMS. The Wii has USB , so you could even sync your iPod with it.
Or if Apple just wants to tie the product to their CPU sales, have them port the iTV "streaming" software to the Wii, and still require a Mac on the LAN to stream from.
While it wouldn't directly make Apple money from iTV-like hardware sales, it would be a strategic interce
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)
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Oh wait, no.
I don't see this working..here's why (Score:2, Funny)
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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)
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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.
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Off-topic, I know, but I bought an iMac about a month ago solely for its form factor. I needed a small, silent, reasonably fast machine for everyday use and couldn't find anything with as small a footprint as an iMac. I really despise OSX and use it only as a media player, but XP flies on it. So yeah, there are some people out there who buy Macs for the hardwa
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.
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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)
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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.
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Apple is still a computing company first. Moving to x86 is probably the single most important thing they've done in YEARS. The possibility of running Windows on a Mac is what has converted many of my colleagues to Mac over the last year. The Switch is occurring much faster than it has ever before, and much of that is thanks to the Intel move.
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Apple needs to compete and it doesn't have mindshare nor game oriented developers so buying Nintendo would
n-Tunes (Score:2, Interesting)
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The PS3 already has a hard drive, and can rip CD's (into AAC, MP3 or ATRAC), can play video encoded for iPod, and runs Linux ( I wonder if OSX would run via Mac on Linux distributed with Yellow Dog 5.0 for it)
Easy answer... (Score:2)
Seriously though, maybe they should concentrate on having people write games for their computers then. I mean granted, you have Civ IV and Doom, but 99% of Mac games arrive late and it's just embarrassing. I mean they have Myst as the splash graphic for Strategy Games on their store for Pete's sake! My local Game store here in the UK has just removed its Mac shelf (yup, one shelf) to make room for... more console magazines.
If Apple are really seriou
How about a real 3D graphics console? (Score:2)
And if such a console was coupled with an innovative control method analogous to the Wiimote, it could be a success.
I do not see Apple succeeding in the console market in any other way.
This is not going to happen. However... (Score:2)
How about... (Score:2)
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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)
Re:don't forget (Score:4, Insightful)
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Re:don't forget (Score:4, Funny)
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Re:don't forget (Score:4, Funny)
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And Apple fans will herald it as the best innovation since Apple invented the mp3 player...Er, wait.
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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.
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.
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You do know AAC is not an Apple proprietry format? The iTunes Store uses AAC protected with their FairPlay DRM (creating a
"Which console manufacture makes consoles and portables that can play iPod video content? Sony"
You do know h264 is not an Apple propri
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I suppose Sega is supposed to be a gaming hardware company then, too. And Sony is a Betamax manufacturer. And what the hell does IBM think they are doing? They are a punch card manufacturing company for God's sake!
A company that is just a ______ company is sure to die eventually, especially if they are not on the top of their market. Every company needs to find its segment of the market. Every company needs to adapt to survive. Apple may have been a "computer" company, bu
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There are two reasons for this. The first reason, which applies to both of your complaints here, is that everyo
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The PS3 is 10x faster and has 8x the RAM and you're saying it won't be able to do that? You do know that GIMP is capable of editing images larger than available RAM. I bet if had a 5 megipixel image I could load and edit it on the PS2. I've done 3.2 MP myself on it.
My local W
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.
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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.
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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..
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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
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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.
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Are you mad? Microsoft DID get whipped by Sony. They sold less than 1/5 as many hardware units while losing 4 Billion dollars in the process. Nintendo at least was somewhat pro
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Apple... bit player?
A little too much ganja, mon?
Yes, we all know Apple only has one good product at the top of its class. Nevermind the MacBooks that're selling like hotcakes... or the fact that it has multiple iPod products, each of which is at the top of their respective classes...
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