Apple Arcade Is a New Game Subscription Service For iOS, Mac, and Apple TV (theverge.com) 85
Apple has unveiled a few different subscription services today at its "show time" event, including a new Apple Arcade game subscription service for titles that can be installed from the App Store. The company is aiming to curate some of the 300,000 games currently available from the App Store into this new ad-free subscription service. "There will be 100 new and exclusive games available on Apple Arcade, which will launch on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV," reports The Verge. From the report: These games won't be available on any other mobile platform or any subscription service other than Apple Arcade. Games will be downloaded and played straight from the App Store, and subscribers will be able to try games whenever they want and resume them across devices. All of the game features, content, and future updates will be included, and there will be no ads shown within the games.
SimCity creator Will Wright is also making a game for the service. Apple is promising games from Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, Lego, Mistwalker Corporation, SEGA, Snowman, ustwo games, and more. Apple isn't just curating the games for Apple Arcade; it's actually planning to contribute to the development costs of creating them. Apple might not have announced its own game studio today, but it's certainly a big step toward that. Apple Arcade is launching this fall in more than 150 countries, but Apple is not yet revealing pricing for this subscription service. Apple does say that "access for up to six family members," will be available, suggesting you'll be able to share the subscription. While the full list of games isn't available yet, some of the titles revealed on Apple Arcade's website include: LEGO Brawls, HitchHiker, Kings of the Castle, Where Cards Fall, and Frogger in Toy Town. If you're a game developer, you can sign up for more information about the service here.
SimCity creator Will Wright is also making a game for the service. Apple is promising games from Annapurna Interactive, Bossa Studios, Cartoon Network, Finji, Giant Squid, Klei Entertainment, Konami, Lego, Mistwalker Corporation, SEGA, Snowman, ustwo games, and more. Apple isn't just curating the games for Apple Arcade; it's actually planning to contribute to the development costs of creating them. Apple might not have announced its own game studio today, but it's certainly a big step toward that. Apple Arcade is launching this fall in more than 150 countries, but Apple is not yet revealing pricing for this subscription service. Apple does say that "access for up to six family members," will be available, suggesting you'll be able to share the subscription. While the full list of games isn't available yet, some of the titles revealed on Apple Arcade's website include: LEGO Brawls, HitchHiker, Kings of the Castle, Where Cards Fall, and Frogger in Toy Town. If you're a game developer, you can sign up for more information about the service here.
Re: (Score:2, Flamebait)
Think Different.
The Apple Is Your Friend. Trust The Apple.
[x] YES! I want the next great Apple thing!
Dear Apple, enclosed is a blank check. Please fill in the amount for me. I'll be happily waiting for however long it takes for this to become a real product! Your loyal Apple fanboy.
No, Ant-Stadia and better (Score:4, Interesting)
So basically this is what Google just announced in Stadia
Actually it's the opposite.
Not just because it's IOS only (though Apple TV is included). No, because these games are all playable offline (in fact they even through a little shade at Google during this segment by saying unlike streaming games you could play these with no network connection).
It also means a much more stable experience though, that is truly portable - Stadia doesn't seem like a thing that would work well outside a really strong wifi connection and would eat your mobile plan for lunch.
They pull it off today (Score:3)
They show the exact same game running on an iPad, iPhone, TV, and MacBook. And you're supposed to be able to seamlessly switch between each platform, moving the same game between them, just like Stadia does.
So what's the problem believing that? They already do this today, really well, with iCloud syncing of save game content between an iPad and iPhone for example.
Apple gets flak for some services being unreliable but iCloud sync has been really reliable, and fast, for me.
It's only a tiny bit more work for
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I'm pretty sure the GPU of an iPad Pro or Apple TV is better than the integrated intel crap of, say, even the new Mac mini and MacBook Air.
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You have obviously no clue how software works. You can transfer state between multiple devices and applications. It's basically like Steam, where you can have your 'save game' in the cloud and it syncs to all your devices, except you load directly into the saved game instead of going through the menus.
It's a very efficient way of transferring state. Apple also does the same for Safari (web browser) where you can have your tabs synced across browsers, messages and phone where you can hand off your cell phone
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So basically this is what Google just announced in Stadia
Not even close. Other than being about gaming, the two are basically nothing alike, regardless of whether you think one is better or worse. These are two VERY different approaches to gaming, each of which makes different compromises and plays to different strengths of their respective companies.
it will only run on Apple hardware.
At least so far, yup. And just a subset of it at that! That said, with Apple just announcing that they're bringing their TV app to other platforms like Roku, Amazon Fire, and smart TVs from various manufacturers (e.g
The question is one of risk (Score:2)
Between the two, I'm probably more excited about Stadia, though I honestly doubt I'll sign up for either,
I would as well...
An interesting point of difference as well - for Stadia the developer assumes all of the risk of converting a game to run under Stadia. I assume it has a PC base but even so that is not zero effort.
Meanwhile Apple is paying all of these game developers to make the games for Apple's service. I'm sure they also get a cut of service revenue depending on how many people play, but they hav
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So basically this is what Google just announced in Stadia, but worse, because it will only run on Apple hardware.
But unlike a new Google product, it will still be available a year from now.
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Stadia was (you might as well say it will be cancelled) an online game streaming service (the game is executed "in the cloud"). This is an 'app subscription' service where you actually get the app downloaded to your device.
Two different things completely. And yes, you can has a controller (Bluetooth) to iOS.
Four out of the last five articles are about apple (Score:2, Insightful)
Either Slashdot is doing poorly and they're looking for ways to get people to post inane bullshit about products they need not buy or the editors are staying away from politics because they know Trump ain't going to jail after all.
Either way it's hilarious. Slashdot must be suffering.
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Apple seems to be desperate. Launching so many services with either paid subscriptions or captive market models in an attempt to gain revenue.
People typically don't like shit like this though.
Re: Four out of the last five articles are about a (Score:1)
People just repost macrumors articles. Usually a few days later.
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Last Apple product I bought was the iPhone 3GS. Went to Android and never looked back.
I still remember the last time Apple wanted to make a business out of selling "digital" newspapers. Fact is paid print media is mostly dead.
So do tell me about market trends then.
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I think someone saw the recent success of the Epic Game store recently and wanted to make a buck replicating it. I mean the business model with game "exclusives". Since we already had online game stores before. I agree that this mainly seems like an attempt to copy the people who are making money on services. Without even thinking if the product provides anything people want.
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i.e. it's the anti-Steve Jobs model. He tried to make something he would like to use himself and then sold it. Quite often before most of the market catched up.
I wouldn't categorize it like that at all (Score:2)
Apple seems to be desperate. Launching so many services with either paid subscriptions or captive market models in an attempt to gain revenue.
Although I agree it's an attempt to gain revenue, to me it makes sense to launch these all together since they are in a way competing for the same space.
This is just like how Netflix was saying the real competition they had was simply for attention. Apple is launching News+, TV+, and Arcade all together because they are all facets of ways people spend time, Apple is
Slashvertisement (Score:1)
Today's /. brought to you by Apple, and the word "payola."
Seriously, we don't need 3 separate Apple stories on the front page. We don't need a blow-by-blow. Just summarize the damn press conference when it's over.
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Seriously, we don't need 3 separate Apple stories on the front page.
Actually four out of the last five stores have been about Apple. I guess this just proves that dentists prefer Apple. Or was it Trident?
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Show us your bank records! How much are they paying you!
Also: Stop it!
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Seriously, we don't need 3 separate Apple stories on the front page. We don't need a blow-by-blow. Just summarize the damn press conference when it's over.
Especially when the summary is simple: "Apple announced a bunch of services that will be released at some later date, providing no details about how they work or how much they cost."
Apple Arcade and Apple TV+ were the worst examples. What are they? How do they work? How much do they cost? What do they include? Who knows. They didn't say.
mediocre. (Score:5, Insightful)
Netflix - but from Apple
Steam - but from Apple
Visa - but from Apple
News - but from Apple
The only innovation I see here is the attempt to direct other peoples' revenue streams into Apple's coffers.
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"ipod - a creative nomad but from Apple. hurr durr Apple has no innovation."
"iphone - a lg prada but from Apple, hurr durr Apple has no innovation."
WTF why? (Score:2)
This was the service that really excited me (Score:2)
If you watch this part of the announcement video, I thought that almost all of the games they were hinting at (not enough to call a preview) looks really interesting. I love the idea of a service that helps support alternative game ideas that simply cannot make money from in-app purchases or subscriptions on their own, to me having a field of potential games all with very unique gameplay is really exciting.
An interesting side note is they mentioned all of these games would work on an AppleTV as well, so I
lawsuit from King.com in 3...2...1... (Score:2)
Cookie Clicker, but every time you click, it sends a penny to Apple!
Oh, and makes some sort of bullshit boop noise. Every once in a while throw in a different kind of boop to keep the player engaged.
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My only gripe is we have to wait until fall to see the service arrive
Gives everybody six more months of nauseating hype before the disappointment. Call it the Apple *Mueller Report*.
Not a great name (Score:2)
Gives everybody six more months of nauseating hype before the disappointment. Call it the Apple *Mueller Report*.
Hey now, at least Apple will deliver something people can use.
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I strongly agree.
I know everybody is all about permanent ownership, but short phone games lead themselves to small unique experiences where I'd really love to play some, cycle through to the next and experience new stuff.
Long lived phone games live off by providing an addictive experience, not necessarily a fun one, and by having games that don't do In App Purchases we can avoid them.
Quite frankly, any revenue stream for game developers that don't rely on disposable IAP is good in my books.
New Product Announcement (Score:1)
The Apple T.V.O.D. [youtube.com]
Only subscription services want content exclusives (Score:2)
NOBODY wants exclusive content except the subscription services themselves. Now that there's a ridiculous number of subscription services, and all the exclusive content is fragmenting what is available to the average consumer.
Screw this trend. I hate it. Especially screw Apple, who are doubling down on exclusivity. (our service & our hardware)
We don't appreciate your new offerings... we think you're all assholes. We might grudgingly subscribe to some things (well, not Apple anyway), but we hate you
Exclusives will ensure everything blows (Score:5, Insightful)
Game makers can't afford lock-in. If Apple wants everything to be exclusive this thing is dead in the water before it starts.
Re: Exclusives will ensure everything blows (Score:1)
Does porting to Android even pay for itself? Apple practically cornered the "people that buy stuff on mobile" market without a monopoly on the mobile market. They have exclusivity for many things already without contracts, in the same manner Windows has technical exclusivity on many things.
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I *think* now Android and iOS/Android users will both pay for In App Purchases, but iOS users are more likely to pay for an app that costs more than $0 to download.
Still, when I read that it might just be whale vs whale for In App Purchases rather than representative of regular users.
not impressed (Score:2)
seems like a collection of casual games, which is OK i guess for that lost minute every now and then.
but not for a serious, engaging gaming experience.
Will Go the Way of eWorld Goldman will own Apple (Score:1)
I'm burned out on subscriptions (Score:2)
All these subscription service offering are exhausting, and in aggregate, incredibly expensive. Given how much iOS games outright suck this is probably a service I can just ignore.
Why no +? (Score:2)
new games? (Score:1)