From the virtual mouth of Steve Jobs± himself comes news that Apple has announced that it is opening its iPhone platform to third-party applications. The company has announced that it is working on an SDK for release February 2008. It cites ensuring security from viruses and malware as the reason for the delay.
The delay is more likely due to work on the SDK having only commenced after an incredibly hostile consumer reaction to Apple's antipathy to third party applications. All this means is that, theoretically, we could see games on the ultra shiny and desirable handset by the latter part of next year.
But will we? Probably not! Despite the Mac being an incredibly stable and capable platform for games, Apple has never managed to successfully engage the game developing community. It’s a two-way street: Mac owners have shown as little concern for playing games as the developers have shown making them.
Hardware history also mediates against iPhone as ‘iGame’ or ‘iPlay’. Apple’s 1990’s collaboration with Bandai on the 3DO-alike, CD-based Pippin console-cum-home multimedia player saw developers ignoring the platform in droves.
History aside, the iPhone is already massively successful. Apple doesn't need games to help sell iPhone hardware. And the machine doesn't have the 3D hardware necessary to provide a gaming experience similar to PSP. It would, therefore, be limited to DS-style games - and its touch screen may lend itself to these.
In addition to its multi-touch interface and gorgeous screen, the iPhone does have location-based capability (GSM cell-based, rather than GPS), inbuilt camera, and text and voice communication capabilities. These features could be combined into a completely new style of game, a collaborative, geographical community game that involves posting pictures, and tagging competitors. But this would require a paradigm shift on the part of developers... and right now, they seem happiest porting old games for mobiles, and producing sequels for home consoles.
So, while Apple may have opened the door to an exciting new gaming platform, it's unlikely that many developers will be stepping through.
± Source: Apple Hot News
The delay is more likely due to work on the SDK having only commenced after an incredibly hostile consumer reaction to Apple's antipathy to third party applications. All this means is that, theoretically, we could see games on the ultra shiny and desirable handset by the latter part of next year.
But will we? Probably not! Despite the Mac being an incredibly stable and capable platform for games, Apple has never managed to successfully engage the game developing community. It’s a two-way street: Mac owners have shown as little concern for playing games as the developers have shown making them.
Hardware history also mediates against iPhone as ‘iGame’ or ‘iPlay’. Apple’s 1990’s collaboration with Bandai on the 3DO-alike, CD-based Pippin console-cum-home multimedia player saw developers ignoring the platform in droves.
History aside, the iPhone is already massively successful. Apple doesn't need games to help sell iPhone hardware. And the machine doesn't have the 3D hardware necessary to provide a gaming experience similar to PSP. It would, therefore, be limited to DS-style games - and its touch screen may lend itself to these.
In addition to its multi-touch interface and gorgeous screen, the iPhone does have location-based capability (GSM cell-based, rather than GPS), inbuilt camera, and text and voice communication capabilities. These features could be combined into a completely new style of game, a collaborative, geographical community game that involves posting pictures, and tagging competitors. But this would require a paradigm shift on the part of developers... and right now, they seem happiest porting old games for mobiles, and producing sequels for home consoles.
So, while Apple may have opened the door to an exciting new gaming platform, it's unlikely that many developers will be stepping through.
± Source: Apple Hot News
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deleted 19 Oct 2007 00:54
1/1
Do i see line rider?