Apple CEO Steve Jobs has challenged Nintendo and Sony to portable supremacy by claiming the iPod as the 'Daddy Now'± in the portable gaming market.
Speaking at an Apple press conference about the iPod touch, Jobs uttered the words, "Now you could make the argument that it's the best portable device for playing games". You'll note that the word there was "portable", not 'mobile' as might have applied to the iPhone. He uttered this as a screen behind him displayed images of the iPod Touch being used to play games.
This was followed up with several EA games - Need for Speed, FIFA and SPORE Origins - being demoed on stage by Philip Schiller, Apple's senior VP of worldwide product marketing.
Schiller noted, "Today is only the 60th day the store has been open. Right on the iPod touch. There are about 700 games on the App Store, some of them are getting pretty fantastic." Giving a sense of the scale of the demand for iPod software applications, he added, "I'm pleased to announce that users have downloaded 100 million apps".
It would seem that Apple plans to shift the marketing focus for the iPhone towards gaming.
All the above comments, of course, are equally applicable to the iPhone, given that the device is essentially an iPod touch with phone functionality.
The iPod touch got a couple of modifications, too. Most significant are a built-in speaker and volume controls. Interestingly, the new iPod Nano was introduced - now featuring an accelerometer. Could this have gaming applications?
You'll be glad to hear that Steve Jobs is claiming to be in sound health. The poor chap hadn't been looking well. Bloomberg even accidentally published his obituary...
Apple isn't the only company treating the iPod/Phone as a serious gaming device. SEGA recently said that the games industry should be treating the iPhone like it does the DS or PSP.
Sources:
Forbes
Endgadget
The Guardian
± SPOnG Favoured Old British Film Reference: Scum
Speaking at an Apple press conference about the iPod touch, Jobs uttered the words, "Now you could make the argument that it's the best portable device for playing games". You'll note that the word there was "portable", not 'mobile' as might have applied to the iPhone. He uttered this as a screen behind him displayed images of the iPod Touch being used to play games.
This was followed up with several EA games - Need for Speed, FIFA and SPORE Origins - being demoed on stage by Philip Schiller, Apple's senior VP of worldwide product marketing.
Schiller noted, "Today is only the 60th day the store has been open. Right on the iPod touch. There are about 700 games on the App Store, some of them are getting pretty fantastic." Giving a sense of the scale of the demand for iPod software applications, he added, "I'm pleased to announce that users have downloaded 100 million apps".
It would seem that Apple plans to shift the marketing focus for the iPhone towards gaming.
All the above comments, of course, are equally applicable to the iPhone, given that the device is essentially an iPod touch with phone functionality.
The iPod touch got a couple of modifications, too. Most significant are a built-in speaker and volume controls. Interestingly, the new iPod Nano was introduced - now featuring an accelerometer. Could this have gaming applications?
You'll be glad to hear that Steve Jobs is claiming to be in sound health. The poor chap hadn't been looking well. Bloomberg even accidentally published his obituary...
Apple isn't the only company treating the iPod/Phone as a serious gaming device. SEGA recently said that the games industry should be treating the iPhone like it does the DS or PSP.
Sources:
Forbes
Endgadget
The Guardian
± SPOnG Favoured Old British Film Reference: Scum
Companies:
Apple
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Comments
Psalms 10 Sep 2008 11:04
1/9
I'm not 100% sure but I though he said "best iPod". I could be mistaken but it's not uncommon for people not to check these things properly.
Spinface 10 Sep 2008 11:17
2/9
David Armstrong wrote:
I'm not 100% sure but I though he said "best iPod". I could be mistaken but it's not uncommon for people not to check these things properly.
Naw, I checked against a number of sources (including the ones cited) and it was "best portable device for playing games". Feedback always appreciated though!
Apple versus Nintendo and Sony. We live in interesting times...
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Hark 10 Sep 2008 11:33
3/9
It wont last, the problem with Ipods are there always updating it like every year! And with this there bound to release games that can only play with the latest version.
The gaming market likes products with a long life span and lots of games!
The good thing about the DS and PSP is although its evolved to new designs, the core system is still the same - thus keeping the owners of the original versions happy, as they can still play the lastest games.
But the original DS was dam ugly!
Hark
The gaming market likes products with a long life span and lots of games!
The good thing about the DS and PSP is although its evolved to new designs, the core system is still the same - thus keeping the owners of the original versions happy, as they can still play the lastest games.
But the original DS was dam ugly!
Hark
Psalms 10 Sep 2008 11:34
4/9
It's hard to imagine he meant that when it lacks features compared to the iPhone so isn't even apple's best portable gaming device.
It's not really a full featured gaming device yet but the app store does have some interesting stuff on it.
It's not really a full featured gaming device yet but the app store does have some interesting stuff on it.
Psalms 10 Sep 2008 12:57
5/9
Remember that apple are an OS manufacturer and the iPhone and iPod touch are built on Mac OS X. This means that they can update the hardware and software without completely outdating the apps and games. The online store also allows developers to offer updates and entirely new versions as the software and hardware change. I don't thing apple intend to fundamentally change the iPhone and iPod touch OS for a long time, maybe not even until Mac OS 11 is released, which won't be for a while. Apple have only made big changes to the iPod OS because it runs only the built in apps and needs updating so that it can work well with new hardware. The iPhone OS is far more versatile and upgradable.
Hark 10 Sep 2008 15:15
6/9
I spose so but u can also look at how Sonys been updating there own operating system on the PSP, also look at the 360, PS3 and Wii constant updates, so I guess thats nothing new.
My point is looking at hardware, I see the DS and PSP like home-consoles, they may modify the physical appearance but they wont create games soley for the latest model.
Where as the iPod/iGame/iTouch whatever, will be more like a PC, where games will be released and 2 years down the line Apple may release the iPod/iGame/iTouch plus+, which will have more features (cos technology grows) and then developers will create the "plus+" games which wont work on the original Ipod console resulting to the original becoming useless.
Summary -
DS/PSP - games simple slap in and play
iPod games will come with the good ol' system requirements
but then again I could be wrong.
Hark
My point is looking at hardware, I see the DS and PSP like home-consoles, they may modify the physical appearance but they wont create games soley for the latest model.
Where as the iPod/iGame/iTouch whatever, will be more like a PC, where games will be released and 2 years down the line Apple may release the iPod/iGame/iTouch plus+, which will have more features (cos technology grows) and then developers will create the "plus+" games which wont work on the original Ipod console resulting to the original becoming useless.
Summary -
DS/PSP - games simple slap in and play
iPod games will come with the good ol' system requirements
but then again I could be wrong.
Hark
Psalms 10 Sep 2008 15:32
7/9
It's entirely possible. I would have thought apple's priorities with updating the touch, for now at least, would be width and capacity. This is generally what they prioritise with their ipods and neither of these changes greatly affect the software, so it should be ok for a while.
Joji 10 Sep 2008 16:07
8/9
I'm with Hark. Apple's products are sweet, and the iPods nice (I own a nice 5th gen 60gb video one), but their won't be a flood of games for iPods, like what we are used to.
I applaud Apple's trying to enter this sector, but I'd still prefer they do a proper handheld game system, then say this crap.
I know Job's is itching for a slice of the gaming pie MS are enjoying, but is their enough room for a fourth company built system in the market? I don't think so.
Sod iPods, get to making a next gen console, Apple. That would be interesting indeed.
I applaud Apple's trying to enter this sector, but I'd still prefer they do a proper handheld game system, then say this crap.
I know Job's is itching for a slice of the gaming pie MS are enjoying, but is their enough room for a fourth company built system in the market? I don't think so.
Sod iPods, get to making a next gen console, Apple. That would be interesting indeed.
deleted 10 Sep 2008 19:03
9/9
Joji wrote:
I'm with Hark. Apple's products are sweet, and the iPods nice (I own a nice 5th gen 60gb video one), but their won't be a flood of games for iPods, like what we are used to.
I know Job's is itching for a slice of the gaming pie MS are enjoying, but is their enough room for a fourth company built system in the market? I don't think so.
I know Job's is itching for a slice of the gaming pie MS are enjoying, but is their enough room for a fourth company built system in the market? I don't think so.
Well maybe the Home console market is currently full although i feel a fourth console would inject a much more needed competition, its the only market where only the big three can live, dunno why?
but apples only just starting, the handheld is the best place to go for it, DS and PSP = room for one more, and why introduce a proper handheld now while the PSP and DS are millions of light years ahead, i predict a Apple GamePod (or sommat) in teh next gen of heldhelds, maybe apple should of bought Ninty when the price was right?