Apple Games To Remain on iPod, iPhone

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

A recent extension (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/10/apple-extending-trademark-to-include-hand-held-gaming/) of Apple's trademark to cover handheld gaming sparked some speculation that Apple might try its hand at a dedicated gaming device. However, a more cautious interpretation of this move is that Apple is simply covering their recent move into iPod game sales.

Develop Magazine (http://www.developmag.com/news/29290/iPod-is-Apples-game-gateway-says-insider) claims that this is indeed the case, and that Apple is not planning on introducing a dedicated gaming device."Apple is very protective of the reputation it has built in the electronics market," said our source - familiar with Apple's conversations with software companies - speaking under conditions of anonymity. "So don't hold your breath for an announcement of an 'iGame' console just yet."
Instead, Apple is said to be looking to add more mobile games to its iPod, Touch and iPhone products. At present, Apple hand picks developers who it feels will make the best games for the iPod, and does not allow all comers to participate.

The iPhone and iPod Touch, however, are due to see a more public Software Development Kit (SDK) this month, though the exact details remain unknown.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/14/apple-games-to-remain-on-ipod-iphone/)

[notnek]

Makes sense. I'd personally rather Apple not spend time/money developing a dedicated console. Developing games on the multi-touch interface sound like a good plan to me.

[noodle654]

If Apple made a console...I wouldnt buy it. Xbox360 FTW

[LloydBraun89]

they would be wasting their time if they did make a dedicated console.

[absolutmp5]

blah this is obvious, let them get the cell phones down first

[Full of Win]

I'm still on shock that the iPhone did not ship with a basic gameset, such as breakout, the homage to our iCEO

[shiunn]

didn't apple build a console before? some links on MR brought me to Pippin the other day; although it's not a handheld device...

[Darkroom]

maybe Apple will be start exclusively developing games for Wii/DS? wasn't there are rumor a while back concerning an Apple+Nintendo Partnership?

[TuffLuffJimmy]

maybe Apple will be start exclusively developing games for Wii/DS? wasn't there are rumor a while back concerning an Apple+Nintendo Partnership?

no, the rumors were for Nintendo developing for Apple. Why would Nintendo want Apple to develope for Nintendo's consoles? Apple hasn't had much experience in gaming, so a partnership with nintendo would be great. Although I don't ever see it happening I would be first inline to have a 2.5D Zelda game on my iPod!

[Doctor Q]

Although Apple muscled into the mobile phone market and is doing well so far, I doubt they could make much of a dent in the traditional (and cut-throat) computer game or console game market. They'd need something incredibly new and different, and we have no evidence that they have any such invention or new idea up their sleeve.

Maybe they'll expand iPod-type games just a bit, into the Apple TV.

[BigJohno]

Well remember what everyone said about when there was talks of Apple making a phone. Everyone smashed the idea and now look at Apple.

I think that Apple should focus on getting more game companies to start developing games for the mac. I dont think it would be a bad idea but I also dont think it would be a good idea either. I trust that Apple can make an awesome game console but I just cant see where it would go.

[lazyrighteye]

They'd need something incredibly new and different, and we have no evidence that they have any such invention or new idea up their sleeve.

Maybe they'll expand iPod-type games just a bit, into the Apple TV.

Not sure how incredibly new or different this concept is (I'm guessing "neither"), but I could see iPhones/touches acting as a wireless remotes for :apple:TV - whose function could also eventually include gaming control. And I say "eventually" as we all know basic navigational functionality (Play, Pause, Volume, Select, etc.) would be rolled out well in advance of more complex gaming control.
Could be interesting... or at least sounds more plausible, to me, than a stand-alone gaming console (at least as we know "gaming consoles" today).

Apple is putting a lot of eggs in their multi-touch basket.
I have a feeling they're only scratching the surface (is that a pun, and a bad one at that?) of where they're planning on taking multi-touch.
I always found it interesting that Steve appeared so emotional during the iPhone announcement. Maybe it's that he knew where they planned on taking multi-touch. Or that the iPhone announcement will later be looked at as the beginning of a better Apple (a comment sure to insight riots). If not both.
Time will tell.

[aswitcher]

Some cool multiplayer wifi ipod touch/phone games would be very nice.

[irun5k]

I highly doubt that Apple would try and release any type of dedicated gaming product, be it a handheld, console, etc.

The gaming world is an entirely different place: things like consistent user interfaces and seamless integration of data across applications and devices are not factors. In short, everything Apple is really good at wouldn't help them at all in the gaming market. Plus, the market seems to have some degree of saturation already with some players who have been in the game for a while (no pun intended.)

If Apple *did* want to get into this market, they would do best to start with buying a gaming company or two. But I would fear that this would spread them way too thin.

[Bonte]

Releasing a nice game catalog for the Touch and iPhone is a natural evolution, why waist the time on a dedicated console if they already have millions of devices in the hands of consumers. Its extra revenue and will create more demand for the devices.

[psychofreak]

Well remember what everyone said about when there was talks of Apple making a phone. Everyone smashed the idea and now look at Apple.


What? The iPhone was one of the most highly anticipated gadgets of all time! "Everyone smashed the idea" is just plain wrong.

[Bonte]

Cnet: In the US during the month January, Nintendo sold 274,000 Wiis, Sony sold 269,000 PlayStation 3 machines and Microsoft sold 230,000 Xbox 360 consoles, NPD said.
On the handheld front, Nintendo sold 251,000 of its DS units while Sony's PSP moved 230,000 units.

Apple now sells more Macs than all game consoles combined, can't see Apple entering this highly competitive market. A market that is moving towards a general multimedia service, Apple is just taking a different route with the AppleTV and iPod/iPhone.

[diamond.g]

Apple now sells more Macs than all game consoles combined, can't see Apple entering this highly competitive market. A market that is moving towards a general multimedia service, Apple is just taking a different route with the AppleTV and iPod/iPhone.

Does NPD give out how many Apple computers are sold every month? I vote that we all pool our money together to get NPD results!!!

I've been giving the game market some thought. I would like to see Apple try to tackle the market. If anything it will cause MS and Sony to have to shift back towards the Wii type stuff. Plus I am curious to see what Apple could bring to the table with a multi touch controller. I am not sure how intuitive it would be to have to look at the controller while playing a game though. But it would be worth a shot. Hey Apple has a few billion they could throw at it (like MS did).

[jouster]

I'm still on shock that the iPhone did not ship with a basic gameset, such as breakout, the homage to our iCEO

Well, more to his chubby, Segway polo-playing friend.......

[adville]

As a trademark lawyer, I tend to agree that this is more likely just about covering expanding protection for the brand, given that they are essentially offering these services now.

The only thing slightly unusual with that is that they filed the application on the basis of their similar application in the EU, and an intent to use the mark in this way. If the application refers to goods already in use, why not provide a specimen of use now, and file on the basis of use in commerce?

However, it is not uncommon for companies to file on an intent-to-use basis, even if the product is in use, perhaps simply because they would rather get the application on file in a timely manner, and not hold it up to round up examples showing use.

[Avatar74]

I'd like to point out that AppleTV is not a dedicated gaming console, but if ever Apple designed a Trojan Horse product... AppleTV (and future iterations thereof) is it.

[dmacdonald]

What someone needs to make is my idea for iPhone + game controller.

http://flickr.com/photos/danielmacdonald/2127089390/

[krye]

Told you.

[sterlingindigo]

"Toys, games and playthings, namely, hand-held units for playing electronic games; hand-held units for playing video games; stand alone video game machines; electronic games other than those adapted for use with television receivers only; LCD game machines; electronic educational game machines; toys, namely battery-powered computer games"

Sounds like a lot more than just covering for iPod/iPhone games to me, but this is AAPL were talkin'bout. I wonder how many grocers get letters from Apple legal for using the word "pod" in their produce section?

[diamond.g]

What someone needs to make is my idea for iPhone + game controller.

http://flickr.com/photos/danielmacdonald/2127089390/

Looks interesting. But the buttons and directional pad look like they are in the way when using the thumbsticks. Plus they seem pretty small.

Slightly OT, the idea is quite close to Sega's Dreamcast VU idea. I thought it was a cool idea, but was bummed out when I found out that the OG Xbox controller didn't completely rip the idea off.

[sterlingindigo]

What? The iPhone was one of the most highly anticipated gadgets of all time! "Everyone smashed the idea" is just plain wrong.

There were (are) a lot of idiots out there trying to hate on it (jeeealous).

[dmacdonald]

Looks interesting. But the buttons and directional pad look like they are in the way when using the thumbsticks. Plus they seem pretty small.

Yeah, I am not a gamer. I haven't had a game controller in my hand since NES. I mocked this up to illustrate the idea. Real gamers can fine tune it :-)

[sterlingindigo]

What someone needs to make is my idea for iPhone + game controller.

http://flickr.com/photos/danielmacdonald/2127089390/

Pretty cool, I'd buy it.

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A93 Safari/419.3)

Bring on the games.

[Cygnus311]

What someone needs to make is my idea for iPhone + game controller.

http://flickr.com/photos/danielmacdonald/2127089390/

Why not just get a PSP which plays better games and would take up less bulk than those grips?

[twoodcc]

alright! finally iPhone games. i bet they can come up with some good games for it.

[diamond.g]

Why not just get a PSP which plays better games and would take up less bulk than those grips?
Cause a PSP != a iPhone (iPod Touch). There could be experiences not possible on the PSP that the iPhone can offer (read: Touch Screen).

[JCastro]

Releasing a nice game catalog for the Touch and iPhone is a natural evolution, why waist the time on a dedicated console if they already have millions of devices in the hands of consumers. Its extra revenue and will create more demand for the devices.

I agree 100%.

I would dump my other iPods, my PSP, other cell phone and laptop in many ways for an Iphone that did it all. Just the thought of playing games on an iPhone and the possibilities that the multi touch brings excites me to no end!

[stupidregister]

Cause a PSP != a iPhone (iPod Touch). There could be experiences not possible on the PSP that the iPhone can offer (read: Touch Screen).

Then why not the Nintendo DS?

[jnc]

Then why not the Nintendo DS?

Because the DS is not also an 8-32GB music, video and photo device... convergence

I would dump my other iPods, my PSP, other cell phone and laptop in many ways for an Iphone that did it all.

basically, what he said

[diamond.g]

basically, what he said

I wouldn't go that far. The iPhone can't touch the PSP in the graphics department.

[jnc]

I wouldn't go that far. The iPhone can't touch the PSP in the graphics department.

If the DS and Wii have proven anything, it's that graphic capability has no real bearing on success!

[blackbelt]

I don't see why they would need a new platform or devise to run games on, since the iPhone and iPod touch will be great at doing that, and the other ipods are also decent at games. Does anyone have any idea why they have a patent for a gaming device, if we are thinking that they are sticking with what they have.

[diamond.g]

I don't see why they would need a new platform or devise to run games on, since the iPhone and iPod touch will be great at doing that, and the other ipods are also decent at games. Does anyone have any idea why they have a patent for a gaming device, if we are thinking that they are sticking with what they have.

It is a just in case kind of thing. Apple may feel that given enough time they could create a gaiming device of some sort, so it is better to patent it now versus wait.

[blackbelt]

Apple would have to make an amazing gaming device, if they want to compete with companies like Sony and Nitendo. (I am not into gaming, but know that these companies have found a secure place in the industry). Apple is amazing at what it does, and innovation is a key part of that, but they would have to come up with something along the lines of the Wii to be successful!)

[diamond.g]

Apple would have to make an amazing gaming device, if they want to compete with companies like Sony and Nitendo. (I am not into gaming, but know that these companies have found a secure place in the industry). Apple is amazing at what it does, and innovation is a key part of that, but they would have to come up with something along the lines of the Wii to be successful!)

All Apple has to do is provide a solution for a need. People flock to certain types of games, and Apple could capitalize on 'it' if they just knew what 'it' was.