Apple Video Game Console?

MacRumors · Dec 5, 2006, 01:41 PM

Appleinsider publishes more information relating to Prudential analyst Jesse Tortora's claims that Apple may have a longer term interest in the video game market:

Quote:

"We think the video game market represents a distinct possibility for Apple, especially considering that it recently announced the availability of video games for its iPod through its iTunes"

Tortura speculates a gaming console device could be "morphed" out of a combination of the existing Mac mini and iTV, as well as the possibility of a handheld gaming device based on the iPod.

Clearly, entering such a competitive market would be difficult, but the analyst speculates that Apple may be feeling some pressure from potential iTunes competitors in the form of movie-download services tied to the latest consoles.

Rumors of Apple's entry into the gaming market are not new, as there have been previous reports of Apple actively recruiting game developers, but in his research note, Tortura reportedly claims that Apple has hired new software and hardware game developers.

If you have a copy of this research note, please contact us.

Machead III · Dec 5, 2006, 01:47 PM

If Apple could release some kind of box that you connect to your Mac to augment it's graphical and general gaming performance, that would play existing games and then develop 1st party games for it, I'd be first in line.

But it'd have to work with bootcamp.

I don't see a regular console though. The market is saturated as it is. Get gaming sorted on Macs first.

menziep · Dec 5, 2006, 01:48 PM

Bring on the iGame!

Evangelion · Dec 5, 2006, 01:48 PM

Nintendo.

You know it makes sense.

pdpfilms · Dec 5, 2006, 01:49 PM

No way. If apple ever was to do this (disregarding their first attempt), they would not be looking into it now. With the ultimate failure of the PS3, I'd think they'd be very cautious to enter the gaming market.

Unless they're working on a handheld, which I could almost see them developing, for release in a year. I'm skeptical.

EDIT: And just because game consoles are offering movie downloads does not mean that Apple's iTunes store needs to offer true games. And what's with everyone corrolating Apple with Nintendo?

j-a-x · 01:51 PM

Sounds like a bad idea to me.
Maybe a partnership or something like that could work where apple allows iTunes to be compatible with an existing console, but apple making their own console gaming machine sounds like it just won't work.
Remember the Pippin?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Pippin

arn · 01:58 PM

ya, I think this buying season shows how competitive the gaming console market is. That being said, it's not hard to imagine that Apple is at least seriously keeping tabs on this area, just to remain competitive.

arn

war · Dec 5, 2006, 01:50 PM

Is a gaming console from Apple really necessary? They should just partner up with nintendo or buy them if they really want to get into that market. Nintendo is the Apple of the gaming market as it is now. It would be an interesting combination.

Chaszmyr · Dec 5, 2006, 01:51 PM

Historically, there has been a division between the style of computer games and console games, but that line has been getting progressively thinner. It would be interesting if Apple managed to blur it more, and launch a successful video game console with games that were also Mac compatible... It would be very, very difficult to pull of, but it could reshape the whole landscape of home electronics.

Many companies are trying to create one device that handles all things digital, and does it in the main stream (Sony and Microsoft included), and Apple is in at least as good of a position to pull it off as anyone else is.

KindredMAC · Dec 5, 2006, 01:52 PM

How are we to know that maybe Apple is hiring these people to start work on incorporating Game download into iTunes? Aspyr said they were going to offer something similar this fall, which never came to fruitition.

Apple would be nuts to try and enter the gaming market at this moment. Xbox 360 is the new king of the hill, Wii is making a new hill for itself and PS3 has disappointed too many people to be a threat over the course of the next 6-12 months. If Sony goes deep six and the Wii eats a bad Mario mushroom, falls over and dies, then Apple could consider throwing their hat into the ring.

Along with iTunes downloads maybe Apple is really looking at getting aggressive with the hard core PC gamers. Think about it, Apple has gotten into the minds of average consumers and close to being an office notion, but what market is currently almost impossible to break into... PC Gamers.

You ask any hard core PC Gamer if they would switch to Apple and they would laugh at you. This is the perfect next "Get a Mac" or "Switchers" style of marketing warfare.

pdpfilms · Dec 5, 2006, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KindredMAC

Along with iTunes downloads maybe Apple is really looking at getting aggressive with the hard core PC gamers. Think about it, Apple has gotten into the minds of average consumers and close to being an office notion, but what market is currently almost impossible to break into... PC Gamers.

You ask any hard core PC Gamer if they would switch to Apple and they would laugh at you. This is the perfect next "Get a Mac" or "Switchers" style of marketing warfare.

This is a good point. What if Apple's just looking into getting more games for the Mac? And have them available to download on iTunes? That doesn't seem as outlandish as a video game console like the Pippin to compete with the 360 or Wii.

MrFirework · Dec 5, 2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evangelion

Nintendo.

You know it makes sense.

Yes. And have you seen the DS... the white one... if I didn't know what it was and saw it from accross the room I'd swear it was an iPod. So, see there... the move is already almost complete.

Chaszmyr · Dec 5, 2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KindredMAC

How are we to know that maybe Apple is hiring these people to start work on incorporating Game download into iTunes?

We don't. Moreover, they could be thinking about a portable game device rather than a console device.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KindredMAC

Apple would be nuts to try and enter the gaming market at this moment. Xbox 360 is the new king of the hill, Wii is making a new hill for itself and PS3 has disappointed too many people to be a threat over the course of the next 6-12 months.

Even if Apple has definite plans to enter the video game market, I wouldn't expect to see an Apple console until 2009.

J Radical · Dec 5, 2006, 01:56 PM

I can't see it happening. The home console market is already crowded with MS Sony and Nintendo. A new console would require developers to support a newbie platform, investing millions in a product unlikely to take off.

Apple would also be unwilling to accept the a lost on each console sold: even at $600 Sony still loses over $100 on each PS3 sold. The only option is to go into partnership with another company, MS is out since it's Microsoft, Sony is out because they have too much invested in Blu-Ray (an itv rival). That leaves Nintendo, who are historically uninterested in multi purpose games machines.

I'm all for gaming on the mac platform, but MS has PC gaming by the nuts with DX10, and I can't see room in either the home console or portable market. Besides does the mac mini even have a graphics chip?

Sleix · Dec 5, 2006, 01:57 PM

Another Apple gaming rumor. Geez.

After listening to 90% of the idiot savants in the Windows/linux/etc world...it should be obvious that the stigma that the "Mac is not a gaming machine" would stick and it would fail...unless Apple were to join forces with a known gaming system (yay Nintendo?) it'd flop just as badly as say...Nokia and their Ngage POS.

The only reason that Microsoft had the willpower to stay this long so far is that it has the gobs of liquid capital to lose to sustain such a project, otherwise it would've been gone before the 360 would've been even a remote pipe dream in somebody's mind.

EagerDragon · Dec 5, 2006, 02:00 PM

More games for the Mac I undestand and desire, more games for the iPod I can also understand (but don't care). I do not see a console this late in the game. With Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, they got it covered.

Make the Mac more gaming friendly, and make more Mac games or provide more assistance to those making / porting games for the Mac.

Digitaljim · Dec 5, 2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menziep

Bring on the iGame!

Also possible:

iPlay?
iAmusement?
iConsole?
iBox?
iBoy?

I like the idea of iPlay Core Solo.

X86BSD · Dec 5, 2006, 02:06 PM

I seriously cannot see Apple having an interest in the console market. I think people are over reading into this. I simply think it means more games for the iPod via the iTunes store. Granted I would *love* to believe they are going to make a revolutionary MMORPG game by perhaps buying Cyan (the makers of Myst) and creating some really fascinating revolutionary market altering game. But that's the "Are you on crack?" Apple fan boi side of my brain talking. The reality is much more boring, again I think it's just more in house development of more iPod games via the iTunes store.

-X

Eidorian · Dec 5, 2006, 02:07 PM

Someone shop on an Apple logo STAT!

ziwi · Dec 5, 2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evangelion

Nintendo.

You know it makes sense.

Then they should have done it long ago with Sega - they made great games, but the consoles lacked the push...they should have done it back with Dreamcast...

I don't think they will - it is a loss leader - all the consoles lose money and we all know Apple likes to make more on things than everyone else not give stuff away...

orbital · Dec 5, 2006, 02:07 PM

What would be cool is if it wasn't a console but a gateway device to your Mac that let you play the mac games on your TV.

Even better if it could be used with XP or vista games

xli_ne · Dec 5, 2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdpfilms

With the ultimate failure of the PS3

microsoft fanboy i presume?

Teddy's · Dec 5, 2006, 02:08 PM

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. .........

QCassidy352 · Dec 5, 2006, 02:08 PM

I sure hope not. Apple has enough on its plate with music, hardware, and software (and soon, phones). And besides that, the console market is crowded enough as it is. Apple should focus on its core markets and not try to have its finger in every pie.

DallasM · Dec 5, 2006, 02:08 PM

Apple wants to develop games for the Mac. That is where they want their games, on the iMac -not some iBox or something.

I bet they are not trying to make games or play station knockoffs, rather are actually developing tools to make games for the Mac.

Dec 5, 2006, 01:47 PM	#2
Machead III macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: UK, France	If Apple could release some kind of box that you connect to your Mac to augment it's graphical and general gaming performance, that would play existing games and then develop 1st party games for it, I'd be first in line. But it'd have to work with bootcamp. I don't see a regular console though. The market is saturated as it is. Get gaming sorted on Macs first. __________________ "Radical means grasping things at the root!" - Angela Davis "If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it all." - Noam Chomsky "I know you've come to kill me. Shoot, coward, you're only going to kill a man!" - Che Guevara (moments before assassination)

Dec 5, 2006, 01:48 PM	#4
Evangelion macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jan 2005	Nintendo. You know it makes sense. __________________ Anyone who thinks that Obama is a "Marxist" is so clueless that it's scary. Consider getting some education.

Dec 5, 2006, 01:49 PM	#6
j-a-x macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston, Texas	Sounds like a bad idea to me. Maybe a partnership or something like that could work where apple allows iTunes to be compatible with an existing console, but apple making their own console gaming machine sounds like it just won't work. Remember the Pippin? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Pippin __________________ My photos on Flickr. My personal website. Last edited by j-a-x : Dec 5, 2006 at 01:51 PM. Reason: posted before i was done writing.

Dec 5, 2006, 01:50 PM	#7
arn macrumors god Join Date: Apr 2001	ya, I think this buying season shows how competitive the gaming console market is. That being said, it's not hard to imagine that Apple is at least seriously keeping tabs on this area, just to remain competitive. arn Last edited by arn : Dec 5, 2006 at 01:58 PM.

Dec 5, 2006, 01:50 PM	#8
war macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago	an apple gaming console Is a gaming console from Apple really necessary? They should just partner up with nintendo or buy them if they really want to get into that market. Nintendo is the Apple of the gaming market as it is now. It would be an interesting combination. __________________ Computers are like air conditioners. They both stop working when you open windows.

Dec 5, 2006, 01:48 PM	#3
menziep macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2006	Bring on the iGame!

Dec 5, 2006, 01:49 PM	#5
pdpfilms macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Vermontana	No way. If apple ever was to do this (disregarding their first attempt), they would not be looking into it now. With the ultimate failure of the PS3, I'd think they'd be very cautious to enter the gaming market. Unless they're working on a handheld, which I could almost see them developing, for release in a year. I'm skeptical. EDIT: And just because game consoles are offering movie downloads does not mean that Apple's iTunes store needs to offer true games. And what's with everyone corrolating Apple with Nintendo?

Dec 5, 2006, 01:51 PM	#9
Chaszmyr macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Boulder, CO	Historically, there has been a division between the style of computer games and console games, but that line has been getting progressively thinner. It would be interesting if Apple managed to blur it more, and launch a successful video game console with games that were also Mac compatible... It would be very, very difficult to pull of, but it could reshape the whole landscape of home electronics. Many companies are trying to create one device that handles all things digital, and does it in the main stream (Sony and Microsoft included), and Apple is in at least as good of a position to pull it off as anyone else is.

Dec 5, 2006, 01:52 PM	#10
KindredMAC macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2003	How are we to know that maybe Apple is hiring these people to start work on incorporating Game download into iTunes? Aspyr said they were going to offer something similar this fall, which never came to fruitition. Apple would be nuts to try and enter the gaming market at this moment. Xbox 360 is the new king of the hill, Wii is making a new hill for itself and PS3 has disappointed too many people to be a threat over the course of the next 6-12 months. If Sony goes deep six and the Wii eats a bad Mario mushroom, falls over and dies, then Apple could consider throwing their hat into the ring. Along with iTunes downloads maybe Apple is really looking at getting aggressive with the hard core PC gamers. Think about it, Apple has gotten into the minds of average consumers and close to being an office notion, but what market is currently almost impossible to break into... PC Gamers. You ask any hard core PC Gamer if they would switch to Apple and they would laugh at you. This is the perfect next "Get a Mac" or "Switchers" style of marketing warfare. __________________ "We want to let go of this notion that for Apple to win, Microsoft has to lose." - Steve Jobs

Dec 5, 2006, 01:56 PM	#14
J Radical macrumors member Join Date: Nov 2006	I can't see it happening. The home console market is already crowded with MS Sony and Nintendo. A new console would require developers to support a newbie platform, investing millions in a product unlikely to take off. Apple would also be unwilling to accept the a lost on each console sold: even at $600 Sony still loses over $100 on each PS3 sold. The only option is to go into partnership with another company, MS is out since it's Microsoft, Sony is out because they have too much invested in Blu-Ray (an itv rival). That leaves Nintendo, who are historically uninterested in multi purpose games machines. I'm all for gaming on the mac platform, but MS has PC gaming by the nuts with DX10, and I can't see room in either the home console or portable market. Besides does the mac mini even have a graphics chip? __________________ LOLZ

Dec 5, 2006, 01:57 PM	#15
Sleix macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA	Another Apple gaming rumor. Geez. After listening to 90% of the idiot savants in the Windows/linux/etc world...it should be obvious that the stigma that the "Mac is not a gaming machine" would stick and it would fail...unless Apple were to join forces with a known gaming system (yay Nintendo?) it'd flop just as badly as say...Nokia and their Ngage POS. The only reason that Microsoft had the willpower to stay this long so far is that it has the gobs of liquid capital to lose to sustain such a project, otherwise it would've been gone before the 360 would've been even a remote pipe dream in somebody's mind. __________________ Uhm, /moo.

Dec 5, 2006, 02:00 PM	#16
EagerDragon macrumors 68010 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: MA, USA	More games for the Mac I undestand and desire, more games for the iPod I can also understand (but don't care). I do not see a console this late in the game. With Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, they got it covered. Make the Mac more gaming friendly, and make more Mac games or provide more assistance to those making / porting games for the Mac. __________________ Security is a state of mind, Nothing can ever be fully secured and be functional. Therefore iBricks are fully secured.

Dec 5, 2006, 02:06 PM	#18
X86BSD macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kansas, USA	Pfft wont happen. I seriously cannot see Apple having an interest in the console market. I think people are over reading into this. I simply think it means more games for the iPod via the iTunes store. Granted I would love to believe they are going to make a revolutionary MMORPG game by perhaps buying Cyan (the makers of Myst) and creating some really fascinating revolutionary market altering game. But that's the "Are you on crack?" Apple fan boi side of my brain talking. The reality is much more boring, again I think it's just more in house development of more iPod games via the iTunes store. -X __________________ "MICROSOFT: Where do you want to go today? LINUX: Where do you want to go tomorrow? BSD: Are you guys coming or what?" (C) 2001 BSDi Incorporated.

Dec 5, 2006, 02:07 PM	#19
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	Someone shop on an Apple logo STAT! __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

Dec 5, 2006, 02:07 PM	#21
orbital macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2006	What would be cool is if it wasn't a console but a gateway device to your Mac that let you play the mac games on your TV. Even better if it could be used with XP or vista games

Dec 5, 2006, 02:08 PM	#23
Teddy's macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Toronto	NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.. ......... __________________ [IZE="B][COLepSkkyBle"]"hi"COLR][/SZE]

Dec 5, 2006, 02:08 PM	#24
QCassidy352 Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Boston, MA	I sure hope not. Apple has enough on its plate with music, hardware, and software (and soon, phones). And besides that, the console market is crowded enough as it is. Apple should focus on its core markets and not try to have its finger in every pie. __________________ "If Jesus Himself came back to earth and turned water to wine, half of MacRumors would say 'meh, this is red. I wanted white.'"

Dec 5, 2006, 02:08 PM	#25
DallasM macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2006	So Unlikely. Apple wants to develop games for the Mac. That is where they want their games, on the iMac -not some iBox or something. I bet they are not trying to make games or play station knockoffs, rather are actually developing tools to make games for the Mac.

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