iPhone Games in the Works... from 3rd Party Developers

MacRumors · Feb 9, 2007, 02:48 PM

Businessweek discusses Apple's entry into the "casual game" market with the iPod games, first introduced in September 2006.

Casual games are described as "play-it-for-15-minutes-and-forget-about-it games" that are frequently found on mobile phones or other handheld devices.

Businessweek has heard that Apple is in talks with Electronic Arts regarding games for the iPhone:

Quote:

Mitch Lasky, senior vice-president of EA Mobile, says his company is discussing plans for games on the phone. "We have been talking to Apple about games on (the iPhone)," Lasky says. "We see a lot of the technology that we've utilized on the iPod side being incorporated into the iPhone."

This provides further evidence that Apple will allow 3rd party developers to release applications for the iPhone, but in a supervised manner, much like the iPod games.

Apple introduced the iPhone at Macworld San Francisco. The iPhone is expected to be released in June 2007.

Atlasland · Feb 9, 2007, 02:51 PM

I don't think these games will ever be value for money.

GeorgeTheMonkey · Feb 9, 2007, 02:55 PM

License some Nintendo DS games (tweaked a bit for multi-touch, of course), and Apple may have something though.

siurpeeman · Feb 9, 2007, 02:55 PM

this is good news. maybe apple will allow 3rd party non-game software to be made as well.

BoyBach · Feb 9, 2007, 02:59 PM

Even though there was no mention of it at the Keynote or on the Apple site, surely games, and other 3rd party apps, on the iPhone is a given?

trevorlsciact · Feb 9, 2007, 03:01 PM

Multi touch should be good for games, no? I don't play games so I can't be sure--but I would think there are some interesting opportunities there.

Telp · Feb 9, 2007, 03:06 PM

I think Jobs said that their would be third party apps for the iphone, but you would have to buy them through Apple and it was just going to be really tight.

zombitronic · Feb 9, 2007, 03:11 PM

Imagine, guiding Pac-Man along with your finger instead of mashing unresponsive keypads around corners...ah, the bliss.

zelman · Feb 9, 2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombitronic

Imagine, guiding Pac-Man along with your finger instead of mashing unresponsive keypads around corners...ah, the bliss.

I've had palm versions of pacman that could use hardware buttons or stylus, and I always found hardware buttons to be easier.

dongmin · 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zombitronic

Imagine, guiding Pac-Man along with your finger instead of mashing unresponsive keypads around corners...ah, the bliss.

Give me a joystick with those little bulbs on top. These classic games just aren't the same with these new controls...

I'm not sure the multi-touch is that well suited for arcade-style games. MYST (adventure-puzle) type games would be more appropriate. Imagine a serialized adventure game: iTunes downloads a new episode for you every week.

notjustjay · Feb 9, 2007, 03:22 PM

Mmm. Bejeweled and Acid Solitaire, please.

Project · Feb 9, 2007, 03:23 PM

Ah, so the argument that 3rd party developers are locked out of the iPod has been killed in one fell swoop.

Telp · Feb 9, 2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Project

Ah, so the argument that 3rd party developers are locked out of the iPod has been killed in one fell swoop.

iphone?

Rocketman · Feb 9, 2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CANEHDN

Another non Mac related topic. Sweet.

Why do you think they call it "macrumors"?

I mentioned once after the iPod started dominating the site they should simply add a tab for iPod. They didn't. They should restate their mission statement as "Apple rumors" and quell this sort of post forever. The name of the site is fine.

Apple is a consumer products company now, so as you hear less and less computer news, take that as a good thing as they are branching out to larger and more forward thinking markets. Besides processors on computers are fast enough for any reasonable consumer need so it becomes a form factor and feature competition among computer manufacturers.

As for the 3rd party participation, I told you so!

Rocketman

Project · Feb 9, 2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telp

iphone?

haha, yes. My bad.

eightball0 · Feb 9, 2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Project

Ah, so the argument that 3rd party developers are locked out of the iPod has been killed in one fell swoop.

No one has ever said that. They've just said that you won't be able to release software for iPod and iPhone without Apple's blessing.

That's still pretty awful. Imagine if your Mac didn't allow third-party software unless it was approved by Apple.

Lone Deranger · Feb 9, 2007, 03:33 PM

Read the topic full of excitement.... until I got to the EA part.

Of all the developers and publishers, they choose to go with the worst of the worst.

eightball0 · Feb 9, 2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lone Deranger

Read the topic full of excitement.... until I got to the EA part.

Of all the developers and publishers, they choose to go with the worst of the worst.

And that's exactly why it's awful that Apple gets to choose which developers develop for the iPhone--because they won't go with the smaller, more innovative developers that make Macs great. Instead, we'll get the EAs of the world.

Sandfleaz · Feb 9, 2007, 03:34 PM

I think it's a smart move ..another revenue stream (like they need it )

me hate windows · Feb 9, 2007, 03:34 PM

Cool, except for the part about EA.

Telp · Feb 9, 2007, 03:44 PM

Quote:

That's still pretty awful. Imagine if your Mac didn't allow third-party software unless it was approved by Apple.

But a Mac is different then their phone. The phone is a first generation, and its a hard network to get into. They need to start off cautious. Right now the Mac is very secure and they aren't as worried, and they needent be, in time, they will be more lenient with 3rd party apps for the iphone too

longofest · Feb 9, 2007, 03:56 PM

In my opinion, this isn't true third party development. Third party development is when you release a SDK and say to the tech community "develop for our platform." Apple of course does this with Mac OS X, and other smartphone developers have elected to do this as well, however Apple has for whatever reason decided not to do this for the iPod and iPhone. Instead, they are keeping the broader community at bay, and are rather turning to "2nd" party developers, who are at Apple's mercy when it comes to development.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telp

But a Mac is different then their phone. The phone is a first generation, and its a hard network to get into. They need to start off cautious. Right now the Mac is very secure and they aren't as worried, and they needent be, in time, they will be more lenient with 3rd party apps for the iphone too

I disagree. Apple can make an even bigger splash if they truly open up their phone for development. This would further increase the usefulness of the iPhone by what 3rd parties can provide. You can't tell me that all of the creative minds of the tech world are limited to just Apple employees... someone has got to have an idea for the iPhone that Apple hasn't come up with yet, and by limiting development, Apple is limiting the consumer.

The iPhone has really pushed the boundaries of the phone. But Apple shouldn't stifle the platform like they are. No doubt the iPhone will still be a success (I'm not doubting that), but I think there is more they can do to make it even better.

Telp · Feb 9, 2007, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longofest

In my opinion, this isn't true third party development. Third party development is when you release a SDK and say to the tech community "develop for our platform." Apple of course does this with Mac OS X, and other smartphone developers have elected to do this as well, however Apple has for whatever reason decided not to do this for the iPod and iPhone. Instead, they are keeping the broader community at bay, and are rather turning to "2nd" party developers, who are at Apple's mercy when it comes to development.

I disagree. Apple can make an even bigger splash if they truly open up their phone for development. This would further increase the usefulness of the iPhone by what 3rd parties can provide. You can't tell me that all of the creative minds of the tech world are limited to just Apple employees... someone has got to have an idea for the iPhone that Apple hasn't come up with yet, and by limiting development, Apple is limiting the consumer.

The iPhone has really pushed the boundaries of the phone. But Apple shouldn't stifle the platform like they are. No doubt the iPhone will still be a success (I'm not doubting that), but I think there is more they can do to make it even better.

Your right and im not saying that i fully agree with Apple to do that, but they are under a lot of pressure from Cingular too. I do think they should allow third party products, but i dont fully disagree with what there doing either, atleast for now....

whatever · 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevorlsciact

Multi touch should be good for games, no? I don't play games so I can't be sure--but I would think there are some interesting opportunities there.

Actually games do not need to be tweaked for multi-touch. A 3rd party or Apple could offer a game pad that plugs into the iPod dock and be used while the iPhone is held in landscape mode (movie mode).

The controller/gamepad I envision would be be a backwards L. where the the actual game pad would be below the phone (movie mode). The gamer would actually hold the phone by holding the gamepad.

Below is a very bad mock up of what I'm trying to describe. And yes, those are PSP buttons just cut and pasted in, but what do you expect for quick cut and past piece of junk.)

This would be designed for gamers and the "L" shape game pad would fold up nicely. It would also have to look cool, I just wanted throw up a quick idea.

quigleybc · Feb 9, 2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

Businessweek has heard that Apple is in talks with Electronic Arts regarding games for the iPhone:

I made a thread about this months ago, and was promptly told by other MR members that this is Old news.....

Feb 9, 2007, 02:51 PM	#2
Atlasland macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK	I don't think these games will ever be value for money. __________________ iMac G5 20" 2.0Ghz Rev B; 2GB RAM; 250GB HD Miglia TV Mini iPod Nano White 4GB

Feb 9, 2007, 02:55 PM	#4
siurpeeman macrumors 601 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: the OC	this is good news. maybe apple will allow 3rd party non-game software to be made as well. __________________ grr...argh...

Feb 9, 2007, 02:59 PM	#5
BoyBach macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK	Even though there was no mention of it at the Keynote or on the Apple site, surely games, and other 3rd party apps, on the iPhone is a given? __________________ "Knowledge is porridge"

Feb 9, 2007, 03:06 PM	#7
Telp macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2007	I think Jobs said that their would be third party apps for the iphone, but you would have to buy them through Apple and it was just going to be really tight. __________________ Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. -Steve Jobs

Feb 9, 2007, 03:11 PM	#8
zombitronic macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2007	Pac-tacular Imagine, guiding Pac-Man along with your finger instead of mashing unresponsive keypads around corners...ah, the bliss.

Feb 9, 2007, 02:55 PM	#3
GeorgeTheMonkey macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2004	License some Nintendo DS games (tweaked a bit for multi-touch, of course), and Apple may have something though.

Feb 9, 2007, 03:01 PM	#6
trevorlsciact macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: CT	Multi touch should be good for games, no? I don't play games so I can't be sure--but I would think there are some interesting opportunities there.

Feb 9, 2007, 03:22 PM	#11
notjustjay macrumors 68030 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Canada, eh?	Mmm. Bejeweled and Acid Solitaire, please. __________________ MRoogle

Feb 9, 2007, 03:23 PM	#12
Project macrumors 68020 Join Date: Aug 2005	Ah, so the argument that 3rd party developers are locked out of the iPod has been killed in one fell swoop.

Feb 9, 2007, 03:33 PM	#17
Lone Deranger macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2006	Read the topic full of excitement.... until I got to the EA part. Of all the developers and publishers, they choose to go with the worst of the worst.

Feb 9, 2007, 03:34 PM	#19
Sandfleaz macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2007	I think it's a smart move ..another revenue stream (like they need it ) __________________ Funniest T-Shirts & Stuff on the net http://www.cafepress.com/shirtspot

Feb 9, 2007, 03:34 PM	#20
me hate windows macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2002	Cool, except for the part about EA. __________________ "You are coming to a sad realization, cancel or allow?"

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