Apple Nixes Support for New iPod Click Wheel Games?

[MacRumors]

Joystiq reported earlier this week on the release of Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes - Encore, a new iPhone game available in paid [App Store, $9.99] and lite [App Store, Free] versions from developer Square Enix. Included in the report is mention that the new iPhone games contain touch-enabled versions of both the original Song Summoner that was a popular click wheel iPod game and Song Summoner 2, which was interestingly never released, reportedly because Apple has abandoned the click wheel game format.

Rather than being a simple touchscreen-enabled port of the original click wheel game, the iPhone Song Summoner contains both Song Summoner and Song Summoner 2, which was never released due to Apple ending support for click wheel games.

Apple continues to offer a number of iPod Click Wheel Games via the iTunes Store, but no new games have been released since Cake Mania 3 in February of this year. Apple introduced iPod Click Wheel Games alongside iTunes 7 in September 2006 and released a total of nearly 50 games over the following two and half years.

While it is certainly no surprise that Apple has focused its energies on App Store applications for the iPhone and iPod touch that offer a significantly more advanced user experience than click wheel-based games, to our knowledge Apple has never officially acknowledged that it has ceased to support new games for its traditional iPods.

Article Link: Apple Nixes Support for New iPod Click Wheel Games?

 

[DMann]

Not all that surprising - besides, existing games will remain functional on the older iPods.

Progress happens.

 

[Jayomat]

Although I know no one, except myself when I still owned a fourth gen ipod nano 😉 , who actually played anything on this ipod, keep it up! 😉

I used to play this music-quizgame, (dunno the actual name) where you have to guess which song is played (which year, band, n) or the blocker clone =)

😎

 

[godslabrat]

As much as I like the click wheel, I think its days are numbered. Apple is pushing the Touch like crazy, only keeping the Classic around for guys like me who want everything, and I mean EVERYTHING with them at all times. As soon as SSDs drop in price to where they can replace the HDD in a Classic, we'll see the Classic phased out of Apple's lineup. Then, probably a redesigned Nano.

I'd speculate that if Apple isn't forbidding new click-wheel games, they're strongly discouraging the practice.

 

[flottenheimer]

A little focus is fine with me...

 

[DipDog3]

I don't find this surprising. Apple always discontinues things without telling the public.

I think Apple is planning to move away from the click wheel iPod completely so there is no need for people to develop for them anymore.

 

[Rocketman]

What's worse is Apple is refusing to allow a vendor to provide legacy hardware support when they actually want to.

Why not let them?

Rocketman

 

[haunebu]

Rocketman and others...

What makes you think Apple has anything to do with it? It is implied, but no specific info says they blocked its release. So no new games have been made for a while. Developers are focusing on the new platform - one that'll continue to grow for years to come.

If you were a developer, which would you put more resources into?

The click-wheel iPod's days are numbered. Devs plan accordingly.

 

[leomac08]

WHOA! ipod nano and ipod video have games?! WTH!?!!!! hahaha

I forgot.......since they put most of their propaganda on the iphone OS😉

 

[*LTD*]

Time to move on.

 

[baryon]

Dudes this does NOT mean the Clickwheel iPods' days are outnumbered, it only means that Apple wants games to be on the iPod Touch and the iPhone. The App Store is such a big business that they want anyone looking for games to turn to the iPhone and iPod Touch instead of the Nano/Classic.

Considering how much more the iPod Touch costs, it's very unlikely for Apple to discontinue the Clickwheel iPods anytime soon. Plus, consider the size as well: if someone only wants to listen to music and nothing else, they don't need an iPod Touch sized device.

This only means that Apple wants games to be focused on the iPhone/iPod Touch, so that people who want games on their iPod would get one of those.

 

[arn]

Rocketman and others...

What makes you think Apple has anything to do with it? It is implied, but no specific info says they blocked its release. So no new games have been made for a while. Developers are focusing on the new platform - one that'll continue to grow for years to come.

If you were a developer, which would you put more resources into?

The click-wheel iPod's days are numbered. Devs plan accordingly.

Actually, I got an email from Square Enix. Song Summoner 2 was developed specifically for the click wheel ipods, but was not released due to Apple dropping support. So, it was transitioned over to the iPhone.

arn

 

[tabasco70]

Phase was the best.

 

[Westside guy]

My daughter bought quite a few click-wheel games, and in her words "click-wheel games all pretty much suck". Yeah, I know, small sample size and all that...

I'm not meaning to excuse Apple if they've made a capricious decision regarding dropping click-wheel game support; but, from a practical point of view, this doesn't seem like a very big deal.

 

[MacFly123]

Dudes this does NOT mean the Clickwheel iPods' days are outnumbered, it only means that Apple wants games to be on the iPod Touch and the iPhone. The App Store is such a big business that they want anyone looking for games to turn to the iPhone and iPod Touch instead of the Nano/Classic.

Considering how much more the iPod Touch costs, it's very unlikely for Apple to discontinue the Clickwheel iPods anytime soon. Plus, consider the size as well: if someone only wants to listen to music and nothing else, they don't need an iPod Touch sized device.

This only means that Apple wants games to be focused on the iPhone/iPod Touch, so that people who want games on their iPod would get one of those.

Denial, is not JUST a river in Egypt! 😉

 

[Michael CM1]

I can't believe Apple didn't just create a touchscreen iPod with a HDD in it and ditch the click-wheel UI. It's very aged and I personally could do without it on anything that's touch-capable. I understand it for the nano due to size and cost, but Apple could make a lot more moolah by making the disk-based iPod compatible with the App Store.

 

[DARKJ3DI]

Its understandable why Apple is phasing out the click-wheel. That solitaire game that comes on the classics is awkward while the solitaire games on my touch are simple and fluid to use.

But i have to admit tho, it was great being able to pause the music by only clicking one button, not having to double click a button and tap the screen 😉

 

[zorinlynx]

I can't believe Apple didn't just create a touchscreen iPod with a HDD in it and ditch the click-wheel UI. It's very aged and I personally could do without it on anything that's touch-capable. I understand it for the nano due to size and cost, but Apple could make a lot more moolah by making the disk-based iPod compatible with the App Store.

Clickwheels are still best on an iPod used to listen to music.

It's an interface you can operate without looking at the screen. You can pause, skip to next or previous track, and adjust volume without taking your eyes off what you're doing. This is good when you're driving, or cycling (the click-wheel even works through thin fabric so you can adjust the volume without taking it out of your pocket) or other activities that have your attention.

An iPod Touch would be very unsatisfactory if all I did was listen to music. iPod Nano is where it's at there.

 

[Rocketman]

Actually, I got an email from Square Enix. Song Summoner 2 was developed specifically for the click wheel ipods, but was not released due to Apple dropping support. So, it was transitioned over to the iPhone.

arn

Correct. Also it doesn't matter if the game "sucks" or not. It is revenue. Period. The target market for people willing to download a click wheel game just to try it is emmense.

I want "Jewel" back, but Apple won't let me. 🙂

Rocketman

 

[scottness]

I bought 1 click-wheel game for my iPod. Once I got my iPhone, I forgot all about click-wheel games until I read this post. Can't imagine getting an iPod now after I've had an iPhone for a couple years.

 

[huntercr]

ok now put the clickwheel...

Put the clickwheel on the AppleTV remote PLEASE. The TV interface is just screaming for clickwheel.

 

[spillproof]

I liked that parachute game on my 1st gen nano. Other than that, the only few I've played were a bit cumbersome. Click Wheels are one of the things people recognize as being iPods, I don't see it leaving anytime soon.

 

[cmaier]

Why is this news?

 

[Rocketman]

Put the clickwheel on the AppleTV remote PLEASE. The TV interface is just screaming for clickwheel.

Assuming you are not the only guy on the planet thinking that, Apple could very easily have one driver for click wheel remotes and one for traditional remotes. An accessory like that would provide incremental sales and incremental consumer satisfaction.

Rocketman

 

[Stridder44]

This new should come as a surprise to no one.

On that note, I hope they don't discontinue the Classic iPod. I love having a lot of space, and the iPod Touch, while nifty, is way too small (and kind of retarded considering the iPhone is pretty much the same price). I mean think about it, assuming you already have a mobile phone, why not just pay the exact same amount ($199) and get an iPhone instead? I see the iPod touch as a stepping stone to one day replace the iPod Classic (when size/price become comparable), but until then, it's just really gimmicky.