Apple Poaching Gaming PR Execs from Activision and Nintendo

[0098386]

Say that about games like Final Fantasy III, Aralon, or even NOVA 2. Try finishing any of these games while on one sitting at the toilet.

There are some gems. However it goes without saying that FF3 is a port from a DS game, which is a remake of a NES game. Aralon and NOVA 2 are quite cheap in their quality, neither matching the games they're trying to clone.

Nope, obviously the biggest screen you have is your ipad. The console gaming experience is nothing like the mind numbing games which make the bulk of the App store. Sure there are maybe 20 games that have anything like the look of a console, but touch is no replacement for tactile feedback. Take a peek: Appshopper

This is true. I mean, I don't know what kind of gamer I am. I have all the consoles (inc Mac and PC), all the major games, all the games that I've ever been vaguely interested in. I love Team Fortress 2, GTA (barring 4), Pokemon, Mario, HALO 1, Left 4 Dead, Final Fantasy. I bought an iPod touch 4G just for gaming and portable internetting.

So hopefully that quickly gets across what kind of gamer I am; I enjoy games regardless of their manufacturer and developer.

But. There's just something not right with the iPod for gaming. It's got the tech and some good software. I bought around 60 games for it, I have 20-30 for my PSP and DS respectively bought over the course of 6 years. Yet at night when I'm winding down I don't play the iPod - I go to the dedicated consoles. Maybe it's the tactile controls, maybe it's the better speakers, higher quality of games. But something pulls me away from iOS. On-screen butts are not a good way of controlling a game, it's just a reminder that buttons work (for most game genres).

I had to lol at the person who brought up gaming in queues at Costco. That's when I whip out my iPod for a bit of Angry Birds (unlocked the 4 hour achievement last time I played!).

You mean you actually do something productive with your life, and not spend all your resources playing... a game.

Be proud of this.

So I guess you don't watch movies, TV shows, go to the pub/bar, visit museums or browse the inte...
Hmmm
What's it like doing nothing but productivity all day? I tried that for around a year. It brought me really bad RSI and I completely burnt myself out. Not a fun way to live.

 

[Gamoe]

I think iOS games have great potential, but I still feel that there is a gap between okay and great that is differentiated by physical controls. All we need are a few buttons and a joystick and/or d-pad. But Apple's design-style doesn't seem to allow that, and I for one think that's a shame.

 

[levitynyc]

I would consider myself a hardcore gamer and I'm not ashamed of it. I went to PAX East the last 2 years and own all 3 home consoles plus a PSP, 3DS, DSi, iPhone and iPad. Gaming kept me away from all the drugs and alcohol that my friends were doing in high school. I'm almost 30 now and I'm married, have a good job, have a beautiful home and a beautiful wife, so lets not get stereotyped.

True, some iPad/iPhone games are "casual time wasters" but there are also some FANTASTIC games. Dead Space iOS is fantastic and guess what, ITS WAS 10 DOLLARS. True, its not as good as the console versions, but those sold for 60 DOLLARS.

Get off your friggin high horse when saying that App store gaming isn't real gaming.

The gaming industry is upset with Apple because Apple is finally giving customers the option to pay what customers think a game is worth, not what a console manufacturer thinks a game is worth. If Pilot Wings 3DS was an App store game, it'd be AT MOST 10 dollars. I bought it, I enjoy it, but I feel ripped off by the price.

This scares the hell out of Nintendo as their mandatory priced 40 dollar games are being compared not only in quality, but in PRICE to iOS games.

Tiger Woods golf is another great game on the consoles, but that game is 60 dollars. The iPad version is very very similar (doesn't have Augusta and online modes and a few other small things) but its only 10 bucks on the iPad and I'm sure it'll be on sale shortly.

Last year I picked up the iPhone version for 99 cents. I had more fun with that than the 60 dollar console version because at any time I could play a hole or 2 when I had a few minutes of down time at work.

EDIT: Sorry for the double post

 

[hunkaburningluv]

Apple will buy Nintendo eventually.

It's over for Nintendo.

Get ready for the iwii

I doubt it - ninty are make some serious money on every console/handheld unit sold, they are set for the foreseeable future. IMO, while the iOS is great for short bursts of gaming, it will never replace a dedicated gaming machine

Doesn't matter. Apple took in two head gaming executives. Whether they called them up or were called up, they now have major gaming players in their family. It's a pretty clear sign that they will be getting into gaming in some way.

when they get Miyamoto or Iwata, then I'll be interested

These people are fleeing the "yellow light of death” on PS3 or "red ring of death' on 360. The consoles are so poorly made that broken PS3's seldomly fetch $50 on eBay.

Apple has a real opportunity to make a name in gaming as gamers know quality and appreciate being taken seriously.

that's well, ********, to be honest, RROD has pretty much been eliminated and YLOD wasn't particularly widespread....

 

[KnightWRX]

This comes at the same time that the Guardian reports that a Admob survey shows interesting results as far as tablet use :

Research finds that 84% of tablet owners are playing games

Was Steve wrong about tablets afterall ? They aren't the cars while the laptops/desktops are the trucks, tablets are the ATVs and motorcycle and laptops/desktops remain entrenched as the daily commuters...

Is the tablet replacing the traditional portable gaming system like the Nintendo DS, PSP more than it is the PC ?

 

[gorgeousninja]

Oh, and try to be more mature in your reply next time please. That was uncalled for and childish.

actually the post was funny and to the point, your coming across as arrogant and ill informed.

 

[Ca$hflow]

Also, the next Apple TV will be...a fully fledged games console in disguise.

With integrated graphics.

 

[tkatz]

LOL because swinging a wand or jumping around in front of a webcam is so hardcore.

I was thinking the same thing. "In my day" a hardcore gamer was someone that custom built a gaming rig consisting of no less then 2 graphics cards (add a third and get SLI + PhysX), each costing at least if not more then a single PS3, the most expensive 'extreme' cpu they could find, and a small nuclear power plant for a PSU, then boasting about their 3D Mark scores.

I used to do this. Damn what a waste of time and money.

(ok, so I shoved a second 5870HD [XFX] into my 2010 Mac Pro for when I do play games... though it was more to see how well it worked in crossfire mode then anything else. Crysis 2 actually plays fine [and looks great] on max settings w/ the single card)

 

[sinsin07]

I would consider myself a hardcore gamer and I'm not ashamed of it. I went to PAX East the last 2 years and own all 3 home consoles plus a PSP, 3DS, DSi, iPhone and iPad. Gaming kept me away from all the drugs and alcohol that my friends were doing in high school. I'm almost 30 now and I'm married, have a good job, have a beautiful home and a beautiful wife, so lets not get stereotyped.

True, some iPad/iPhone games are "casual time wasters" but there are also some FANTASTIC games. Dead Space iOS is fantastic and guess what, ITS WAS 10 DOLLARS. True, its not as good as the console versions, but those sold for 60 DOLLARS.

Get off your friggin high horse when saying that App store gaming isn't real gaming.

The gaming industry is upset with Apple because Apple is finally giving customers the option to pay what customers think a game is worth, not what a console manufacturer thinks a game is worth. If Pilot Wings 3DS was an App store game, it'd be AT MOST 10 dollars. I bought it, I enjoy it, but I feel ripped off by the price.

This scares the hell out of Nintendo as their mandatory priced 40 dollar games are being compared not only in quality, but in PRICE to iOS games.

Tiger Woods golf is another great game on the consoles, but that game is 60 dollars. The iPad version is very very similar (doesn't have Augusta and online modes and a few other small things) but its only 10 bucks on the iPad and I'm sure it'll be on sale shortly.

Last year I picked up the iPhone version for 99 cents. I had more fun with that than the 60 dollar console version because at any time I could play a hole or 2 when I had a few minutes of down time at work.

Hardcore Gamer? You've lost your way.

 

[sinsin07]

I was thinking the same thing. "In my day" a hardcore gamer was someone that custom built a gaming rig consisting of no less then 2 graphics cards (add a third and get SLI + PhysX), each costing at least if not more then a single PS3, the most expensive 'extreme' cpu they could find, and a small nuclear power plant for a PSU, then boasting about their 3D Mark scores.

I used to do this. Damn what a waste of time and money.

(ok, so I shoved a second 5870HD [XFX] into my 2010 Mac Pro for when I do play games... though it was more to see how well it worked in crossfire mode then anything else. Crysis 2 actually plays fine [and looks great] on max settings w/ the single card)

There are alot of things that are a waste of time, like post number 83. What matters is at the time were you enjoying yourself. I'm sure the minute you built your rig, you sat there before playing and thought, damn what a waste of time.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I'm not sure why this is front page news. Apple is a little late to the game (no pun) here as devs have already made the iPod the new "game boy". But it's not really the hardware that has done this, but rather inexpensive app prices. I hate to see Apple get sidetracked here. They should just continue to focus on innovating and the devs will come out with apps people want at prices parents and kids can afford.

Sony and Nintendo really can't compete because they are addicted to the double digit price points for games. But who is going to pay $28 for Mario anymore when you can get Angry Birds for $2.

 

[EvilEvil]

Apple should be courting game developers, not their execs. These execs usually don't know much games other than to milk franchises until they're useless while the gameplay suffers.

 

[mtkoren]

Poaching is inflammatory heading - is it true?

Poaching suggests illegal, secret, stealing or other misadventure that is underhanded and sneaky.

From what I've read so far, and I'd be glad for someone to show me what I've missed, Apple had the job positions already advertised and for all we know these individuals, realizing their companies were sliding, applied to - and were received by - apple which replied with open arms. Does anyone have evidence to the contrary? Would that be poaching? Is this forum, like some others, doing headline greed?

Michael

 

[sinsin07]

Apple should be courting game developers, not their execs. These execs usually don't know much games other than to milk franchises until they're useless while the gameplay suffers.

That and make a separate area for serious game developers with serious platforms so we don't have to sift through the tons of garbage and their games don't get sandwich between Fruit Ninja and Cut the Rope. Think filter, Angry Birds/We Whatever need not apply.

 

[mikechan1234]

Apple will buy Nintendo eventually.

It's over for Nintendo.

Get ready for the iwii

delusional

 

[0098386]

Sony and Nintendo really can't compete because they are addicted to the double digit price points for games. But who is going to pay $28 for Mario anymore when you can get Angry Birds for $2.

New Mario DS has sold 25 million copies. It's the 9th best selling game of all time. So clearly a lot of people are buying Mario for £25 when Angry Birds is 59p.

Pokemon Black and White is new (released in Japan late last year, here just last month), £25-30 and has sold 10 million copies. All whilst Angry Birds has been 59p.

WiiFit Plus has been out a couple of years (like Angry Birds), and costs between £20-70 and has sold 18.72 million copies/units. All whilst Angry Birds has been 59p.

 

[PowerGamerX]

These people that are trying to claim they're a hardcore gamer, aren't. A true gamer plays games, regardless of where they are played or how they are played. A gamer plays games. There's nothing more too it than that.

That said, I don't find iOS games all that compelling personally. I like to have games with a little more depth, which is why I'm a fan of the PSP. There are plenty of great iPhone games, they just aren't great for more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time.

This doesn't mean I don't like short games, no. This just means I like games to have "more than meets the eye".

 

[bugfaceuk]

Gaming on idevices is for nubes. Live on PS3, Xbox and the future NGP.

Totally agree. The other day I was in the queue at the grocery store and some dude was playing some noob game on his iOS phone... I was like "dude, you should be playing that on a PS3" and he was all "yeah but where would I plug it in and set-up the TV?" and I was like "just use the NGP" and he said "Great, where can I buy that?"

What a d**k he was.

 

[bugfaceuk]

New Mario DS has sold 25 million copies. It's the 9th best selling game of all time. So clearly a lot of people are buying Mario for £25 when Angry Birds is 59p.

Pokemon Black and White is new (released in Japan late last year, here just last month), £25-30 and has sold 10 million copies. All whilst Angry Birds has been 59p.

WiiFit Plus has been out a couple of years (like Angry Birds), and costs between £20-70 and has sold 18.72 million copies/units. All whilst Angry Birds has been 59p.

Nintendo has a truly formidable IP stable, I can't think of any stronger in gaming. I also agree (and as an Apple guy you shouldn't find this surprising) that it's OK to pay £25 for a quality experience (which Nintendo games so often deliver) regardless of the cheaper alternatives. I suspect there is room in the market for both.

There is just one more point to make... how many more copies could Nintendo have shifted if they had released on the iOS platform too?

My personal opinion is that Nintendo understand a certain kind of gaming in a way that even Sony and Microsoft don't truly appreciate. I happen to think that kind of gaming (the Nintendo flavour if you like) would translate wonderfully to the iOS platform and would be well received. I would pay £25 for Mario on my iPhone, and I think others would too.

 

[bugfaceuk]

Hardcore Gamer? You've lost your way.

Hehe. You're funny.

Hardcore gaming is playing a lot of games, the hardware bragging & taxonomy of gamers is a penis envy thing.

I'm off to play with my 9.7 incher.

 

[bugfaceuk]

Nicely said. Even if you can output the iPod/iPhone/iPad video to a TV, it doesn't matter. The games are 99c for a reason! The app store is FULL of rubbish, as you rightly point out.

In my opinion Lego Harry Potter on the iPad was the definitive version on any platform, and superb on through the 2 onto the big screen.

 

[Popeye206]

And the Eco system grows. I love it!

I really feel that Gaming will eventually be one of the things that really make the iOS devices fly even more than now. Love it!

 

[sinsin07]

These people that are trying to claim they're a hardcore gamer, aren't. A true gamer plays games, regardless of where they are played or how they are played. A gamer plays games. There's nothing more too it than that.

Naah. That's not it. Try again.

 

[sinsin07]

Totally agree. The other day I was in the queue at the grocery store and some dude was playing some noob game on his iOS phone... I was like "dude, you should be playing that on a PS3" and he was all "yeah but where would I plug it in and set-up the TV?" and I was like "just use the NGP" and he said "Great, where can I buy that?"

What a d**k he was.

The premise of suggesting someone on a check out line play a game on a console is silly. I mentioned the word "future" for a reason, not to supplant but for the anticipation. That obviously escaped you.

I've said elsewhere in this thread, the IOS mind numbing game is just perfect for the above scenario, you know when your waiting behind the lady who waits until everything is rung up before digging in her ginormous purse to dig out her wallet, count her money, and then dig around for loose change. IOS games are good for distraction.

 

[bugfaceuk]

The premise of suggesting someone on a check out line play a game on a console is silly. I mentioned the word "future" for a reason, not to supplant but for the anticipation. That obviously escaped you.

I've said elsewhere in this thread, the IOS mind numbing game is just perfect for the above scenario, you know when your waiting behind the lady who waits until everything is rung up before digging in her ginormous purse to dig out her wallet, count her money, and then dig around for loose change. IOS games are good for distraction.

Nope didn't escape me, I just don't agree with you or think it's worth discuss products that don't exist yet and comparing them to ones that do. That's not a "it's not fair" issue, that's a "stop suggesting a product you can't buy is better than one you can". You've not used one for any period of time that is meaningful, stop listing it as a better gaming experience.

The fact that you make a range of posts across a thread is not an excuse to make lazy assertions in one.

I'm glad you acknowledge that this is a scenario perfect for iOS, now try it in a few more. You won't regret it.