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Apple should make a 'game pad' accessory and enter the handheld gaming market


  • Total voters
    116
This is not what I am suggesting. I am suggesting that Apple is going to make an official accessory, a sort of game pad, which you connect via the dock connector. Developers can make use of this (as an optional functionality next to touch controls) and than those who want to game, can just connect the 'game pad' (which consists of physical buttons and the analogue sticks).
but what I'm saying is that gamers wouldn't be happy with a handheld that had a small screen and would demand a bigger one.
 
All in all, it's a mistake. The gaming industry is primarily owned by the Big Three.
Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.

At least some of us remember the not too long ago time when Microsoft was not part of this big three and no one was sure they could crack in with the XBox. And then (sadly) some of us also remember when it was a Nintendo/Sega gig and Sony was the one who seemed unlikely to be able to crack into the market with their upstart device.

I dunno, Nintendo creates an iconic experience that is really rooted in first party games. I haven't bought a new console in quite a while, but Nintendo I believe is unique in that many gamers buy they hardware just to be able to play the handful of stalwart first party (Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc) titles, which are so good that they've justified buying new consoles over and over again ever since the NES came out.

I think Apple has done remarkably well, especially in casual gaming. I'm not sure I see how they go about moving further. My theory is that there's still room to use intelligent algorithms to keep improving the on-screen controls experience, possibly to the point where it's reasonably satisfying, but it'll never be a physical control.

I guess it's conceivable that someone could come up with a slider battery pack thing that has controls on it and latches onto the bottom of the iPhone, and I guess I'd consider buying it (since it'd still be more compact than carrying a DS around), but it would really have to be a first party (Apple) accessory that had deep core iOS support, because it would be intolerable to go to the trouble of buying it and then having no games that work with it.
 
Some of the reviews for the new Onlive player app for Android/iOS hinted (or perhaps just wished?) that their new universal wireless gamepad could be made to work with standard Android/iOS games in the future.

Could be a decent solution for an iPad that's propped up on a table or lap. Less so for iPhones/iPods that are more mobile in nature, but who knows?
 
Sony and Nintendo have lost their innovation and competitive edge. They've produce crap in the last decade. PSP Go and Nintendo 3DS were huge flops.

Apple is the future of handheld gaming.
You have no idea WTF you are talking about. I'm not joking.
 
What is that thing?

Well, Apple with a Modern day console..Would be sick.
That thing was a piece of failure that apple tried to break into gaming industry. Ever since then, apple never tried to bother with gaming industry.

I mean look at the controller. JUST LOOK AT IT!

300px-Pippinpaddle.jpg
 
That thing was a piece of failure that apple tried to break into gaming industry. Ever since then, apple never tried to bother with gaming industry.

Apple sucessfully reinvented the personal computer, the music player, and the phone industry.

Why not give them the benefit of the doubt?
 
Apple sucessfully reinvented the personal computer, the music player, and the phone industry.

Why not give them the benefit of the doubt?
Because re inventing doesn't mean jack **** if they failed to break into the gaming industry with that hunk of junk. Microsoft was lucky that they had Halo to break into gaming industry. Actually, if you read the retrospect on the dev. team for original Xbox, it was a do or die decision for them. They risked their career to make Xbox console. The odd was against them, even Bill Gates said "if we really are breaking into the gaming industry, then we have to focus 100% on doing it". It paid off, but barely. Without their flagship title like Halo, the console would've failed in 2001.

Steve Jobs basically refused to get into gaming industry again because the industry itself is very volatile compared to any other computer hardware industries in this world.
 
I mean look at the controller. JUST LOOK AT IT!

300px-Pippinpaddle.jpg


Your forgetting Apple released the Bandai Pippin in 1995, two years before Steve Jobs took over. The CEO's Sculley, Spindler and Amelio were just terrible. The 1985-1997 era is irrelevant.

If Steve Jobs had released a handheld gaming console, it would have been 'magical,' 'revolutionary' or 'amazing.' Food for thought.
 
Your forgetting Apple released the Bandai Pippin in 1995, two years before Steve Jobs took over. The CEO's Sculley, Spindler and Amelio were just terrible. The 1985-1997 era is irrelevant.
How is it irrelevant? Is apple irrelevant now because Jobs is dead? Well maybe. It was Apple back then 1985-1997, it is the same apple today. Jobs' influence didn't even fueled apple until later years after taking over the company. He didn't care for the gaming industry because it was a huge gamble.

If Steve Jobs had released a handheld gaming console, it would have been 'magical,' 'revolutionary' or 'amazing.' Food for thought.
Steve Jobs is not God. Sometimes you apple drones think of him as some kind of second messiah that can do anything, like turning water into wine. Instead, turning anything into magical device. Wake up. He's dead. He's irrelevant in this discussion. Even if he did release a gaming device, there is a chance that it would've failed miserably.

Deal with it.
 
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How is it irrelevant? Is apple irrelevant now because Jobs is dead? Well maybe. It was Apple back then 1985-1997, it is the same apple today. Jobs' influence didn't even fueled apple until later years after taking over the company. He didn't care for the gaming industry because it was a huge gamble.

The era 1985-1997 is not the same as Apple today. You wanna know what Steve Jobs thinks of John Sculley?

Steve Jobs said 'He destroyed everything I spent ten years working for. Starting with me but that wasn't the saddest part. I would have gladly left Apple if Apple would have turned out like I wanted it to."

Steve Jobs is not God. Sometimes you apple drones think of him as some kind of second messiah that can do anything, like turning water into wine. Instead, turning anything into magical device. Wake up. He's dead. He's irrelevant in this discussion. Even if he did release a gaming device, there is a chance that it would've failed miserably.

Deal with it.

After Steve Jobs passed away, many said he was the equivalent of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Walt Disney for our generation.
 
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I cannot believe most votes are in the "shouldn't develop" category. Does it take away anything from the phones if they develop another cool accessory? I do not think so. It actually makes it better, now we can play games using real tactical controls and people who don't want to, can simply choose to not use it and go the old-fashioned (lol!) way :p.

Really don't see why so many would be against it. Inconceivable....
 
apple will never release this kind of accessory

a) goes against everything apple is about (simple, button free design)
b) choosing a "universal" standard will never happen
c) this kind of accessory equates to a failure in apples os design


I think a better solution will come in the form of a larger iPhone screen + future touchscreen technology that will allow for tactile feedback
 
The era 1985-1997 is not the same as Apple today. You wanna know what Steve Jobs thinks of John Sculley?

Steve Jobs said 'He destroyed everything I spent ten years working for. Starting with me but that wasn't the saddest part. I would have gladly left Apple if Apple would have turned out like I wanted it to."
Doesn't matter what Steve jobs think of him. I don't care. It was the same company as today. It was called Apple back then, it's called Apple today. Same as ever. You don't define company based on their success and failures. Just because apple sucked ass back in late 80s and 90s, doesn't mean the company is different from today. They just improved from their 90s image. That's all.

After Steve Jobs passed away, many said he was the equivalent of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Walt Disney for our generation.
I don't give a rats ass what those people has to say. Those people are idiots. Fact that those morons are comparing Jobs to Thomas Edison and Henry Ford is just travesty to history. It's irrelevant to this discussion anyway. Stop acting like steve jobs has anything to do with this topic.
 
Sony and Nintendo have lost their innovation and competitive edge. They've produce crap in the last decade. PSP Go and Nintendo 3DS were huge flops.

Apple is the future of handheld gaming.

I love games. I love Video Games. I love consoles. I love tech history.

But what you say is crazy talk. Sony and Nintendo have not lost their innovation and competitive edge. C'mon! Nintendo was the first to use motion controls on a video game Console. That console is the Wii. Sony is the first to use Blu-ray on a Console, that console is the Playstation 3.

None of Nintendo's consoles are crap. From the NES to the Wii, they're all good. They've all sold well.

Now Saying Sony produces crap is absurd. Sony's Playstation 2 is the best selling console in history.

Nintendo's DS line is the second best selling console in history, as well as their Gameboy/Gameboy Color line in 3rd place.

4th places is Sony's Playstation, 5th is the Nintendo Wii.


Now. The top 5 selling consoles belong to Sony and Nintendo, with Nintendo having 5 up there and Sony having 2.

Sony and Nintendo are the kings of Gaming so far.

Sony's PSP line did very well as well. :cool:

But it would be nice to see Apple join the video game market again. I'd like to see how that would be. If they ever did join the market, then they would need to have some great games.
 
zelda would be nice too, and i think apple already is in the market, but i do think that psp is a far better mobile gaming device than most of apples as it was designed for that purpose.
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Apple is not in the market.
 
I love games. I love Video Games. I love consoles. I love tech history.

But what you say is crazy talk. Sony and Nintendo have not lost their innovation and competitive edge. C'mon! Nintendo was the first to use motion controls on a video game Console. That console is the Wii. Sony is the first to use Blu-ray on a Console, that console is the Playstation 3.

None of Nintendo's consoles are crap. From the NES to the Wii, they're all good. They've all sold well.

Now Saying Sony produces crap is absurd. Sony's Playstation 2 is the best selling console in history.

Nintendo's DS line is the second best selling console in history, as well as their Gameboy/Gameboy Color line in 3rd place.

4th places is Sony's Playstation, 5th is the Nintendo Wii.


Now. The top 5 selling consoles belong to Sony and Nintendo, with Nintendo having 5 up there and Sony having 2.

Sony and Nintendo are the kings of Gaming so far.

Sony's PSP line did very well as well. :cool:

But it would be nice to see Apple join the video game market again. I'd like to see how that would be. If they ever did join the market, then they would need to have some great games.
I agree with you 100%. I wouldn't call the PlayStation 2 and PSP a failure at all. And I wouldn't call the Nintendo DS-line and the Nintendo Wii a failure at all.
 
Yeah, I've thought about that as well, but you got Microsoft making iOS apps. We have game makers (EA for example) making iOS versions of their games. I don't think it would be a bad idea for Nintendo to make iOS versions of some of their popular games for the people like me would will never buy a DS.

Microsoft and EA don't have their own portable gaming systems though (Windows Phone 7 doesn't exactly count as a gaming system).

I can't see Apple making a "gaming accessory" for the iPhone themselves. I mean games are big on iOS, but for the most part, "hardcore" games aren't big enough in Apple's opinion. I'd rather have them focus on a console than making the iPhone into more of a gaming platform.

And that accessory in the OP reminded me of this awesome accessory for the iPad.

e762_icade_ion.jpg
 
I understand that, but they are losing market from people like me who will most likely never buy a gaming system. The last system I owned was a super nintendo. The only people that will be able to play mario kart are the ones who play an old illegal emulated version, and those who own the nintendo system.

Why not expand your market for the people who will not buy a gaming system, or even ones who don't want "Their" gaming system.

I only play games on my computer and iPhone, and I am sure I am not the only one.

Microsoft and EA don't have their own portable gaming systems though (Windows Phone 7 doesn't exactly count as a gaming system).
 
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