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Apple TV Games Must Work With Apple TV Remote, May Not Require External Controller

MacRumors said:



When creating games and apps for the new Apple TV, developers are required to build in support for the touch-based remote, making all content accessible to all users without the need for additional accessories like an MFi controller.

As noted by developer Dustin Westphal and shared by our sister site Touch Arcade, Apple's App Programming Guide for the tvOS says the following: "Your game must support the Apple TV remote. Your game may not require the use of a controller."

The new Apple TV works with third-party Bluetooth controllers, but because they are an optional accessory, they are not allowed to be the primary input method for a game. This requirement will force developers who want to build games around controller use to also include a touch or motion-based control scheme for use with the Apple TV remote.

appletvremotegamecontroller.jpg

As Touch Arcade points out, the requirement is bound to be a hassle for developers, especially those with games that have complicated control schemes.Apple appears to have originally planned to allow developers to require a game controller to play Apple TV games, but the company later nixed that policy and is now requiring all games to support the Apple TV remote in addition to a controller.

Apple's choice to require support for the Apple TV is not surprising, as it also has the same requirements for iOS devices. Developers can build controller support into their iPhone and iPad apps, but apps must also include touch-based control schemes for users who do not have a controller.

Article Link: Apple TV Games Must Work With Apple TV Remote, May Not Require External Controller
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A good compromise, that I wish Apple would allow, would be to allow basic controls on the remote, and project custom game controls to any iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad... I'm more excited about the potential for existing iOS devices in homes being used as fully customizable controllers for AppleTV games, than separate controllers or the AppleTV Remote....

Shrug.

Then again, I'm weird.
 
this seems alright to me. you cant have people buying games they are unable to actually play. similar to racing games using steering wheels, they need to create the ability to play without buying the accessory. i would not be surprised if sony and microsoft have the same type of policy
 
Aluminum213 said:
Apple has been sued left and right for saying games with IAP are "free" even though it clearly states the IAP cost money

Nintendo is a small startup company compare to Apple
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The warning about in-app purchases was only added after people started complaining. And even then their warning is pretty subtle. Nintendo pops up a whole screen showing you what controllers can be used when you try to download anything.
wii_store_36.jpg


Oh, and Nintendo was most certainly faced its set of class action suits. Most famously for the Wii remote straps failing and causing damage.

Come to think of it, the Apple remote doesn't even have a strap, and yet Apple is expecting people to jolt it around just like a Wii remote. Now there's a lawsuit waiting to happen.
 
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APlotdevice said:
Come to think of it, the Apple remote doesn't even have a strap, and yet Apple is expecting people to jolt it around just like a Wii remote. Now there's a lawsuit waiting to happen.
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The Apple remote is going to weigh a fraction as much as a Wii remote. Easier to hold on to, and less likely to put a hole in your TV.
 
Apple or Game companies should just make an app that replicates a MFi controller so that even a user don't have MFi Controller when he purchased a game that needed one, he's still good. That's also good for Accessory companies too, advertising their MFi controller through an app controller for free.
 
Keirasplace said:
If they don't want to make money, they can take a hike. I'm guessing those little gamer boys will fall in line and make the games... Because... You know they like to get paid like the rest of us.
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Way to completely miss the point of the story..... Because....the gamer boys cannot make certain games due to he constraints of the remote.
 
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RIP

Apple should've just come up with a nice 1st party $40-50 controller. Done...

OH but no, we gotta be dumb and ignorant with this market. As usual.
 
firewood said:
That's because there are no games yet for the Apple TV. If enough game developers show up and ship decent product, that middle area, between casual games and hard-core games, might be a very strong industry growth segment. There are people who want more than a minute of casual challenge, want to play on a big screen, but don't want to spend hours leveling up on a dedicated box.
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Nintendo already has games like that. In fact, the Wii U plays everything from games that belong on iOS up to serious games. The Apple TV should also be able to do that, but Apple's imposing artificial limitations to try and simplify it or something. Nintendo supports their game pad, the Wiimotes (which I hate, but they're at least as good as NES), the "pro controller" attachments, and GameCube controllers.
 
see what’s wrong about this policy. Think about it. Imagine that you bought a game, and then the game says ” Sorry, you have to pay additional 99 dollars to play this game” That will be more ridiculous then requiring all games to play by siri remote.

Also some complexed game such as asphalt 8 works fine at siri remote. I can’t see why macrumors. is complaining about this policy.

Personally I think siri remote is main input device for apple tv. It is like touch screen for iphone and ipad. It is like a trackpad or mouse for mac.
Therefore, I can’t see why apple will accept an app that doesn’t use its main input at all. It’s like accepting a iOS game app that doesn’t use touch screen at all. Or a mac drawing app that can be use only by stylus pen and not using a mouse
 
MH01 said:
This makes sense from apple. It's a TV that can support some games, and I say some as the remote limits what will work. If you want to game on a TV get a console, if you want to entertain kids with simple games, the Apple TV can deliver.
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Why? You provide absolutely no reasoning for this view.
 
8281 said:
You know people would buy it anyway and then complain.
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It's better than having no warning when all games technically work with the remote but some are total crap with the remote and really should use a proper controller. Those games should have a warning but won't because they officially support the controller.
 
MH01 said:
Last I checked the controls for taking a picture a quite similar between an iPhone and high end DSLR.

I suggest you have a look at the ps4 controller and Apple TV remote, is there an issue in terms of gaming : YUP
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You should check again as they're nothing alike.

The iPhone dramatically simplifies the photo taking process and takes the majority of the control away from the user compared to a DSLR.

Much like a certain remote for a certain device that will play games on TV's soon...

Gamers are not who this device is aimed at. And for everyone else I think the simplicity of the interaction is going to be very much appealing.
 
First and foremost, Apple TV is a TV set top box which just happens to play games. It will be more like a remote control for a TV. These games would be easy to port from iOS to tvOS and are likely intended to be more similar to a standard iOS game on an Apple processor. This is also not a jump into the realm of the PS4 or Xbox 1 which are primarily gaming devices first.
 
Keirasplace said:
I've devellopped software for almost 30 years and come on, there is no problem here. There's even a


Right... They will forgo a potential market of tens of millions of people (yes there will be that many by next year) because they won't be spending the few days to adapt their game to provide the base mode. Apple didn't even say that mode should be great, just usable.... Of course, devs that care could make it great anyway.

Leaving money on the table for something that takes a minimum of effort is beyond unlikely.
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Guess you don't think before you write.

Devs will not support Apple TV if the game experience suffers because the remote sucks for the game they make.

They won't make money if people leave bad reviews for good games because Apple forced people into playing games with broken controls.

Really bad move by Apple. A company that says all the time the user experience is what matters most.

There will be games for the App Store that are made for the mfi controllers and have broken controls on the remote.

It's just really sad that a developer will have to give users an option to play their game that was not the way they had intended. Any developer that respects what they make would probably prefer the proper way to enjoy their game.
 
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DevNull0 said:
Hey Siri, shoot the guy on the left.
Hey Siri, switch to shotgun.
Hey Siri, shoot the guy at the top.
Hey Siri, reload.
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You could do what Root does in Person of interest

Hey, Siri, Switch weapon is +, reload is - and I'm using the clock to shoot
9
5
3
2
6
- (reloading)
4
5
5
2
1
+ (grenade launcher)
+ (BFG)
2

Everyone's dead... Maybe even the shooter ;-).
 
Touchsreen provides possibilities for all kinds of controlling buttons.
New remote is touchscreen so theoretically it can provide all combinations of buttons.
No problem.
I know because I play FiFa football on iPad and it has like 8 buttons there.
So a remote with touchscreen or iPad iPhone can serve as remotes with many buttons.
 
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levitynyc said:
Thus driving a nail in the coffin for any companies interested in making good games for it.

No one on earth is going to buy this for its gaming capabilities.

Why even bother if you need to be able to control it with that disaster of a remote?

The NES is 30+ years old and is a more capable gaming machine than the Apple TV.
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You want a game console for less than half the price of a normal one. And you want Apple to be the company that brings you the budget option. LMAO.
 
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