Apple TV Said to Have Motion Sensitive Remote Control Targeted at Casual Gamers

[0098386]

Hmm. I dunno, the appeal of Apple "gaming" is that you can play something quickly on the phone. What do they gain from putting their games up on a TV? Are many people doing this with Android devices, will that translate to iOS too? I mean if you flip it around "oh wow, I can now play my small games on my phone and not my TV!" it makes a lot more sense.

The only company to get casual games up on the big screen was Nintendo, and interest in that dropped due to the rise in mobile phone gaming.

 

[xaqt93]

I am just saying, I personally think that Apple wont use AMOLED screens this year. I am not conviced they will make the switch as we havent really seen any leaks pertaining to an AMOLED screen.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

It will be something even more powerful than the A8X that is on the iPad Air 2. It will be custom built for the Apple TV and for the consistent power supply.

Why do you think this? I have a hard time believing Apple will make a special "A" chip variant just for TV. I'd like to see your belief prove out but I'm not very optimistic about it. TV has seemed to get "A" chip "hand me downs" instead of dedicated hardware goodies. It would be great if that changed this time.

 

[scapegoat81]

With Internet tv exploding Apple could not have delayed this upgrade any further.
And as much as I use the chromecast stick, and as convenient as it is, it really is pretty junky. But it's been the most convenient device to date.

Expect google to follow rather quickly. Advertising directly into the living with the death of traditional tv sounds rather lucrative. Especially for Google with the slow death of Windows consumer desktops and laptops and ad blocking on Apple devices.

A brave new world. The further expansion of the Internet with more old world entrenched players losing their monopolies and new opportunies for young blood.

Well said

 

[foxcub6]

I truly hope they've really stepped it up. I retired my apple tv two weeks ago when I realized that the smart tv interface on my new TV was better than apple.

I have a Sony smart TV the TV picture is amazing but the so called smart TV is very slow don't use it prefer Apple TV to be honest

 

[MikePLP]

They're hiring engineers all the time (just follow some of the known Apple twitter accounts) but it is not enough to replenish the ones they're losing right now.

You obviously pulled that out of your ass. Their employees(engineers) are exploding. All you have to do is look at all the new office space that they have to lease.

 

[TallManNY]

It isn't just the price of the Apple TV (which will presumably be $150 or more) versus the XBox (currently $350). It is going to be the difference in price of the games ($10 or less for Apple TV versus often $50 for XBox). And even worse, XBox charges you premium prices if you want to buy a download of a game versus buying the disc from Amazon. Or a used game from your local game store. That won't stand when Apple is streaming games out for $5.

 

[2010mini]

funny.

apple does own Prime Sense so i'm very interested in seeing what they do with the technology.

 

[GhostRaider]

Why do you think this? I have a hard time believing Apple will make a special "A" chip variant just for TV. I'd like to see your belief prove out but I'm not very optimistic about it. TV has seemed to get "A" chip "hand me downs" instead of dedicated hardware goodies. It would be great if that changed this time.

Nobody has actually seen the damn thing but it would make sense for Apple TV to have a custom chip. Current game consoles have a life span. Apple TV would most likely have a life span for something years so it makes sense to have a high performance chip that will not get hammered by iOS updates. With this, maybe the addition of 4K will be possible.

In other words, it should be future proof. If they decide that every year there will be a new Apple TV, well they're douchebags.

 

[cdm283813]

Apple needs to do a full blown console with a real game controller tied with the Apple ecosystem. Anything less get a Xbox One or PS4.

 

[2010lexus]

I can do casual gaming on my phone, if I can't replace my Xbox with this thing it'll be a huge let down.

Well you will have a HUGE let down then Apple TV is not a game Console

 

[azentropy]

I can do casual gaming on my phone, if I can't replace my Xbox with this thing it'll be a huge let down.

Your Xbox - guessing it would. Xbox 360 - maybe. Xbox One - no.

 

[Unami]

Apple TV would most likely have a life span for something years so it makes sense to have a high performance chip that will not get hammered by iOS updates. With this, maybe the addition of 4K will be possible.

In other words, it should be future proof. If they decide that every year there will be a new Apple TV, well they're douchebags.

we'd be hearing about that, if apple were making a "real" game console. i expect it more to follow the update cycles of the current apple tv or ipod touch. a new one every few years with 4k support in the next version. half the price for about half the lifespan of a game console

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Nobody has actually seen the damn thing but it would make sense for Apple TV to have a custom chip. Current game consoles have a life span. Apple TV would most likely have a life span for something years so it makes sense to have a high performance chip that will not get hammered by iOS updates. With this, maybe the addition of 4K will be possible.

In other words, it should be future proof. If they decide that every year there will be a new Apple TV, well they're douchebags.

Again, I love the idea of this. I'd love to see Apple build a "future proof" chip into the next TV. But this IS Apple... a company that likes us to buy new models as often as possible... a company where the bulk of it's profits is realized on a product that the bulk of us "upgrade" every 2 years.

I'm also in the camp hoping for 4K and that would seem to fly in the face of a non-customized "A" chip unless A9 surprises us AND also is used in a new TV.

So, I'm right with you on wanting THAT TV hardware but I lack your optimism based on Apple's love of selling hardware updates (often). I'm not even very confident they'll go 4K with this version (though I certainly argue they should). If the new model sells well, I suspect we'll get 4K in TV5 which launches about 6-12 months after we get new iPhones and iPads that can shoot 4K.

Best chance would be if Apple surprises some by rolling out the 6s with A9 that can shoot 4K. If they announce that capability as part of talking up the new camera, there is a fair chance that the new TV- if it's even revealed in the same session- might be able to play 4K. I do know that last time, TV didn't get around to implementing 1080p until a good while after iPhones and iPads could shoot 1080p. I don't expect that to be different this time (but am just as hopeful).

 

[Sloppy.Joe]

Let the gaming begin.

 

[Duane Martin]

I had discounted the possibility of 4K on the TV due to the problems of 4K over the internet (can be done, but it's a pig) and the relatively small market. Then I started to see rumours that the iPhone 6s might have 4K video capability and it has made me go hmmmm...

Of course, 4K on the iPhone is just rumour, just as the idea that there is a new version of the TV coming out soon. Looking forward to seeing what's new on 9/9.

EDIT: seems someone else had the same thought while I was typing.

 

[winston1236]

​

Panzarino claims the redesigned remote control will likely be targeted at casual gamers:A new Apple TV with an App Store and easy-to-use controller could lure a significant number of casual gamers away from competing platforms such as Nintendo

Extremely doubtful. Gaming is highly platform specific and gamers tend to be fiercely loyal to whichever they are on and most are very anti-Apple. With Twitch and now Youtube even having a game platform it isn't enough to just dip your toe in the water and see if you like it. If Apple doesn't fully commit and execute they will be left behind again in regard to gaming.

 

[JoEw]

Extremely doubtful. Gaming is highly platform specific and gamers tend to be fiercely loyal to whichever they are on and most are very anti-Apple. With Twitch and now Youtube even having a game platform it isn't enough to just dip your toe in the water and see if you like it. If Apple doesn't fully commit and execute they will be left behind again in regard to gaming.

They are not targeting enthusiasts, merely the crowd that likes the casual games, much like the wii opened gaming to a hole field of casual players. Basically they are gonna open up the API and let app makers see what works.

I'd love to see a new age wii bowling where all my friends iPhones are controllers.

 

[newdeal]

I am really looking forward to this, I will order it day 1 for sure

 

[MikhailT]

I am just saying, I personally think that Apple wont use AMOLED screens this year. I am not conviced they will make the switch as we havent really seen any leaks pertaining to an AMOLED screen.

This thread has nothing to do with an iPhone, this is all about Apple TV and its remote.

You obviously pulled that out of your ass. Their employees(engineers) are exploding. All you have to do is look at all the new office space that they have to lease.

Nope, look at their SEC filings which goes into headcount sometime in the last several years, they often said retail are the biggest number of hires. You can also look at this page: https://www.apple.com/about/job-creation/

66K Apple employees total, at least 30K are retail, this is where majority of their hires are exploding, not engineers. Now, 36K are non-retail, it's not perfectly clear how many are QA/sales/marketing/AppleCare/Data Center which has nothing to do with engineers, the page suggests at least 10K are for AppleCare support alone.

 

[Bill Killer]

Not sure is serious....

There are legitimately some people here who think that if Apple TV supported gaming, even casual throwaway gaming, it's game over for consoles.

Laughable really.

 

[Bill Killer]

What do you think the chances are that FIFA 16 or PES 2016 will be playable on the new ATV?

None.

 

[apolloa]

If Apple have been working on this as long and as hard as it seems then they may of thought about this. I do really believe that the Apple TV needs more functions, an App Store could do this, adding games could help with casual gaming. I'm not saying it will replace the XBox or PS4 for proper console gaming, but what about games such as Angry Birds? And with this rumour (if it's true) about the motion sensitive remote it could be really good. obviously this is going to depend on games and as you say some games won't work, but others might, people might be more willing to pay £1-£3 for Angry birds on the Apple TV, or racing games that use the remote.

Also as another person has said, Nintendo have confirmed previously that games will be coming to IOS, what if these games make it too the new Apple TV?

I believe Nintendo is not bringing it's classic games though, like Mario Cart, to iOS. But they are making new games featuring their game characters. So what they end up being like who knows? I would also imagine they will launch cross platform, to maximise profit.

But yeah if they actually sell games for a decent price then fair game. I just feel they will still be freemium rubbish. But they could utilise a controller if one is with every Apple TV so it has a potential, potential to offer something.

Don't get me wrong though, I love my Fire TV and use it every single day, I got it for my Birthday after researching, if an up to date Apple TV was out then I would have got one of those instead. These streaming boxes are I think RIDICULOUS value for money.
Steaming is the future of TV, paying hundreds to thousands to watch a few channels is NOT my idea of TV, paying A hundred to watch those few channels IS my idea and I am very glad for these streaming boxes pushing the concept.
Sure you can use a console to stream, but with constant fan noise too.

In fact with the Amazon Fire TV, the Nvidia Android TV and the hopefully new Apple TV, I feel these greedy satellite and cable company's will have a lot to worry about.....

Now if game streaming is offered more and more, than PC and console gaming will ALSO have to start worrying, playing the latest PC games via streaming on your tiny, cheap box. Sounds good to me
And this is a real concept, in America you can stream on the Fire TV using the Gamefly service, and you can stream on the Nvidia TV box using their Grid service. If Apple allows someone to launch a similar service on their device then I think a market will open up even more for streaming games.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

There are legitimately some people here who think that if Apple TV supported gaming, even casual throwaway gaming, it's game over for consoles.

Laughable really.

It wouldn't be "game over" for consoles, just as the availability of Mac Minis doesn't make it game over for Mac Pros. Each serves a target market.

What could happen though is Apple hardware that is hooked to a TV could be another incarnation of a Wii box success. In other words, if you rank set top game hardware based on recent buyers, Apple can't currently appear in that list. But an TV4 that can play iOS games like a Wii box from a few years ago could certainly get Apple on such a list... maybe even winning on volume of units sold AND volume of select games sold. Such wins would not be because TV4 hardware is superior to Xbox or PS hardware for gaming... OR that the depth of games on TV4 would be superior to Xbox or PS games; instead, it could be simply a price thing.

Little Johnny wants a game machine and there's a new incarnation of a Wii-like box in play... priced a lot less than Xbox and PS hardware with games that cost a lot less than Xbox and PS hardware. Flash forward and we could foresee future tables in future news and rumors that key on volume of new units sold with an TV4 ranking high against Xbox and PS4.

Not every gamer wants the complexity of Xbox and PS games. Again see the success of Wii when it came on the scene. Lots of people like the latter so much they CHOSE to buy it instead of an Xbox or PS. Not every Mac customer is best served with the cheapest/weakest (Mini) or the most expensive/most powerful (Pro). Each fits what their users want out of a Mac.

 

[Che Castro]

If I remember correctly, Nintendo has already said games will be coming to iOS in the near future

new ip games not old classic games