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Apple Video Game Console?
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Very hard to believe....
This is really hard to swallow.
But the reality is... anyone remember, any of you went to E3 (electronic, entertainment expo) back in 2005 when MS introduced the Xbox 360 and saw all of the demo's. All those demo's were running on the, then current G5 machines...
additional reality is .... Wii is also based on the Power PC chip hardware. So is the Playstation 3...
Maybe this is not that too far fetched? I duno... Hope Not!
Who else knows the Power PC better than Apple? Sure not Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony? Go figure...
This is really hard to swallow.
But the reality is... anyone remember, any of you went to E3 (electronic, entertainment expo) back in 2005 when MS introduced the Xbox 360 and saw all of the demo's. All those demo's were running on the, then current G5 machines...
additional reality is .... Wii is also based on the Power PC chip hardware. So is the Playstation 3...
Maybe this is not that too far fetched? I duno... Hope Not!
Who else knows the Power PC better than Apple? Sure not Microsoft, Nintendo, or Sony? Go figure...
There's no way this is a regular game console like the XBox or the Wii. Just about everything Apple has done in the last 5+ years has been based on the digital hub concept, of somehow tying your life and media around the computer. If there is any game development going on at Apple (not counting the iPod games) it's going to be something that has a significant tie-in with your computer.
How about the world's first download-only game store, a la iTunes? The box software/store approach is so old hat and yet it doesn't appear that anyone has seriously taken on the idea of a game download store. And maybe there is a way to play those games from your computer on your TV screen or whatever.
It's probably a long ways off at this point, but if Apple is doing anything serious in the gaming market, it will be something that comes at it from an unexpected tangent and does something none of the existing consoles do--just like the iTunes store did with music downloads and mp3 players.
How about the world's first download-only game store, a la iTunes? The box software/store approach is so old hat and yet it doesn't appear that anyone has seriously taken on the idea of a game download store. And maybe there is a way to play those games from your computer on your TV screen or whatever.
It's probably a long ways off at this point, but if Apple is doing anything serious in the gaming market, it will be something that comes at it from an unexpected tangent and does something none of the existing consoles do--just like the iTunes store did with music downloads and mp3 players.
Microsoft has tons of money they are willing to LOSE in order to get marketshare. On top of that, developing games for 360 is similar to developing them for Windows. Apple can't even get people to develop Mac games, how will they get people to develop for a new console? Having all that integration that you mentioned would make a cool gadget, but I don't think it will ultimately be successfull in the market.
Sounds like a very bad direction for Apple to go. Maybe the iTV will have some of this functionality on a limited scale. Kinda like iPod games.
[EDIT] Just saw the update on the main page. Looks like this rumor did grow out of Apple having iPod game developers on staff.
[EDIT] Just saw the update on the main page. Looks like this rumor did grow out of Apple having iPod game developers on staff.
As a shareholder who mostly just wants to see Apple make tons of cash, here's what I'd love to see:
-A toolkit that allows PC developers to port games to the Mac OS effortlessly.
-Sell the freshly ported games through the iTunes store.
The PC gaming world is overflowing with games and even entire genres that aren't available on the consoles. I'm looking at the "most popular" list over at gamespot right now, and at the top of the list:
#1. Medieval 2
#2. World of Warcraft
#3. Neverwinter Nights 2
#4. Command & Conquer 3
#5. WoW Expansion
#6. Everquest II
#8. Company of Heroes
#9. STALKER
To the best of my knowledge, none of those games are available on consoles, so to enter that market would be to compete only with Microsoft. If those games could be downloaded for $49.99 from iTunes and played on a Mac, I think we'd see a ton of bottom line growth from it.
If the idea takes off, maybe the iTV 2.0, two or three years from now can be used to play them in the living room.
-A toolkit that allows PC developers to port games to the Mac OS effortlessly.
-Sell the freshly ported games through the iTunes store.
The PC gaming world is overflowing with games and even entire genres that aren't available on the consoles. I'm looking at the "most popular" list over at gamespot right now, and at the top of the list:
#1. Medieval 2
#2. World of Warcraft
#3. Neverwinter Nights 2
#4. Command & Conquer 3
#5. WoW Expansion
#6. Everquest II
#8. Company of Heroes
#9. STALKER
To the best of my knowledge, none of those games are available on consoles, so to enter that market would be to compete only with Microsoft. If those games could be downloaded for $49.99 from iTunes and played on a Mac, I think we'd see a ton of bottom line growth from it.
If the idea takes off, maybe the iTV 2.0, two or three years from now can be used to play them in the living room.
A loss isn't absolutely necessary if you have good engineering. Nintendo has historically sold all their consoles for a profit.
For reference...the GameCube launched 1 year after the PS2 and cost $100 less (where PS2 sold at a loss and GameCube at a profit) yet outperformed it by nearly 2x.
The GameCube also launched 3 days after XBox, cost $100 less, was fairly close in performance AND the XBox was selling at a $100 loss while GameCube sold at a small profit (so GC cost <$200 to build, XBox cost >$400 to build, and XBox only had a small performance advantage).
The gamecube was also completely unsucessful, perhaps in part due to the hardware it lacked that the xbox had. High speed internet, hard drive, ability to play dvd's. Maybe the GC's failure was due to other reasons, but I certainly wouldn't want Apple to release a console that does only as well as the Gamecube. It would be reverse halo-effect.
The Bad:
Ohhhhh SUCH a difficult market to break in to, not to mention that it's crowded already. You'd be stuck with four video-game options instead of three... and figuring out which content is available on what? Another player is just going to confuse things more.
Each added console manufacturer means an exponential increase in titles, features and combinations thereof, available to the consumer... which leads to exponentially more confusion. The consumers will tolerate only so much of this until he/she will draw a line and say "anything else new from this point out is too much information to process" and "otomatically" block it out. This may or may not be the case with an Apple console... let's call it "GamePod"
The Good:
If PS3 is the impending disaster that everyone says it is, next Christmas would be a great time to release a product. MS won't be ready for another XBox yet, the Wii will still be new, and the PS3 will be losing market/mind-share.
Secondly, (with surprising exception to the Wii) console gaming has been a very static platform, with graphics being the only MAJOR enhancement over the years. Apple has a knack for bringing new ideas to the table, specifically in arenas that have been stagnant for years (think portable music
). That being said, a GamePod could usher in a new era of gaming... that is, if Nintendo & the Wii haven't already done so.
If Apple intends to enter this market, the time to strike is soon.
-Clive
Ohhhhh SUCH a difficult market to break in to, not to mention that it's crowded already. You'd be stuck with four video-game options instead of three... and figuring out which content is available on what? Another player is just going to confuse things more.
Each added console manufacturer means an exponential increase in titles, features and combinations thereof, available to the consumer... which leads to exponentially more confusion. The consumers will tolerate only so much of this until he/she will draw a line and say "anything else new from this point out is too much information to process" and "otomatically" block it out. This may or may not be the case with an Apple console... let's call it "GamePod"
The Good:
If PS3 is the impending disaster that everyone says it is, next Christmas would be a great time to release a product. MS won't be ready for another XBox yet, the Wii will still be new, and the PS3 will be losing market/mind-share.
Secondly, (with surprising exception to the Wii) console gaming has been a very static platform, with graphics being the only MAJOR enhancement over the years. Apple has a knack for bringing new ideas to the table, specifically in arenas that have been stagnant for years (think portable music
). That being said, a GamePod could usher in a new era of gaming... that is, if Nintendo & the Wii haven't already done so.If Apple intends to enter this market, the time to strike is soon.
-Clive
Although cell phones are more of an everyday item. Everyone knows that the cell phone interface can be vastly improved (in a very apple way). That is what Apple does: interface and experience. This really isn't an area as critical to consoles as it is for the games themselves. I have an easier time believing an Apple-designed video game for the Wii would include innovative interface experience than an Apple-branded console.
Certainly not due to hardware. The GameCube and XBox sold similar numbers (GC failed in the US, XBox failed in Japan even worse) worldwide, only the PS2 was a success everywhere (70% marketshare) and it had the worst hardware of them all, and lacked a hard drive. You had to buy a seperate broadband adapter too, just like GameCube (Except unlike GameCube, there were games that actually used it).
GameCube's lack of success can mainly be attributed to lack of third party support and absolutely no online support.
Frankly, if Apple's first console did as well as the GameCube it would be a great start. Microsoft's first console did just that (XBox had 16% worldwide marketshare, versus GameCube's 14%, and the XBox division took a four billion dollar loss to accomplish that while Nintendo made a massive profit off their GameCube division).
Actually, I believe the Gamecube was the FIRST Nintendo console to be sold for a profit. I know the NES and SNES were sold at a loss, at least initially. Not sure about the 64, but with the expensive SGI chips, I can't imagine it would be sold for profit.
Sony and Microsoft are doing what Nintendo did in the old days...But I think that Nintendo learned (from the N64 Era) that that particular tactic is ultimately doomed to fail...
As for Apple entering the games market: the only thing I can see is more iPod games--MAYBE some simple games downloadable via iTunes and playable on Mac/PC. NO WAY is Apple entering the console market, and they would be crazy to enter the DS Lite dominated Handheld arena, too.
Now, partnering with Nintendo I can see--Nintendo has traditionally been very stubborn about this, but ever since Yaumauchi (SP?) retired, they've gotten a LOT better. I can see a limited Apple-Nintendo partnership...nothing extravagent, though. You aren't going to see an Apple Wii anytime soon.
As for you crazy people saying Apple might buy Nintendo: Never going to happen. Nintendo is just too stubborn. Nintendo's also been around since 1889--FAR longer than Apple. Apple's like a teenager to Nintendo. Don't get me wrong--Apple's still a great, established company, but buying Nintendo is not something they could do in the foreseeable future.
I would hardly call the GameCube "Completely Unsuccessful" It might not have been the revitalization that Nintendo hoped for (and looks to be doing with the Wii), but It was a step in the right direction and was certainly more successful than the N64.
You want completely unsuccessful, then look at the Virtual Boy.
Side Note: I could be wrong but wasn't Halo originally developed for Mac until evil M$ bought out Bungie.
Now just imagine if Halo never came out for the Xbox and started life as a Mac game.
I think the games make the console.
Now just imagine if Halo never came out for the Xbox and started life as a Mac game.
I think the games make the console.
I'm not completely sure of where Halo was in development when MS bought Bungie, but yes, it was orginally a Mac title. Although I believe at one time it was supposed to be a RTS, not a FPS.
and if it had been released, then Halo would have faded into obscurity. I really don't believe it would have spurred Mac sales or anything. I still don't see what's so great about the game...
gaming systems don't make fat kids, fast\junk food does. And really I don't remember Atari and Nintendo causing an obesity outbreak in the 80's and 90's either. Finally Nintendos current system is making a profit off of each system sold. A substantial one at that. That being said Apple doesnt have the wontons to enter the gaming market. Unlike the highlander for the video gaming market there can be only three. In this case Nintendo, Sony, and MS.
If anything I would rather see Nintendo and Apple team up with Apple creating a front end for the next generation of the WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
I thought you were just exaggerating, and then I looked them up. They really HAVE been around that long! I had no idea they were anything before video games! I love wikipedia.
At first it seems like a bit of a stretch for Apple to enter the console gaming market.
But then look where Microsoft came from- they are a "software" company.
And Sony is a "hardware" company they have everything from-TVs, Digital Cameras, Gaming Consoles, Computers, Stereos, they even have a Music Label! ... and the list goes on.
Why not diversify.
But then look where Microsoft came from- they are a "software" company.
And Sony is a "hardware" company they have everything from-TVs, Digital Cameras, Gaming Consoles, Computers, Stereos, they even have a Music Label! ... and the list goes on.
Why not diversify.
The Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD competition could be avoided entirely by a download service. Broadband continues to get faster and faster, downloadable games and music are already a reality thanks to steam and itunes. Add this trend to the fact that most people are happy with the quality of their current DVDs, and iTV already makes a lot of sense.
It's only a matter of time until iTunes offers HD movie downloads, why take a risk on HDDVD or Blu-Ray when you can stick with the extremely well established iTunes? You can download music and HD movies cheaply and easily.
Storage may become an issue, but harddrives have come down in price considerably over recent years. Hell we will probably be streaming full length HD movies in the future- we're already streaming HD trailers in front row.
The talk of Apple entering the console market to compete with Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo is missing the obvious. It's not happening soon because there is no way for a company to develop a next-gen console and keep it a secret. The Big 3 console companies have been working on their next-gen systems for years. They haven't been secrets because they need third-party developers to create games (and accessories). If Apple were to enter the console market, they would need 3 years and there would be a lot of pre-launch talk about third-party developers, etc.
Frankly, I don't think Apple could pull it off if they wanted to. The market is just too far from their core competency. They can stretch a little to increase the multimedia features of the iPod and iTV, but a console is insane (IMHO).
Frankly, I don't think Apple could pull it off if they wanted to. The market is just too far from their core competency. They can stretch a little to increase the multimedia features of the iPod and iTV, but a console is insane (IMHO).
There's a big difference. Microsoft came into the market when there was really only one strong player: Sony. Then they threw money at it until Halo came out and caught on with people. They lost a TON on the Xbox...I'm not sure Apple has that much to lose.
Sony was originally going to make a Super NES CD ROM drive with Nintendo. Then Nintendo screwed them over by going with Philips instead, Sony got pissed, and used the knowledge gained from the project to release the PSX. This is another reason that I don't think Nintendo will parter with anyone like that again--the Super NES CDROM fiasco was a costly mistake for them.
I would say the only way that Apple MIGHT have a chance is if the PS3 COMPLETELY bombs and is killed within 6 months--but we all know that's not going to happen...
I think there would be several advantages for Apple if they bought Nintendo, the main one as I can see would be switchers. There are alot of Nintendo fans out there who dont have Macs, if Apple did take over and released a revolutionary console, paired with downloads from itunes, imagine how many of the existing fans would consider switching. This would be even more sucessful if Apple could somehow make their games cross-compatible between console and Mac.
But anyways, im new here so feel free to correct me!
J
But anyways, im new here so feel free to correct me!
J
Apple making a console? lol why not get into kitchen appliances too. If anything Im sure they're just trying to expand the Mac's current game range (because it's almost non-exsistant right now).
I mean honestly, didn't they say they were going after 3rd party game developers? How does that spell console? No, it's games. Apple is trying to get more games on the Mac platform.
I mean honestly, didn't they say they were going after 3rd party game developers? How does that spell console? No, it's games. Apple is trying to get more games on the Mac platform.