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Apple's Focus on Games: Madden NFL 2010, Nova, Assassin's Creed, Riddim Ribbon

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Upcoming Nova, a Halo-like shooter. Photo via Engadget
At today's "It's Only Rock and Roll" media event, Apple focused on games for a significant portion of the event. Apple's Phil Schiller even directly compared the iPod touch to the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS.
And people are starting to see what a great gaming device this is. When you think about the companies that came before us... when you played those other systems, they seemed so cool, but now when you look at them, they don't stack up against the iPod touch.
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Schiller then invited developers to demonstrate some new games that hadn't been seen before.

- Assassin's Creed 2 - simultaneous release with other platforms
- Riddim Ribbon - a racing/music game
- Nova - described as Halo-like first person shooter
- Madden NFL 2010 - detailed look and video at TouchArcade

The newly introduced iPod touch also shares the faster processor and improved 3D hardware of the iPhone 3GS, making it even more competitive. While some may doubt that the iPod touch would be a serious threat to dedicated handheld devices, Sony has already made several steps to better compete with the iPhone and iPod touch, and has even recruited popular iPhone developers to port their games to their new platform.

Article Link: Apple's Focus on Games: Madden NFL 2010, Nova, Assassin's Creed, Riddim Ribbon
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/09/09/apples-focus-on-games-madden-nfl-2010-nova-assassins-creed-riddim-ribbon/
So could the touch eventually take over the PSP and the like for handheld gaming systems?
 
I had to laugh at that comparison. 22k games vs the DS/PSP game figures seems like such a figure to brag about. But bloody hell, nothing I've played on the iPod Touch comes close to being as good as the really good DS/PSP titles. It's okay as a casual platform but the lack of buttons and lack of depth in these games is turn-off.

Pokemon, Mario, Metroid, Metal Gear (and not an on-rail shooter :rolleyes:), Monster Hunter, Tekken, Final Fantasy... There's nothing like that in that 22k list of games.
 
that was a really weird stab at Sony and Nintendo, I guess apple is getting serious about gaming, maybe.
 
raggedjimmi said:
I had to laugh at that comparison. 22k games vs the DS/PSP game figures seems like such a figure to brag about. But bloody hell, nothing I've played on the iPod Touch comes close to being as good as the really good DS/PSP titles. It's okay as a casual platform but the lack of buttons and lack of depth in these games is turn-off.

Pokemon, Mario, Metroid, Metal Gear (and not an on-rail shooter :rolleyes:), Monster Hunter, Tekken, Final Fantasy... There's nothing like that in that 22k list of games.
Click to expand...

Agree. I love iPhone/iTouch gaming, but they are two different world and I like them both in different ways. So Apple, please don't compare them. It's like comparing Xbox gaming to Facebook gaming.
 
The PSP is miles better than the iPod touch as gaming device IMO. Quality over quantity any day.
 
raggedjimmi said:
I had to laugh at that comparison. 22k games vs the DS/PSP game figures seems like such a figure to brag about. But bloody hell, nothing I've played on the iPod Touch comes close to being as good as the really good DS/PSP titles. It's okay as a casual platform but the lack of buttons and lack of depth in these games is turn-off.

Pokemon, Mario, Metroid, Metal Gear (and not an on-rail shooter :rolleyes:), Monster Hunter, Tekken, Final Fantasy... There's nothing like that in that 22k list of games.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. Quantity is not quality - the iPod Touch's games are five minute fillers in general.
 
I honestly dont think the iphone/ipod touch will ever come close to the DS/PSP - for multiple reasons:

Price
iphone game makers plan on selling the games for $5 or $10, so there is much less incentive for them to make a game the fully immerses the player. They are on a much tighter budget, and dont spend near as much time on the game as PSP/DS developers. On the other hand, DS/PSP games cost $30+, therefore the developers can put a lot more time/money into making them great

Controls
Without a single d-pad/joystick, gaming on the iphone can only go so far. I'm sure developers will push the controls to the max and surprise us all, but in the end gamers will feel much more at home with physical controls. Sidescrolling games are easy, but I'm anxious to see how that FPS game 'nova' plans on overcoming this hurdle.

Device dedication
This sounds weird, but let me explain: the one problem I've always had with the iphone being my "all in one device" is interruption. If I'm using it as a GPS in my car, that means I cant listen to music/change what's playing, cant browse web, cant text, cant email, etc. etc. (this is assuming im not always driving since sometimes my friend might need a GPS and we could use my iphone [which I dont have]). SO say I'm using it as a dedicated GPS in my car and someone calls - well I either choose to miss the next few turns or miss the call. This sucks, and this is why I will most likely use my Garmin until it explodes or doesn't work anymore.

Same with gaming - if I'm in the middle of a hardcore battle and a friend calls I have to either pause the game (kill the mood) or miss the call...this is why sometimes I see all in one devices as not so much of a good thing.
 
Hmm, the health/sheild meter looks like a direct rip from Halo. I wonder if Bungie/MS is going to say something.
 
Didn't they say that Madden was available in the app store right now? Or, is it not compatible with the iphone?
 
I can't be the only one that could care less about gaming on the iPhone. I mean jeewhiz, a sh*tty version of Madden. Awesome. I like a little bit of synergy, but this is getting crazy. I don't mind having a few devices. Games to me require a dedicated gaming device. If I wanted to play games, I would buy a PSP.

I'll stick with Paper Toss thanks.
 
Looking forward to seeing more of Nova. The thing about the Iphone being a gaming device though is the fact that i don't own either a PSP or DS lite and have no plans to. Having games on my phone though is really handy as i never leave the house without my mobile so i have access to them whenever i want.
 
If they want to provide a serious gaming platform the battery life has to be better. Just playing peggle for 30 mins or so doesn't leave much time for talking on my 3G...

Or a replaceable battery? Just a thought....:p
 
AAPLaday said:
The thing about the Iphone being a gaming device though is the fact that i don't own either a PSP or DS lite and have no plans to.
Click to expand...
Then you're missing out on a lot of amazing games. I can take or leave the home consoles but the DS and PSP have been amazing. They've found the perfect middleground between console experience and handheld gaming.

diamond.g said:
Hmm, the health/sheild meter looks like a direct rip from Halo. I wonder if Bungie/MS is going to say something.
Click to expand...
Using that logic would the people who Bungie ripped off for Halo have something to say? ;)
It's a very common type of counter. It's been in games before and after Halo. Why would they have anything to say about it?
 
BongoBanger said:
Totally agree. Quantity is not quality - the iPod Touch's games are five minute fillers in general.
Click to expand...

This is the same kind of misunderstanding of the market that led to the unexpected success of the Wii. Most people don't want much more than time fillers. They don't have the time to spend on hours of "serious" handheld gaming. But they have money and are willing to spend it on some easy, simple games.

Standalone handheld gaming gadgets will die, because their market will be too small in the long run and everyone will carry a device that can do the pretty much the same stuff anyway. Also, gaming developers will focus on multi-purpose devices and neglect DS, PSP etc
 
Speedy2 said:
This is the same kind of misunderstanding of the market that led to the unexpected success of the Wii. Most people don't want much more than time fillers. They don't have the time to spend on hours of "serious" handheld gaming. But they have money and are willing to spend it on some easy, simple games.

Standalone handheld gaming gadgets will die, because their market will be too small in the long run and everyone will carry a device that can do the pretty much the same stuff anyway. Also, gaming developers will focus on multi-purpose devices and neglect DS, PSP etc
Click to expand...

Sorry but that's nonsense and the misunderstanding is yours - people don't generally buy an iPod Touch because it's a games machine, they buy it as a PMP which has games as a side function.

There will always be a market for more in depth titles and there will always be machines that support that market.
 
Speedy2 said:
Standalone handheld gaming gadgets will die, because their market will be too small in the long run and everyone will carry a device that can do the pretty much the same stuff anyway. Also, gaming developers will focus on multi-purpose devices and neglect DS, PSP etc
Click to expand...

So even with the rampant sales of the iPod Touch and iPhone developers still aren't abandoning the dedicated machines? Did people abandon their DSLRs and dedicated cameras and settle on Apple's (fairly bland) offering? Almost 10 years of having camera phones and dedicated cameras aren't dead...
If anything standalone devices are adapting. The PSP Go is heading the route of pure DD content, and the DSi has added SD card, download support and a camera too.

If the iPod was a good gaming platform then we might see some changes. But it kind of isn't, so it's relagated to nothing more than "phone games".
 
I think Apple has something here. My kids have spent way more time playing "rope 'n fly lite" (price: free) then they have with any of the games on their brand new Nintendo DSi. They constantly have their iPhones or touch at their side, while the Nintendos are collecting dust. I think it is only a matter of time until we see preferential game development for the iPhone/touch platform and the DS and psp platforms become irrelevant
 
raggedjimmi said:
Then you're missing out on a lot of amazing games. I can take or leave the home consoles but the DS and PSP have been amazing. They've found the perfect middleground between console experience and handheld gaming.


Using that logic would the people who Bungie ripped off for Halo have something to say? ;)
It's a very common type of counter. It's been in games before and after Halo. Why would they have anything to say about it?
Click to expand...

True, for some odd reason that game just looks a whole lot like Halo. I wonder if there will be mulitplayer with good matchmaking...
 
D/Ling Madden now. It's on sale for $7.99 until kickoff tomorrow. It weights in at 102MB. I'd imagine it's got to be at least as "good" as Madden for DS, which is about 3x more expensive. I guess I'll find out in a few minutes.


Edit: OK just played a set. The graphics are good but the game play just isn't the same w/o a real joystick. I've only played a for one set so maybe I'll get used to it but right now I'd love my $ back so I could use it for the DS version.
 
I also agree that gaming on the touch is mediocre at best, but this makes me wonder if this a trial run of how well the MacTablet will do. Games really put the user in a constant hands on experience, which is far different from the photo resizing and other, simple touch moves people have made on their iPhones/iPod touches. I'm one of those people who still cant decide if I really want an iPhone because it has no physical buttons...I know most people have happily switched and love their iPhones/touches.
Like I said, it makes me wonder if Apple is watching the user experience of these Games to make appropriate changes to the Tablet.
 
stomachdoc said:
I think Apple has something here. My kids have spent way more time playing "rope 'n fly lite" (price: free) then they have with any of the games on their brand new Nintendo DSi. They constantly have their iPhones or touch at their side, while the Nintendos are collecting dust. I think it is only a matter of time until we see preferential game development for the iPhone/touch platform and the DS and psp platforms become irrelevant
Click to expand...

And what games to you have on the DSi. I find kids are attracted more to the actual games then the device.
 
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