Gaming Industry Invited to Apple Media Event

[Peace]

As funky as the fake hand looks I really believe this is as close as we will see about the device and the potential for gaming.

Watch at the 2:40 mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntyXvLnxyXk

 

[Lesser Evets]

the reason tablets haven't taken off was because they cost more for less usability. if apple wants to sell itablets ... for $1000 or even $800 than it needs to offer usability and the freedom to run almost anything you want...

At heart, I agree.

On specifics, I would differ. It isn't so much about running anything "you want" but being able to do anything you have to in order to facilitate a purchase. Apple can take a laptop, trim it down, chop off the top end computing, and allow modified app versions to run, and I'd definitely buy a $1000 tablet over a $1000 laptop.

Not sure about how many others would, though. In mobile computing, I am never looking for complete floor model/desktop function, though many have in the past. I doubt most notebook people use full function of their portables by doing complex computing; they probably use it more for iWork/iLife type stuff.

 

[G58]

iSlate??

I think Apple will finally update the hardware this year and integrate with the iSlate! Anyone agree?

What they REALLY need to do, is release an SDK and the App Store for it as well this year! If they do not, they will REALLY be dropping the ball. They should have done it last year! Lets hope for the best!

Sorry, double post.

Are you suggesting they should have released an SDK for an unannounced product???

Where have you been for the past thirteen years? What effect do you think pre-announcing a new device by releasing an SDK would actually have?

Look, this is why Microsoft have become irrelevant. Ballmer has announced the MS slate/tablet thing three times now. And do we have a wide take-up of MS slate/tablet things? No, we do not - indeed, far from it. It's not just because Ballmer announced it [although I can't imagine a surer way of branding a thing 'UNCOOL!'], but it's the mentality behind such a tactic that damns it to hell before birth.

What Apple does is very very different. They work up many many ideas. Commit on just a few and actually release even fewer. And they say nothing until it's ready. Good plan? I'd say so. It's sure as hell worked for them so far.

And as for the SDK question, why shouldn't the iPhone SDK work if, as rumoured, the new device runs on the iPhone OS?

Apple will of course integrate, but let's hope they don't call it iSlate! It's a horrible name. Who uses a slate?

iPad, iBook [why not?] iTablet even, but iSlate is ugly. Just say it a few times: iSlate, iSlate, iSlate, I Slate, I Slate you, I-Sol-ate

No, it has to be more friendly sounding than that. After all, they're not Google! [Android Nexus One any...er - one?] My money is on iPad, or iTablet, with a resurrected iBook in third - but only because it's retro, and I don't see Apple doing retro - even in the naming process.

 

[-=XX=-Nephilim]

Pushing already some fantastic gaming experiences on iPhone / iPod Touch further via more powerful hardware as well as bigger screen is only obvious and logical thing to do...

Bring it on

 

[QEII Student IT]

iBook [why not?]

I don't think they'll go back to iBook, it stood for Notebook the first time round and I think the tablet will be more than an e-reader. I hope anyway...

 

[QEII Student IT]

I just looked at Apple Insider and Apple Stock is up about 10% since those invites went out!

 

[bossxii]

People are too narrow minded if they think the Tablet will "fail" if it doesn't do "Pro" apps such as Photoshop or some desktop applications. Gaming has driven sales of consumer PC's since very early on. The hardware has evolved in speed due to gaming, not to run some word processor or excel spreadsheet. They don't create new graphics cards for Photoshop... or whatever "arts/design" program is out there. Gaming pushes technology to create the fastest GPU, the fastest CPU, the best interface for the end user. Take project Natal, while I'm sure their could be some medical or other use for the technology, gaming is what pushes it to reality, the masses of gamers will pay for the advancement of the technology to be applied elsewhere.

If Apple puts out a tablet device that has access to the App store for gaming, video, music and debuts ebook, emags (such as the ESPN demo) it will sell like crazy. Creating spreadsheets, email etc.. is a given since it can already be done on the iPhone, although tough to do with such a small device. If they don't cripple it with an under powered CPU/GPU it will be huge. The Archos 9 tablet is a perfect example of an underpowered Tablet, that tried to fit in the 500 dollar price range. Their were many examples of Atom based tablet's (shown at CES) trying to take netbook market share and will fail because they are gutless wonders that try to put a desktop OS on a underpowered system. Then with little thought to the "user experience" they are bashed by even their biggest fans after they release.

IF HP or Dell was convinced they had the "best" tablet going they would have made a HUGE deal about them at CES. They barely even powered them on, my guess is they believe that Apple will set the bar as to what it "should" be and then they will try to play catch up. They are to far behind on the "touch" interface to even bother putting out something prior to Apple. They will try to add some feature Apple doesn't have, such as a better camera, add a SD slot, add something they can brag about because their CPU/GPU will be slow/cheap, their interface will be horribly slow and they will still just load Windows 7 vs creating anything original.

 

[turbineseaplane]

A control interface that attaches to include buttons would make the touch/phone sky rocket even further into the gaming realm.

I agree with the poster who asked for at least API support through the dock connector for 3rd parties.

There are a ton of games that really need hardware buttons to be at their best.

 

[lukecro]

Apple TV - App Store/Games

Why is nobody considering the earlier rumors of an apple gaming device possibly in-built into a new apple tv??

I think Apple will finally update the hardware this year and integrate with the iSlate! Anyone agree?

What they REALLY need to do, is release an SDK and the App Store for it as well this year! If they do not, they will REALLY be dropping the ball. They should have done it last year! Lets hope for the best!

Yeah, refreshing the Apple TV hardware specs and adding in an App Store would seem like a really smart move . . . iPhone apps designed to scale-up for a tablet could perhaps also be scaled up for a full-sized TV screen, giving users a single iSlate + Apple TV app store where they can purchase apps/games to use on all their Apple devices.

With every game console having some degree of multimedia-management now -- even the Wii is about to allow for Netflix streaming -- and non-gaming set-top media devices like the WDTV Live allowing you to access all sorts of media from your network or a hard-drive for easy playback on your TV, the Apple TV has fallen behind the times, being just a spruced-up old-school Video iPod for your TV. But if people could use apps and play games on the Apple TV, then Apple will be cutting right into the game-console market with a family-friendly, multi-purpose device. . . . Essentially an iPod Touch for the family TV. And iPhones/Touches could act as super-remotes and game-controllers for the Apple TV apps/games.

Plus, maybe then you'd see Apple open up the platform for some really cool Apple TV apps - like Boxee/Plex/XBMC, Netflix, eyeTV, and Skype/Google Voice <cough, > apps. This would allow Apple to maintain some control (app-approval process, $$ from app sales) while opening up the Apple TV enough so that we'd no longer be forced to hack it to get it to do everything we want it it to do.

With the right upgrade they could keep the costs down while still making the Apple TV consumer-friendly enough so that everyone would want one in their home, in the same way that everyone's got an iPod/Phone/Touch/Nano. It'd be as all-ages friendly as the Wii and as media-useful as the upcoming Boxee Box -- a potential market dominator that could be even more successful than the much-hyped iSlate tablet, which it could none-the-less integrate with in many ways (use the iSlate to browse TV schedules; control games on the TV, sync apps between the iSlate and the Apple TV; etc.).

That said, I'm excited about the iSlate, and I won't be holding my breath when it comes to waiting for Apple to finally upgrade the ATV. At this point, the iSlate seems more likely than a really useful Apple TV refresh. But we'll see

(Personally, I'd probably just lust for an iSlate for a few years before buying one. But if Apple made an Apple TV that could everything it does now + allowed apps so that it could do what the Boxee Box promises it can do without having to hack anything + can play some simple iTouch-style games -- all for less $$ than buying a Mac Mini -- I'd buy it immediately; I think a lot of people would.)

 

[JakeTheMac]

Maybe

Maybe Big Steve has decided Apple need's to gain the gaming market back to Mac's. Although that's more a WWDC announcement.

 

[TAJones99]

wish I can go.

 

[TheSlush]

Perhaps an Apple TV tie-in?

 

[nagromme]

I’m amazed how much gaming I do on my iPhone—even sitting at home where portability is not the top priority. If I ever buy a tablet, touch-based gaming will be my killer app.

 

[zap2]

Point and click gaming or motion (via accelerometer) controlled gaming is better than sitting button-pushing.

Perhaps on a casual scale, but currently FPS are much better on classic controllers(like X360 and PS3)

 

[flottenheimer]

"Modern Warfare 3" exclusive for Mac only! That would rock!

PS: Really looking forward to see a Steve in great shape (hopefully).

 

[jayducharme]

Can anyone say, "Surface?" The demo seems a bit clunky, and looks like stuff MS was presenting a few years ago. I'm not sure if a tabletop system would take off. The viewing angle is too awkward.

But if the table projected holographic images above the surface....

 

[ariza910]

It could potentially be there because they're going to anounce an attachable thumbstick/button attachment for gaming to the iPhone...

Heck, just OS level API support for other people's via the dock would be sufficient....

We'll soon see.

Phazer

This would make the most sense and would put Apple in direct competition with DSi and PSPs. Touch screen is fantastic on the iPod Touch but adding physical buttons via a dock attachment would make it a much more capable portable gaming device.

 

[Yixian]

I think you guys are overlooking the real implications of this story.

Whether Apple intend to show off gaming on the iPhone or tablet, you don't invite the gaming press to an event to show off new APIs that may be useful for game developers...

You show of games.

Games. At the stage where they can be shown during play. Games that are significant enough to warrant coverage on IGN or Kotakus homepages - not little arcade titles, not sudoku compilations - full console level experiences.

If they turn out to be for the iPhone, lovely, the platform is only JUST starting to have console level titles released on it.

But what would be amazing is if Apple showed off high concept games on the tablet.

 

[MacFly123]

the reason tablets haven't taken off was because they cost more for less usability. if apple wants to sell itablets to non-fanboys for $1000 or even $800 than it needs to offer usability and the freedom to run almost anything you want. not just an approved app store or media subscriptions.

no one is going to pay for magazines to read on a computer unless it's the WSJ or some other specialty content

Not entirely true. You miss a MAJOR point, and that is that tablets have had HORRIBLE UIs! Mostly desktop windows trying to poke the tiniest little UI elements with a stylus instead of designing the UI FOR THE TABLET! What a concept lol! The biggest reason Microsoft FAILED MISERABLY at them!

Also, Apple has proven that people are very willing to buy into hardware and an ecosystem that offers premium content without crap and ads! Another reason the iSlate will succeed!

Are you suggesting they should have released an SDK for an unannounced product???

Where have you been for the past thirteen years? What effect do you think pre-announcing a new device by releasing an SDK would actually have?

Look, this is why Microsoft have become irrelevant. Ballmer has announced the MS slate/tablet thing three times now. And do we have a wide take-up of MS slate/tablet things? No, we do not - indeed, far from it. It's not just because Ballmer announced it [although I can't imagine a surer way of branding a thing 'UNCOOL!'], but it's the mentality behind such a tactic that damns it to hell before birth.

What Apple does is very very different. They work up many many ideas. Commit on just a few and actually release even fewer. And they say nothing until it's ready. Good plan? I'd say so. It's sure as hell worked for them so far.

And as for the SDK question, why shouldn't the iPhone SDK work if, as rumoured, the new device runs on the iPhone OS?

Apple will of course integrate, but let's hope they don't call it iSlate! It's a horrible name. Who uses a slate?

iPad, iBook [why not?] iTablet even, but iSlate is ugly. Just say it a few times: iSlate, iSlate, iSlate, I Slate, I Slate you, I-Sol-ate

No, it has to be more friendly sounding than that. After all, they're not Google! [Android Nexus One any...er - one?] My money is on iPad, or iTablet, with a resurrected iBook in third - but only because it's retro, and I don't see Apple doing retro - even in the naming process.

CALM DOWN lol! I was referring to the Apple TV, geeze!

P.S. iSlate sounds good and is the MOST LIKELY name I will bet you anything! iPad HORRIBLE, tampon, dilutes iPod and majorly confuses the two! iTablet not original enough, iBook being it is a SLATE and not a dual screen form factor that obviously makes no sense either! Sorry! Don't worry, you'll see next Wednesday.

Yeah, refreshing the Apple TV hardware specs and adding in an App Store would seem like a really smart move . . . iPhone apps designed to scale-up for a tablet could perhaps also be scaled up for a full-sized TV screen, giving users a single iSlate + Apple TV app store where they can purchase apps/games to use on all their Apple devices.

With every game console having some degree of multimedia-management now -- even the Wii is about to allow for Netflix streaming -- and non-gaming set-top media devices like the WDTV Live allowing you to access all sorts of media from your network or a hard-drive for easy playback on your TV, the Apple TV has fallen behind the times, being just a spruced-up old-school Video iPod for your TV. But if people could use apps and play games on the Apple TV, then Apple will be cutting right into the game-console market with a family-friendly, multi-purpose device. . . . Essentially an iPod Touch for the family TV. And iPhones/Touches could act as super-remotes and game-controllers for the Apple TV apps/games.

Plus, maybe then you'd see Apple open up the platform for some really cool Apple TV apps - like Boxee/Plex/XBMC, Netflix, eyeTV, and Skype/Google Voice <cough, > apps. This would allow Apple to maintain some control (app-approval process, $$ from app sales) while opening up the Apple TV enough so that we'd no longer be forced to hack it to get it to do everything we want it it to do.

With the right upgrade they could keep the costs down while still making the Apple TV consumer-friendly enough so that everyone would want one in their home, in the same way that everyone's got an iPod/Phone/Touch/Nano. It'd be as all-ages friendly as the Wii and as media-useful as the upcoming Boxee Box -- a potential market dominator that could be even more successful than the much-hyped iSlate tablet, which it could none-the-less integrate with in many ways (use the iSlate to browse TV schedules; control games on the TV, sync apps between the iSlate and the Apple TV; etc.).

That said, I'm excited about the iSlate, and I won't be holding my breath when it comes to waiting for Apple to finally upgrade the ATV. At this point, the iSlate seems more likely than a really useful Apple TV refresh. But we'll see

(Personally, I'd probably just lust for an iSlate for a few years before buying one. But if Apple made an Apple TV that could everything it does now + allowed apps so that it could do what the Boxee Box promises it can do without having to hack anything + can play some simple iTouch-style games -- all for less $$ than buying a Mac Mini -- I'd buy it immediately; I think a lot of people would.)

Yup, you are on the right path. I don't know about these apps chances though... "Boxee/Plex/XBMC, Netflix, eyeTV, and Google Voice". Netflix making it would be a cold day in hell lol! Major conflict of interest with iTunes!

 

[StanWinstone]

It'll run every game the iPhone runs already- and I suspect it won't take long for developers to start designing upgraded versions at high resolution for the table. Could be a great mobile gaming device- especially if it allows some sort of joystick/joypad to be connected.

 

[QEII Student IT]

As some people suggested, an add-on accessory with buttons for gaming would be cool, but Apple like to make all-in-ones. They even made an I'm a Mac ad where Mac works out of the box and PC has loads of peripherals to setup. I think that until some sort of button system is arranged, Apple "games consoles" will not evolve far past the mini-games that dominate the app store today. I think that the tablet should be released as a stand alone device, but you should be able to buy a bluetooth gaming controller to go with it.

 

[Jamo12]

I hope that Apple recognize that their iPod touch/iPhone gaming success will most likely be shared by a tablet device. Point and click gaming or motion (via accelerometer) controlled gaming is better than sitting button-pushing.

A just touch screen interface will NEVER beat a controller with buttons or a keyboard and mouse.

I do wish they did have some sort of button attachment (like everyone has been saying). Maybe said attachment will also have a built in battery so you can actually get a good amount of gaming with one charge. (or you could just double the thickness of the iPod Touch{<-------------NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!!!![wish it would though]} and double the battery life and have room for better stuff in it.)

My DS lite lasts me for about 12-14 hours of games on low brightness while the iPod does maybe 2.5.

 

[Steven Haskayne]

At Home Gaming?

After seeing the use of the iphone as a remote control for the Parrot AR Drone (http://www.ardrone.org/parrot-ar-drone/en/) i think we're missing a trick here. Imagine if the iTablet/Slate/Pad has an HD output that connects to your television, then using bluetooth connects to your iPhone as a WiiMote type remote and the screen could be used as a secondary screen?

I can't help but imagine how different this would set apple apart from the likes of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft in terms of originality and the potential to innovate with not only a tablet, but the iphone also.

Just a thought....

 

[Bubba Satori]

This is great news.
Maybe it means Apple will stop putting two year old, low end, $50 video cards in their premium computers.
Now if Apple could just figure out how to stuff DX11 in OSX.
That would be amazing, cool and really neat.

 

[*LTD*]

I’m amazed how much gaming I do on my iPhone—even sitting at home where portability is not the top priority. If I ever buy a tablet, touch-based gaming will be my killer app.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.