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Google Working on Game Console to Compete with Future Apple Gaming Threat
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I would argue that mobile games are popular because they're pick up and play casual too and don't require a serious time investment.
I'm gonna tell ya right now: if Apple does this and goes all in, we can basically say goodbye to cable as we know it. No coax. No "recording". It'll be more of an iTunes on demand style, with additional bells and whistles, and ads of course.
There have been rumors floating around about Apple negotiating to deal with live content such as special events, sports, etc. They want us to cancel our bills with the cable companies and open with Apple. That's the uphill battle they're in right now.
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I think it's probably been something they've been interested in, but now that they believe Apple will be jumping in, they need to get their hands dirty before Apple snaps up the market like they did with iOS, iPad, etc.
In order to be "compelling", the gameplay, graphics and story-telling has to rival anything found on a traditional console or PC game. I don't just want to play Angry Birds or Words with Friends on my TV. That would be pointless when I already have that in my pocket. Plus, assuming Google or Apple actually releases a game console capable of running the same quality of games that we will get with XBOX One or PS4, another question would be, what would they offer that is different from the already established players in the industry? Even with the XBOX and the PlayStation (and the Wii to some degree), there is very little to distinguish them, All the platforms (including PC) play the same games and don't provide much difference between them.
I'm sure Google has seen the success of the Ouya as evidence that such a product would sell well, but it's also smart to keep up on what the competition is potentially doing.
I'm sure no company wants Apple to be able to offer up another product like the iPad, which had no viable competitors and has been a runaway success. If Apple releases a watch or a gaming console, it's better for companies like Google to have a similar product at the ready rather than letting Apple snap up market share like crazy while they work to develop something that can't possibly be as good because Apple has a head start.
As would I. Mobile games have a completely different purpose than traditional games. They are best utilized as "time wasters".
iOS developers would need to make games with the Apple TV in mind. Simply pushing mobile games to the TV is not sufficient, as we've seen since nobody really cares much about Airplaying their mobile games onto the TV. The first hurdle for all of these Android consoles is getting some quality content designed for the TV, and not just mobile games.
Exactly. But the same content could be developed for traditional consoles (XBOX, PlayStation and Wii) as well. So the big question will be, what would an Android or iOS based console offer that was DIFFERENT that the three established consoles?
I have been telling people the way you disrupt industries, and the game console industry is ripe for it, is by giving an experience at a price people want. Eat them from the bottom by taking the mass market of casual gamers who don't need hardcore graphics with a cottage industry of developers making $10-$30 games. I have no doubt serious gamers will turn their noses and she'll out $500 for a console and $60 games. But they will be marginalized to a niche. And eventually the big game houses like EA will port titles in second or third gen hardware.
We'll see. But I think Sony and Microsodt discounted Google and Apple making their plays this year.
We'll see. But I think Sony and Microsodt discounted Google and Apple making their plays this year.
With Steve Jobs gone. It seems like Apple might just embrace gaming.
And yes gaming has been an important part of iOS.
I always thought Apple would sell more computers if they had supported gaming.
They have the infrastructure in place already so why not?
And yes gaming has been an important part of iOS.
I always thought Apple would sell more computers if they had supported gaming.
They have the infrastructure in place already so why not?
I can't tell you that they'll have the same games or equal graphics, but you would get a virtual ocean of world class independent developers working, completely aware of a whole new interface. It won't be the gaming experience you're quite familiar with, but it will be one that sits very well with many homes out there.
This is how I see it:
Sony and Microsoft's eyes will be agape as they realize Apple's $99 box (and whatever else they dream up in the next 2-3 years) is creeping up on their sales, with the built in component of using the already-owned iPhone and iPad as well as 3rd party devices as cutting edge controllers. Before you know it the competition will be plugging holes in their ship and the next generation of consoles will look an awful lot more like whatever Apple has done. Only, you know, not as good.
You have to see it a little differently from what is there now. It won't be just Angry Birds. Developers know the difference in the home experience and have been waiting to offer a suitable experience for that situation.
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The problem is that, even among so called "casual gamers", studies have proven that realistic graphics is the #1 criteria among ALL gamers when rating their enjoyment of a game. Witness the meteoric drop-off in interest over the original Wii once the novel controls wore off.
Well, if the last E3 was any indication, Microsoft and Sony are already aware that tablets will play an important part in the gaming experiences. Which is why so many of the upcoming games incorporate tablets as a "second screen" or as an alternate means to interface with the game.
I purely indie driven gaming console will be a hard sell to the general public. It would need some AAA quality titles to garner interest. Maybe with the success of crowd-sourced game development (which has been somewhat shaky so far, but there have been some successes), an independent developer could create a AAA quality game. But again, developers, indie or not, will not develop for a platform that doesn't have high adoption rates among consumers.
I submit to you that would not have happened if Nintendo didn't have the gall to charge the same price for games as Xbox/Playstation since they could not keep pace on the realistic graphics front. If they had charged $30 for each initial release of Mario games their user base would have been just fine.
Sony fanboys and Ms fanboys are already hard to handle, Apple fanboys are going to be unbearable in the gaming community. God help us.
What was Steve Jobs' message to google and FB?
It is funny to see apple getting into so many different things. Gaming console?
I am a die hard apple fan, and I am a moderate gamer on my mid 30's, who still hits a PS3 every once in a while. But, I would HATE to see apple getting into that business.
I am OK with games on ipad/iphone, but a dedicated console...
That reminds me what Steve Jobs told google and FB when they were trying to diversify too much. STICK WITH WHAT YOU DO BEST!
I hope all these rumors are BS and that apple keeps its focus on the iOS and computers (that includes iphone and iPad).
It is funny to see apple getting into so many different things. Gaming console?
I am a die hard apple fan, and I am a moderate gamer on my mid 30's, who still hits a PS3 every once in a while. But, I would HATE to see apple getting into that business.
I am OK with games on ipad/iphone, but a dedicated console...
That reminds me what Steve Jobs told google and FB when they were trying to diversify too much. STICK WITH WHAT YOU DO BEST!
I hope all these rumors are BS and that apple keeps its focus on the iOS and computers (that includes iphone and iPad).
No. Just no.
Games like Minecraft and the Wii (drop off or no, its still sold more than either PS3 or Xbox this gen!) have proven without a doubt that graphics are ABSOULTELY NOT REQUIRED for success.
Graphics are good/helpful, yes. Required? Nope! The #1 requirement is "is this game FUN to play."
I imagine that although the games won't be like Angry Birds, games that are popular will build solid reputations in the same manner as Plants vs Zombies, Temple Run, and other indie titles that have met great success. I don't see success, distribution, or publicity being a big problem considering the demand for high quality, deeper gaming experiences for the living room.
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Good thing nobody suggested that was the case. At all. They're talking about the Apple TV being utilized as for games. Just as the iPhone became a gaming tool by default once the App Store was released.
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Um, I'm pretty sure Apple invented gaming, so I don't know what you're talking about.
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You have no idea what you are talking about.
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To own the living room, you really need to be on input one. Right now Apple TV is not.
That may be so, but he is right nonetheless. Apple has the entire ecosystem thing covered-- they make it look easy compared to the clunky interfaces Sony and Microsoft have been choking up for their multimedia experiences.
Throw some more horse power (and honestly, how simple would that be?) and solid gaming APIs into an Apple TV, and suddenly Xbox and Playstaion will be struggling to keep their heads above water. Who's going to ignore a $99 box with all kinds of great features, massive and proven ecosystem, a beautiful interface, and a massive list of games from some brilliant developers, vying specifically for big screen, living room-experience games. Not to mention a first-class controller that's already in your pocket.
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