Hints From iTunes 7.1 (International Movies and AppleTV Games )

[J Radical]

Anyone expecting TV games any more sophisticated than pac man is probably going to be disappointed.

The hardware just isn't there for 3D games and the development support for a newbie platform in a swamped market is non existant. The device is competing against the xbox 360 and PS3 for living room dominance, it could win the battle for content delivery but not for games.

Older classics that could work, such as mario platformers are all owned by nintendo and are available for download on the wii virtual console. Xbox Live has a similar service for 'simple' games. TV doesn't even have an official controller let alone developers.

Gaming is a highly competitive market with astronomical entry costs, apple can dabble but not much else.

 

[longofest]

Now, now ladies, lets be fair. These guys had it first. But I'm in agreement that AppleInsider should credit such stories.

True enough... our story has been updated.

 

[Hattig]

Will Apple TV have 3D hardware?

A 64MB nVidia GeForce 7400.

That's more than a Wii. On the other hand the AppleTV will be running at 1280x720x60, not 863x480x30 / 863x576x25.

Edit: I should point out that this means that the Apple TV could have beautiful looking games, but the games will be simple and generic, nothing much like what is available on the PS2/PS3/XBox/XBox360/GC/Wii. Also the AppleTV has a problem in that it has no Bluetooth (unless that's why there is a delay) for a game controller, and a single USB port ain't exactly setting the world on fire.

 

[longofest]

No, I didn't see the keynote. Thanks for the info. the 7400 isn't bad. Somewhere in between last generation and next generation consoles.

-rich

The specs of the TV (note: unofficial. Actual detailed specs have not been released by Apple).

 

[Mr Skills]

I bought a new copy of Sega Rally for PC from Woolworths (big UK chain of shops) the other day for £1. The entire game takes up 40MB and the only thing that dates it for me (a non-hardcore gamer) is the low resolution of 640x480.

There's no reason why they could not do something like that, but higher res, in an easily-downloadable size. And as long as they are careful about graphics design (e.g. avoiding things that are meant to look photo-realistic) they could do some great looking games.

Just because you can't get Ultra-Super-Halo-Quake 7 or whatever, doesn't mean that you are stuck with PacMan. Don't forget Apple's reputation for thinking different.

 

[macfaninpdx]

No Games, I think

I saw this blog from Dan Moren at MacUser. It seems pretty clear to me that there won't be games on AppleTV. At least not at first.

 

[gkarris]

A 64MB nVidia GeForce 7400.

That's more than a Wii. On the other hand the AppleTV will be running at 1280x720x60, not 863x480x30 / 863x576x25.

Edit: I should point out that this means that the Apple TV could have beautiful looking games, but the games will be simple and generic, nothing much like what is available on the PS2/PS3/XBox/XBox360/GC/Wii. Also the AppleTV has a problem in that it has no Bluetooth (unless that's why there is a delay) for a game controller, and a single USB port ain't exactly setting the world on fire.

Really better than a Wii?

Well, it looks like it will at least cover up to a Sega Dreamcast.

Hydrothunder for TV!! Way cool!

AvP from Jaguar anyone - maybe even network capable???

 

[crees!]

if Apple remote can be revamped to be like Wii remote, I will be sold.

It'll be like the iPhone and will display buttons unique to what you are controlling (AppleTV, cable box, DVD player, etc).

 

[Swarmlord]

I'm sure it wont' be the current AppleTV, but Apple does NEED a gaming console. It fits EXACTLY into thier marketshare demographic! <snip>.

It would be nice, but i doubt they want to compete in the sub $250 machine category. I'd be happy if they brought more games that would run on Powerbooks and minis.

 

[CoreWeb]

Well, the underclocked 1GHz in the AppleTV is technically above the supposed 729 MHz the Wii gets, but the Wii is PowerPC...

But, is Intel faster, or slower, than PowerPC? The age-old question...

So, technically, the AppleTV may be more powerful than the Wii, so what does it use this power for? Even the iPod is capable of playing 640x480 video, the AppleTV need only be about 4x as powerful as that to play 720p. So would 4 iPods be more powerful than a Wii? Or is all that computing power not required for the simple playing of movies?

I can't see the AppleTV being a great gaming system... but then again, I didn't think Apple could release a "great" phone - but at that time, I was thinking of phones like the RAZR, and how there wasn't really much "innovation" that could be done. I didn't foresee Apple making a smartphone until later. So could it be something more in the gaming platform?

Of course, it could just be iPod style games.

 

[boxandrew]

Do we know why there was a delay for the TV? I'm sure someone has suggested this before, but perhaps it was something connected with the secret features of Leopard...

BTW, sorry for being so ignorant, but what is the new shipping date for these things?

 

[Shintocam]

$$$ adding up

It'll be like the iPhone and will display buttons unique to what you are controlling (AppleTV, cable box, DVD player, etc).

Yes, but then the "controller"/remote is going to cost almost as much as the TV - soon when you add in the extra BlueTooth module, this accessory controller etc...the cost of the TV is going to be nearly as much as an XBox360....

I think just keeping it simple, maybe adding a scrollwheel to the remote and making use of simple games like the iPod has is going to be the extent of it (at the most).

Plus remember the line says something like "are you sure you want to sync your games to the TV?" What it may mean is "are you sure you want to sync your games to the TV? 'cause it ain't gonna do you any good if you do".....

 

[Shintocam]

Vector games?

So, technically, the AppleTV may be more powerful than the Wii, so what does it use this power for? Even the iPod is capable of playing 640x480 video, the AppleTV need only be about 4x as powerful as that to play 720p.

Unless, they decide to only use vector graphics for the games? Starwars? Tempest? Asteroids?

Could be cool.....

 

[yagran]

yeh confirms my suspicions after i got a questionnaire in t y inbox from apple asking me what games console i owned. lol

 

[LimeiBook86]

This is pretty interesting. I did find it odd that Jobs mentioned video game consoles on the Macworld Keynote, remember? He was talking about the markets for cell phones and video games and digital cameras. Video game consoles were the least and he said something like "See not as big as you thought." Makes you think... I'm sure they can do something with the Apple TV game wise.

Who knows there might even a be a small bluetooth chip in the Apple TV, so add some wireless gamepads and your set. Maybe eventually this means a gamepad system preference in Mac OS X 10.5? Or at least something that doesn't require you to buy a 3rd party plug-in to use a USB gamepad

 

[powermac_daddy]

why can't they just design a wide screen monitor that can use for both computer and cable TV.

 

[wrldwzrd89]

This is pretty interesting. I did find it odd that Jobs mentioned video game consoles on the Macworld Keynote, remember? He was talking about the markets for cell phones and video games and digital cameras. Video game consoles were the least and he said something like "See not as big as you thought." Makes you think... I'm sure they can do something with the Apple TV game wise.

Who knows there might even a be a small bluetooth chip in the Apple TV, so add some wireless gamepads and your set. Maybe eventually this means a gamepad system preference in Mac OS X 10.5? Or at least something that doesn't require you to buy a 3rd party plug-in to use a USB gamepad

I have to agree with you there, as far as the Apple TV goes...

On the other hand, I have a USB gamepad plugged into my Mac, and it works just fine with the games I play, with no need for a 3rd party plug-in or preference pane. (Don't most games have control configuration options in their preferences? Mine do.)

 

[Peace]

FCC regulations require ANY video console that connects to your TV to have an external "access port".This is why you see cable boxes,game consoles and the TV with external ports that are labeled "for future use" or something to that effect.

Please don't automatically assume it's for anything other than to meet regulations.

 

[DMann]

Bluetooth

A 64MB nVidia GeForce 7400.

That's more than a Wii. On the other hand the AppleTV will be running at 1280x720x60, not 863x480x30 / 863x576x25.

Edit: I should point out that this means that the Apple TV could have beautiful looking games, but the games will be simple and generic, nothing much like what is available on the PS2/PS3/XBox/XBox360/GC/Wii. Also the AppleTV has a problem in that it has no Bluetooth (unless that's why there is a delay) for a game controller, and a single USB port ain't exactly setting the world on fire.

Yea, but that's what dongles are for......... We will be seeing, soon after release, a special option built Gaming TV offered along side the generic one. Once Apple realizes how strong the demand is, they'll make all TVs Gaming TVs, with better graphics cards, Bluetooth, and even awesome choices for controls. Now, THIS will be big!

 

[ladbroke]

You guys are really intense about this, huh?

I don't think there's any way Apple could compete with Nintendo, Sony, or MS. Look at Apple's business model: it finds consumer electronics that are obviously broken, corrects them with a nuanced, user-centric approach, and sells them for large sums of money. Just how is is the gaming industry broken? How does Apple add value to it in a way that others can't?

In any case, my point is the gaming industry is way too crowded for Apple to enter on the scale some of you are suggesting. It'll have a few iPod games, tops, and use the Apple remote (or an after market controller) to control them.

 

[RichCoder]

Well, the underclocked 1GHz in the AppleTV is technically above the supposed 729 MHz the Wii gets, but the Wii is PowerPC...

But, is Intel faster, or slower, than PowerPC? The age-old question...

It's the Pentium M processor, so it is faster.

-rich

 

[pgwalsh]

Any gaming on the tv will be of the Tertris and Pac-Man varieties. Maybe some Missle Command and other Atari type games. An afterthought like the video iPod. It won't be Wii or PS or XBox level gaming. Sorry Hardcore Complaymers.

You wouldn't need a 1 Ghz Pentium M to play those games. I don't know the full specifications of the Apple TV, but I imagine you could play average games with the 1Ghz processor, like Age of Empires. However, this also depends on what OS capabilities this little unit has.

 

[crees!]

Yes, but then the "controller"/remote is going to cost almost as much as the TV - soon when you add in the extra BlueTooth module, this accessory controller etc...the cost of the TV is going to be nearly as much as an XBox360....

I think just keeping it simple, maybe adding a scrollwheel to the remote and making use of simple games like the iPod has is going to be the extent of it (at the most).

Plus remember the line says something like "are you sure you want to sync your games to the TV?" What it may mean is "are you sure you want to sync your games to the TV? 'cause it ain't gonna do you any good if you do".....

Do you not remember the one Apple patent that went floating around months ago about a remote that could do just that? $600 for a phone, the apparent price-tag alone doesn't both Apple. They'll charge, people will buy. Whatever the remote it'll be included with Apple TV, not as an accessory.

 

[dazzer21]

I don't understand how ? could even hope to enter into the games market when it is so clearly dominated by established players. However, what of emulation and having already existing titles play on the ? hardware? I'm still using Connectix Virtual Game Station on my G4 Powerbook and that's more than a step up from Tetris or Patience - I'm currently playing Gran Turismo2! Would ? be able to produce hardware that can readily play XBox/PS2/PS3/Wii games directly off the discs?

And is ?TV going to make playing already existing titles easy, so you can for example wirelessly beam your XBox 360 from upstairs onto your living room TV?

 

[maximile]

In this post on my blog (which I'm shamelessly spamming, because I'm proud that I predicted this in January), I have a go at answering some of these questions. Here's a summary if you don't want to visit:

• Graphics sufficient for all sorts of cool games. Even if the graphics card isn't the rumoured 64MB GeForce, the fact that it can display all those cool menus and decode HD video suggests that it'd be capable of doing impressive stuff.
• Controlled either by bluetooth dongle or 802.11 wireless controllers. There's no reason you can't use 802.11 as an input device protocol. They'd just have to write custom ethernet drivers to allow it.
• Market. I don't think they'll be aiming to compete with the Wii in any way. I think they're more likely to try and set up something like Xbox Live Arcade, but with the marketplace on the computer (iTunes) rather than on the console.

Plus remember the line says something like "are you sure you want to sync your games to the TV?" What it may mean is "are you sure you want to sync your games to the TV? 'cause it ain't gonna do you any good if you do".....