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Hints From iTunes 7.1 (International Movies and AppleTV Games )

gkarris said:
Really better than a Wii?

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

Hydrothunder for :apple:TV!! Way cool!

AvP from Jaguar anyone - maybe even network capable???
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Dude, I always loved HydroThunder... but was so disappointed that you could only get up to 2 players on dreamcast...

Regarding processing power, however, UT (Unreal Tournament [the original]) still plays like a dream on my 400MHz G3 iMac DV SE. Well... maybe not a dream, but pretty damn well. I'm sure the :apple:TV could handle it... not that I'm suggesting anything...

If I were to suggest anything, I'd say BRING BACK ESCAPE VELOCITY!!!

Yeah? Are ya with me?

-Clive
 
I don't understand why so many thinks that the Apple TV has to play either really simple pacmac style games, or complex console type games. There is a middle ground you know, as I mentioned in my Sega Rally example: simple (but not archaic) arcade games with nice (but not next-gen) graphics.

Maybe something like the old Sega "virtua" series with updated graphics: the games are just the right level of simplicity, the graphical style is easy to make really cool-looking in HD without needing ridiculous power and there is a strong visual theme.

reviewvf2sat-1.jpg

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Imagine they went all retro-style with lots of polygons, but in a really cool, ultra-smooth HD way. They would be small and easily downloaded, look really cool without taking up power, be sophisticated enough to be really playable but not so complex they were competing with consoles.

Of course I'm dreaming... I'm just saying that we should not only look at this in the obvious "either ipod games or full console games" way.
 
Given that this is a streaming device, could some of the processing speed and graphics power be offset by the device it is streaming from? For example if you have a top of the range MacPro could the Apple TV be a window into the MacPro that utilizes its power as a gaming machine. This might be complete techno pie in the sky, but in that way you wouldn't need to keep buying a new Apple TV but would benefit from upgrading your desktop or laptop.
 
a456 said:
Given that this is a streaming device, could some of the processing speed and graphics power be offset by the device it is streaming from? For example if you have a top of the range MacPro could the Apple TV be a window into the MacPro that utilizes its power as a gaming machine. This might be complete techno pie in the sky, but in that way you wouldn't need to keep buying a new Apple TV but would benefit from upgrading your desktop or laptop.
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Maybe for some sort of turn-based game but there is no way it could stream the data back and forth fast enough for anything that required instant control. The lag would be huge.
 
iPhone = Apple TV controller?

crees! said:
It'll be like the iPhone and will display buttons unique to what you are controlling (AppleTV, cable box, DVD player, etc).
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Perhaps the iPhone could be used as an Apple TV controller, adding additional functionality via software buttons etc. It even has an accelerometer(?) inside to tell orientation. This could be used for gaming, yes?
 
iPhone

MacDrool said:
Perhaps the iPhone could be used as an Apple TV controller, adding additional functionality via software buttons etc. It even has an accelerometer(?) inside to tell orientation. This could be used for gaming, yes?
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Great idea, although this would make for one really expensive remote :eek:
 
macfaninpdx said:
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.
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I didn't see anything in that blog post that changed my mind. MacUser and MacWorld (their sibling) always seem to ignore any news that could be classified as "rumor" or otherwise discredit it, which is their biggest weakness.
 
Maybe before we cry about games, we should wait and see how well it does for what it was designed for.

-mark
 
gkarris said:
Retro gaming is becoming popular - nothing really past DOOM...

Bring on the Atari and Williams Classics!!!
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Everything prior to Doom is great for nostalgic reasons (especially if you're my age and grew up in the Goldmine Arcade) but beyond that, they're pretty much worthless. Even my friends and I got bored of those games pretty quickly back then. I think Apple should set the bar a little higher and aim for something a little more modern. If people can already play the classics in emulation on their own computers then I think it's probably okay to expect a little more from :apple:TV than that.
 
The big thing for me was always:
a) simple, mind-intensive games (Adventures of Lolo)
b) horribly drawn-out RPGs (SSI, Wizardry -- things taking months or years to beat)
c) text games (Zork)
d) surreal platform games (Mario, Goonies 2, etc)

For instance, I was never big into FPS or fighting games, although I was big into Street Fighter 2 until about the twelfth time they remade it.

The cool thing about this is, to make me happy, all Apple would need to do is make a computer capable of running a DOS emulator, an NES emulator, and perhaps a couple other emulators (Turbografix: SPLATTERHOUSE LIVES!)

And the really cool thing is that I'm sitting here using one of them right now ;) And it's portable, it also runs Windows, and it hooks to my TV... etc etc.
 
I think the Wii has made it clear that there is lots of market for medium range gaming, which is what games on :apple:TV would be. There are lots of ways games can be fun without being graphicly intense and for your average consumer who just wants to download a game to play for a few hours this would be just about right.

It could be an interesting niche for the product.
 
Pong!

Come on... three pages already and no one has mentioned Steves affiliation with Pong in his Atari days? ;)
 
Great, I can now play crappy, over-priced iPod games on my TV...with a sub-standard controller. Where do I sign up?

Adding in simple games functionality may be bonus to some, but I doubt adding in this feature will sell any "extra" :apple: TVs.
 
I'd like to see games that not only could all and any of the family play but that they'd actually want to.

The biggest distinction I'm going to make is the avoidance of games that rely on 'reaction time'.

Your going to think I'm a bit crazy here but how about being able to play either with the family in the same room 'internet link up' multi-player with games like scrabble, monopoly, 'video' blackjack dealer, chess , cluedo, risk, charades, dungeons & Dragons (character based rpg over the network), battleships, trivial pursuit, card games, etc etc


You know the living room is a 'family zone' and traditional gaming consoles lock out the 'entire family' big style...

I could just see all the silver surfers playing cribbage 'online' via the telly...

Apple TV is strikes me is for 'TV first' - that means it's a 'communal experience' so this kind of game could really fit into that..
 
Hey... As long as Apple does it RIGHT

I could less about games and Apple TV right now... (my own personal problems with my job... :mad: :mad: ) but I am glad that Apple is making strides and i hope they do it right.

And the more posts I post the sooner I will get to put a picture up by my name.
 
Gaming Cluster

a456 said:
Given that this is a streaming device, could some of the processing speed and graphics power be offset by the device it is streaming from? For example if you have a top of the range MacPro could the Apple TV be a window into the MacPro that utilizes its power as a gaming machine. This might be complete techno pie in the sky, but in that way you wouldn't need to keep buying a new Apple TV but would benefit from upgrading your desktop or laptop.
Click to expand...

Why stop there? Let's network a gaming cluster; a gaming supercomputer which can generate 3D holographic images right upon your livingroom floor...:cool:
 
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