More on Gaming: iPhone Games Group and Apple Seeking Video Game Artist

[MacRumors]

Through job listings and and interview comments, it's clear that Apple has finally taken an active interest in the gaming market. The company has been positioning the iPod touch as a gaming device in their advertisements both on the web and on television. Meanwhile, a recent job listing seeking a game developer raised the question of whether or not Apple might take matters into their own hands with game development.

Some weren't convinced that the game developer job listing necessarily meant that Apple would actually develop their own games, but another recently-discovered job listing further suggests that they may. In October, Apple posted a job listing specifically for a "Video Game Artist".

The interactive media group is looking for a skilled artist who wants to work as part of a small highly motivated team to work on interactive multimedia experiences on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The position on the team is to help design, visualize, enable and implement interface, 3D characters/environments, animation, texturing as well as original concept artwork.

The candidate must be able to model and animate 3D scene graph environments and be a strong environment and character concept artist. While you could argue that a game developer may simply be used to help Apple support their 3rd party developers, Apple's hiring of a gaming artist/modeler seems more telling.

Meanwhile, another Apple job listing reveals that Apple has been recruiting for an internal team called the "iPhone Games Group".

Article Link: More on Gaming: iPhone Games Group and Apple Seeking Video Game Artist

 

[DMann]

Game on, Apple! The pieces are in place!

Merge it with the Apple TV, and bring on BD, to seal the deal.

 

[Jayomat]

so apple is going to develop games themselves? huh?

 

[wesleyh]

It's the logical next step. Good decision apple!

 

[Livestfastest]

PIXAR iPhone games?

Is it possible Apple is going to develop its own PIXAR movie related games?

I don't see them getting into game development in a big way, but developing those movie related games in-house would certainly save Apple and Disney/Pixar money.
Not to mention Steve Jobs is a control freak, so it gives Apple/Disney/Pixar complete control of such projects.

 

[Revelation78]

Is it possible Apple is going to develop its own PIXAR movie related games?

I don't see them getting into game development in a big way, but developing those movie related games in-house would certainly save Apple and Disney/Pixar money.

Doing it in house would cost more money; as current games developed are Licensed for a fee to Disney/Pixar by the developer of said game.

 

[DipDog3]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7D11 Safari/528.16)

Seen this before but Apple still hasn't released any games!

 

[Doctor Q]

I'll be surprised if Apple starts their own gaming product line. But what do I know anyway? I thought Graphing Calculator was the best game program provided by Apple.

 

[nkawtg72]

what are the chances apple is positioning itself for a possible product in the next couple yrs or so to compete with the Xbox, Playstation, etc?

for what its worth, it's always been said that there aren't any games on the mac. the iPhone OS is sister to Mac OS. so taking the interest in mobile gaming found on the iPhone/iPod and creating an entire product line of gaming stations along with their mobile line up wouldn't be that far fetched.

would it?!

 

[Shunnabunich]

I was about to say something concerning the Mac platform, but I don't think I even really need to.

 

[puma1552]

It's too bad apple doesnt focus on making a better audio device.

 

[HiVolt]

Meh, the only games I like on the iPhone are the quick "time killer" types like Solitaire, Bejeweled, Tetris, etc.

I cannot get into most action or racing games due to the lack of physical buttons.

 

[doctoree]

Apple becoming a creative content creator: A dream comes true!

 

[Jayomat]

Meh, the only games I like on the iPhone are the quick "time killer" types like Solitaire, Bejeweled, Tetris, etc.

I cannot get into most action or racing games due to the lack of physical buttons.

try X2Footbal2009l... it's amazing... I'm the most critical person when it comes to iPhone games, especially demanding ones... I thought a football game would be impossible to implement in a playable way... but X2Football disabused me... even more complex games are possible if they are written by skilled coders...!

 

[BTW]

With first person shooter games surpassing all time block buster movies it is no wonder why Apple would wants a piece of this multi-billion dollar industry. Apple needs to buy a game developer or two to cement this endeavor.

 

[sinsin07]

Apple gaming on iphone/itouch... I don't think my PSP of DS has anything to worry about.
I would be more interested in seeing a full Apple gaming console. However, that damn user experience thing would probably get in the way and the controller would have only one button as not to confuse people.

 

[Red5403]

My brother used to work for Ensemble Studios and was just hired by Apple. I have no idea what exactly he is working on because he signed all sorts of legal docs saying that he couldn't tell anyone. Just adding that to the conversation, fwiw.

 

[powers74]

flashback

what are the chances apple is positioning itself for a possible product in the next couple yrs or so to compete with the Xbox, Playstation, etc?

What? bringing back Newton AND PIPPIN?!?!

 

[Devie]

what are the chances apple is positioning itself for a possible product in the next couple yrs or so to compete with the Xbox, Playstation, etc?

for what its worth, it's always been said that there aren't any games on the mac. the iPhone OS is sister to Mac OS. so taking the interest in mobile gaming found on the iPhone/iPod and creating an entire product line of gaming stations along with their mobile line up wouldn't be that far fetched.

would it?!

That would be suicide for apple to do. The market is only just accepting the 3 big ones, and thats only because Nintendo decided to go far away from Sony and MS.

I still hate gaming on my iPhone, its just not doable for me. Really needs physical buttons, but Ives is to stubborn with design on that one.

 

[NJMetsHero]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Apple start adding versitile buttons to the iPhone and iPod touch that can be used for gaming as well as other applications. They seem serious about this.

As for console gaming, they could do that too IMO. Microsoft did...they decided within the last 10 years to get involved in the market and it's worked out well for them.

 

[greygray]

I'll be surprised if Apple starts their own gaming product line. But what do I know anyway? I thought Graphing Calculator was the best game program provided by Apple.

Eheh the iBox

 

[Surklyn]

Eheh the iBox

Lol... you just made my day!! too funny.

I would like to see Apple create a game console, if anything.. for the sole purpose of seeing how sexy it would be. Apple doesn't do anything half-way, and anything they offer would "probably" be very competitive with the big 3. The only problem is, penetrating the market (as a previous poster stated). The market is saturated by 3 players, and I'm not sure how Apple could move their distribution strategy to a dedicated console.

(although, obviously.. iTunes content could be streamed to the box, think AppleTV/Game Console). Regardless.. I can't see them entering this market in a serious way to even make a dent in it.

 

[0098386]

Against Nintendo (hundred years old, ex-CEO is the 2nd richest guy in Japan and Nintendo one of the most profitable), Sony (Sony) and Microsoft (Microsoft) I couldn't see them competing in their market. I really can't see them going further than iPhone/iPod Touch games for the moment. Not in this already saturated and highly competative market. Where would they even fit in? Would people buy overpriced, under performing consoles with minimal developer support? At the moment thats what Apple are.

 

[harmonica01]

surely im not the only one who feels this way: I think if the tablet that is rumored to appear next year has the functions like tilt play such as the iphone/podtouch do, I'd love to have the current games on a larger screen + battery life.

Can you imagine a 9400m or even an older x3100 chip in a mac tablet that is essentially a blown up ipod?!

 

[11800506]

I've found Apple's Texas Hold Em game to be veey enjoyable and I think the game provides a very nice experience. I hope that this new games that Apple is developing are just as full featured and well programmer and if they are, I know I certainly will be buying them.