More on iPod Games?

[MacRumors]

A job listing posted on Gamasutra which reveals that Apple is seeking out a programmer for the development consumer entertainment software with "experience working with embedded systems", "ARM7 RISC processor experience", and 2D and 3D graphics programming skills.

The job listing was posted on Feb 17, 2005. ThinkSecret suspects that this would indicates that Apple is interested in creating upcoming iPod games.

This is not the first time that future iPod games have been rumored. Previous rumors had reported that a 3rd party company (Digital River) would be creating downloadable games for upcoming iPods.

Apple's iPod present ship with 4 simple games - Music Quiz, Solitaire, Brick and Parachute.

 

[jestershinra]

Sounds cool- I wonder if they'll really take advantage of the color on high end iPods...

 

[dcollierp]

Good news for iPod owners.

 

[MacsRgr8]

Ha ha ha...

Games on an iPod more important than on a G5

 

[aricher]

Maybe with the move to all iPods having color screens these games would be worthwhile. It would be nice to have something other than that crappy breakout to play on my daily bus ride.

 

[Chaszmyr]

As addictive as Parachute can be, I'd love to see some cool games on the next-gen, color-screen iPods... Maybe some side scrollers, like an R-Typeish game, or a Super Marioish game.

 

[MOFS]

Ha ha ha...

Games on an iPod more important than on a G5

exactly. I reckon Apple should spend less time (and money) on Swiss graph companies and instead splash out on a major games developer for their desktops. id software and Blizzard spring to mind. Leave games developing for the iPod for licenced 3rd party developers.

 

[BigDogg]

Look out Nintendo/Sony!

 

[Macaddicttt]

I'm not so sure this is a good idea. I can't really think that the click-wheel lends itself well to games. How exactly would these games work? I thought the included games were far from good in the controls department.

 

[Chimera]

License Pac-Man Apple!

It'll be interesting to see if these games for the iPod will come free or whether you have to pay a small price to download from the iTunes Music Store, and how graphically detailed these games can be....

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Can't wait for a game of Tetris on the iPod Shuffle...

Seriously, does anybody ever play the games on the iPods...? Except for Solitare I don't even know which games are on my mini...

<edit>
Okey, Music quiz was fun, for about two minutes...
Paracute and Bricks totally lame...
Solitare I already knew was extremely dull...

Why put games on it at all... iPods arent made for hard core gaming, get a PSP for crying out loud...
</edit>

 

[iGary]

No, thanks.

I guess I am one in the minority that doesn't play any of the games on the iPod.

 

[Mechcozmo]

I hear the next iPod revision will have the "mini-AGP" slot so you can upgrade your iPod to achieve better performance in games. However, some of the graphics cards will create so much heat that the iPod may melt with extended usage.



Apple HAS TO create these games because there isn't an iPod SDK. The reasoning is so that people don't make an iPod app that allows you to transfer songs from one iPod to another.

 

[swissmann]

I'd like more games. I am wondering if this is something that could be installed on older iPods or would just come with new ones.

 

[Trowaman]

Chess and Nanosaur 2 go!!!!!

Well, Chess at least. That'd be fun. Maybe Tetris too.

Pokémon?

 

[muire]

iPad for iPod?

I know. I know. My photoshop skillz are ass (ie. size ratio, etc.), but is this even feasible? Is the docking port able to allow input from a controller device like the iPad (maybe with a firmware update perhaps)?

 

[narco]

They should buy out Atari and port all the old Atari 2600 games that use the little wheel controller. I would totally be down for some Bluetooth Pong.

And am I the only one who doesn't think that Apple should spend a dime on games for the Macintosh? Seriously, buy a console if you want to play video games.

Fishes,
narco.

 

[vollspacken]

this is the most stupidest thing I've ever read..!

why the hell does Apple waste R&D resources on developing games for the iPod??? why compete with PSP and Gameboy DS??? WHYWHYWHY???

if there is one thing that Apple should pay money for in the gaming department, it's the following:

pay valve for a licence to port Half Life 2/Counterstrike to OsX

and no, I do not play counterstrike... I don't play at all, but I know that this is the most important game on this planet, and getting it ported to the Mac might be a very smart move... I know it's based on DirectX (Harvoc?, correct me on that, I don't know much about games besides C-64...) and one would basically have to rewrite it for OsX and OpenGL, but anyways...

vSpacken

 

[Hattig]

I know. I know. My photoshop skillz are ass (ie. size ratio, etc.), but is this even feasible? Is the docking port able to allow input from a controller device like the iPad (maybe with a firmware update perhaps)?

Too far away from the screen.

The part about 3D skills is kinda interesting. I wonder if the next generation iPod will have a more beefy graphics solution, possibly using an integrated low-end 3D graphics processor like some PDAs and phones already have?

Either the iPod is going to have a radical change from its current design (to accommodate a reasonable control system for games), or this is just to bring the iPod games up to full colour with maybe a couple more, or this is for something entirely different.

 

[TomSmithMacEd]

The best game on the iPod is the music quiz, just so much fun.

 

[717]

Games from iTunes?

Because they can sell them through iTunes!?

–717

this is the most stupidest thing I've ever read..!

why the hell does Apple waste R&D resources on developing games for the iPod??? why compete with PSP and Gameboy DS??? WHYWHYWHY???

vSpacken

 

[killmoms]

I'd like to see a portable version of Peasant's Quest. Though I guess the text input system would be kind of difficult.

 

[virividox]

The best game on the iPod is the music quiz, just so much fun.

horrors for battery life!!!

 

[billystlyes]

I know. I know. My photoshop skillz are ass (ie. size ratio, etc.), but is this even feasible? Is the docking port able to allow input from a controller device like the iPad (maybe with a firmware update perhaps)?

That'd be pretty cool. I'd be happy with Pacman and Space invaders! I don
t think Apple is going to spend much time on this.

 

[jchausse]

Kaboom!

Kaboom is clearly the best possible game that could actually be played with the scroll wheel. They released Kaboom! with one of those plug-into-TV jobbies, but with a JOYSTICK. Kaboom! with a joystick? That's insane! The iPod would be the PERFECT controller for it!