Let's face it: Apple's various touch-oriented iThings are fucking awesome.
No, don't yell "Apple sucks," don't say the iPhone and iPod touch are just for consumer whores; if you've ever actually used one you'll know that they are undeniably cool. Apple is more than a master of its 'Shtick,' its a master at the art of combining design and functionality, and making both shine.
The iPod touch, if implemented properly, could be the best gaming device ever. I'm not suggesting it would ever happen, Steve Jobs would retire before letting his beloved technology fall into the hands of dirty gamer peasants.
iGame
Pros-
-Touch interface (duh). Designers needn't worry about the design of the controller: it can be anything they want it to be. Imagine "Phantom Hourglass," with two fingers and a kickass screen.
-Accelerometers. While only advertised as having the petty, superfluous ability to flip the screen when you flip the phone, they are in fact comparable to the Wii in precision. I borrowed a hacked iPhone from a friend, which ironically had a flawless Gameboy Advance emulator (controls were projected over the image,) and a marble-maze game. The marble rolled flawlessly as you tilted the device. Its basically a portable Wii.
-Hard-Drive, and digital Distribution. iTunes Game Store. Think steam, but better.
Cons:
-Price. $500 for 32gigs. Balls.
-You look like an asshole.
-Apple is too snobbish for this to ever happen.
I don't quite understand, with their switch to Intel, why they haven't delved into the gaming market. It seems like something they would be very good at, and i feel like they could perfect the console or gaming computer, much like they did the iPod and monster-mammoth-death-tower number-crunching mac pro.
---------------------------------
UPDATE
Steve jobs announced the Developer SDK in a keynote today, demonstrating numerous apps which were developed in a short time, including games from EA and Sega,
EA made a live demo of spore on the iphone, monster editing and Accelerometer controls.
Sega of "Super Monkey Ball," open GL.
I'll post a link to the keynote as soon as it's up.
No, don't yell "Apple sucks," don't say the iPhone and iPod touch are just for consumer whores; if you've ever actually used one you'll know that they are undeniably cool. Apple is more than a master of its 'Shtick,' its a master at the art of combining design and functionality, and making both shine.
The iPod touch, if implemented properly, could be the best gaming device ever. I'm not suggesting it would ever happen, Steve Jobs would retire before letting his beloved technology fall into the hands of dirty gamer peasants.
iGame
Pros-
-Touch interface (duh). Designers needn't worry about the design of the controller: it can be anything they want it to be. Imagine "Phantom Hourglass," with two fingers and a kickass screen.
-Accelerometers. While only advertised as having the petty, superfluous ability to flip the screen when you flip the phone, they are in fact comparable to the Wii in precision. I borrowed a hacked iPhone from a friend, which ironically had a flawless Gameboy Advance emulator (controls were projected over the image,) and a marble-maze game. The marble rolled flawlessly as you tilted the device. Its basically a portable Wii.
-Hard-Drive, and digital Distribution. iTunes Game Store. Think steam, but better.
Cons:
-Price. $500 for 32gigs. Balls.
-You look like an asshole.
-Apple is too snobbish for this to ever happen.
I don't quite understand, with their switch to Intel, why they haven't delved into the gaming market. It seems like something they would be very good at, and i feel like they could perfect the console or gaming computer, much like they did the iPod and monster-mammoth-death-tower number-crunching mac pro.
---------------------------------
UPDATE
Steve jobs announced the Developer SDK in a keynote today, demonstrating numerous apps which were developed in a short time, including games from EA and Sega,
EA made a live demo of spore on the iphone, monster editing and Accelerometer controls.
Sega of "Super Monkey Ball," open GL.
I'll post a link to the keynote as soon as it's up.