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Apple ripe for games invasion

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Apple ripe for games invasion

iPhone and Apple TV could offer new gaming platforms to third parties as market hots up

Industry watchers have told MCV that with iPhone and Apple TV in its arsenal, technology giant Apple could be “the next big thing” in the games market.

While mobile gaming has struggled to fulfil its potential thanks to handset fragmentation and compatibility issues, Apple’s iPhone looks set to change all that thanks to a far clearer distribution system and the sheer power of its much-hyped touchscreen handset.

“We are very much supporting the platform – we’ve been quite vocal in our support of it in the past and we are backing it with three forthcoming titles that have yet to be announced based on our major console IPs,” said VP of international at THQ Wireless Adam Comiskey.

“It’s a great proposition – we’re very excited. I think it’s a very credible gaming platform and from what we’ve seen it is very powerful.”

And analyst Jason Schwarz of Lone Peak Asset Management believes that iPhone is just the first step for Apple as it sizes up the booming casual gaming market through its set-top box Apple TV.

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“There have been a number of hints over the past year to suggest it may only be a matter of time before the set-top box, like the iPod and iPhone, will double as a casual gaming console,” Schwarz told MCV sister site CasualGaming.biz.

“By developing a 3D gaming platform, Apple is a serious candidate to deliver the next big thing.”

According to CasualGaming, Apple recently filed a patent for a Wii-style 3D game controller that would work with its TV system.

However, when contacted about the possibility of Apple TV's gaming potential, an company rep declined to comment.

Not going to happen...

posted by BrettStocks May 23, 2008 at 3:34 pm
1

Not going to happen until they stop insisting on using OpenGL for all the drivers for their games and license DirectX.

It's so chronically behind that its frustrating. Believe me, I own a Mac, I'd love to be able to play games on it but I don't particularly want to have to load Windows on to it (I haven't got anything again it – XP or Vista – it's just I use my Mac for editing video as a hobby and I don't want to use unnecessary hard disk space for something Apple should be doing itself.)

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Re: Not going to happen...

posted by ka0znrky May 26, 2008 at 12:06 pm
2

Yeah if they have done it on their mac i don't really have faith in it happening to their set top box.

If they forgot about 3D and tried a range of 2Daddictive puzzle style games etc then they would do much better. the games would be smaller, accessible to more people and much cheaper. You start bringing in 3D gfx and the price of the machine itself starts to go up.

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Re: Not going to happen...

posted by Archemedies May 27, 2008 at 5:41 pm
3
Archemedies

Both the PS3 and the Wii use OpenGL... and as of Leopard Mac has the storngest OpenGL implementation out of any of those platforms ..Direct X is a microsoft only API.. everyone else uses OpenGL .. I will admit that apple has been slow in the past to keep up with the video card market.. but I dont think thats an issue really anymore..The new machines are actually more powerfull than ever. I would'nt count them out.

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