Magic 8-ball: Will Apple become a major player in the game market?
The answer is yes, but it is a reluctant yes on my part and I’ll explain why in more detail later. As anyone who has ever tried gaming on on a Mac can attest, Apple has kept a notable distance from games these last few years. I have even seen a third party developer, in a forum post tutorial for his application, start the Mac section with a line similar to: “If you’re running this on a Mac, you’re a glutton for punishment.”
However, it wasn’t always this way. I still remember my elementary school days where we had old Macintosh computers in our classroom that ran Oregon Trail, Carmen Sandigo, Number Cruncher and other educational games. Along the way, however, Apple had all but forsaken games, educational or not. Now the PC dominates the gaming market and it would be an arduous struggle for Apple to claim this crown.
But all is not lost! For Apple has entered the mobile/cellular content. The iPhone is as unique as it is powerful, being supported by the might fruit company, connected to one of the largest online data retailer, coveted by techies all over the world, and possessing game friendly technology that is something like a cross between the DS touchscreen and Wii accelerometer-enabled motion sensor.
Here are some things that the iPhone has going for it game-wise:
Strong Install Base: As of now, over 13 million iPhones have been sold worldwide. That’s in a year and a half. Compare this to the sales of the first 18 months for the DS Phat and PSP and the iPhone comes out on top, though it crushed by the DS Lite’s 29 million. However, this can be explained by the fact that the DS Lite arrived at the scene when there were plenty of games available for the system. The same logic, though, can be applied to the iPhone as it has other desirable functions other than gaming, namely as a mp3 player, cellphone, and mobile web browser. Still, the large install base is significant, especially for the next point.
Strong Developers: Large install bases attracts good developers. This logic is derived from the basis of capitalism. The fact that there are so many more iPhone users out there than any other model of cellphone has drawn developers away from mobile games and towards iPhone apps. Some have even start complaining that the mobile game market has flatlined. It was found that the solo developer of Trism made a 250 000 dollar profit in 2 months. The developer noted that the ease of publishing was one of the elements that led him to create the game for the iPhone. This is something that all the major console are trying to do with their downloadable games. However, until the DSi arrives with a download channel, there isn’t anything like this for handhelds just yet.
Great Games at Great Prices: Just as large install bases attract developers, strong developers make great games. There are many great games already available for the iPhone. Not only that, but they’re cheap too, with acclaimed titles going for 10-20 dollars only and non-titles going for as little as 99 cents. Add this to all the simple apps that one can get for free and you can see how the iPhone can attract an even larger base, which will lead full circle in attracting more developers who will make more great games.
And yet, I’m not quite there cheering the iPhone on just yet. In fact, I was reluctant to say that Apple will be a major player in the gaming scene in the near future. Here are some reasons why:
Too Many Cheap Games: The publishing process might be easy, but it comes at a cost as good games are potentially buried under a pile of horrible games, especially if the developer does not want to pay for a premium listing or advertisements. Apple has done little to implement a quality check process, something that is fairly standard among the other game companies. Can you imagine how many mini-game collections there would be if Nintendo allowed developers to publisher whatever they want for the Wii? As well, cheap games also create an expectation in iPhone users. Why buy a game for 10 dollars when you can 10 games for 99 cents each?
Setting Themselves Up for Failure? A few months after the first generation of iPhones were unleashed on the world. Analysts predicted that the iPhone would sell over 45 million units by 2009. With the count just over 13 million now, it’s easy to see that they’ll probably be holding their breath for a bit longer. It’s easy now to look back in hindsight and say that the overly optimistic quote was silly, but Apple isn’t without words of their own. Recently, Greg Joswiak, VP of iPod/iPhone marketing, said in an interview that the iPhone is the “future of gameplay,” which makes me reminisce about the good old days when Sony used to make outrageous claims. Being ambitious is good, being overly-ambitious…well, a lesson in hubris is in store.
Steve Jobs is Not a Gamer: This is probably my biggest peeve and might as well be the sole reason why I am hesitant to answer yes on the question. Unlike his retired arch-rival, Jobs is not a gamer and though it may sound ambivalent, I always feel uneasy whenever I hear about the iPhone encroaching upon scared grounds. It’s like a released prisoner shacking up in your neightbourhood. However, Jobs is a smart man. He know how to sell things and he knows how to make things work. However, he should be careful about the people he surrounds himself with, otherwise they may end up making the wrong kind of splash on the gaming scene.
Dude they laughed at Jobs when he said the iPhone is the next big thing in mobile/handheld gaming. Now I am laughing at you for echoing his statment. The iPhone is nifty and all but giving it games does not make a DS or PSP killer. For that matter games on it doesn’t even make it a competent game console. It is missing a few necessary things like buttons and a directional/analog control pad. To beat someone to the punch NO virtual buttons on an already limited screen don’t substitute for the real thing either. It’s a PHONE with PIM functions, touch screen and some neat little multimedia and web apps. No more, no less.
Hi Darkseider, thank you for your reply. Although you may not believe me, I do agree with you completely. But I must report the facts and I do recognize Apple’s business sense and the iPhone’s potential. This does not mean, however, that the iPhone will “kill” the DS or PSP, only that Apple will eventually become a major opponent in the game market, similar to how Microsoft became a major player in the console department even though they did not “kill” any consoles. I hope that clears some things up. Personally, I’m still cheering for the DS to win out and I’m hoping for something even better than the DSi to come out in the near future.
i dont usually comment, but after reading through so much info i had to say thanks