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iPhone's Game Potential As a Threat to Java Phone Games
Ian Lamont writes "In the runup to Apple's WWDC 2008, Chris Tompkins thinks that the iPhone's gaming potential 'might finally put the lackluster Java-based cell phone gaming market to death.' He cites the iPhone's use of Core Animation adapted for ARM processors, which he says allows for the advanced effects of OS X and now OpenGL-accelerated 3D games, as well as the importance of an on-demand store and Internet connection. Tompkins says that while certain genres lend themselves to the iPhone's touch controls, such as real-time strategy games (think StarCraft) the lack of physical controls will force developers to creatively approach the multitouch and accelerometer on the iPhone. His advice to Apple — make a compelling overture to independent game designers, and treat them like rock stars. Tompkins, incidentally, is one of several people who have recently pointed to Apple's mobile gaming potential."
Do you guys seriously believe that the gaming market for the iPhone is going to just kick off? The iPhone was designed to play music, to surf the web, and to talk. Playing games was not and is not the focal point of owning an iPhone. You can't just release a device like an iPhone, wait a few months, and then call to arms the video game industry. The problem with the iPhone and gaming is that the iPhone isn't a gaming platform. People are not going to buy an iPhone with the express purpose of gaming.
Netcraft confirms it: Java is dying.
Sony will be fucked. Nintendo, not so much.
The PSP as it currently stands is a iPhone with poor phone capabilities (it has Skype, but no built-in microphone), no email capabilities, lack of storage space, and a craptastic slow and buggy browser. Its specs are actually WORSE than the iPhone in all aspects. (iPhone's screen is bigger, it has better battery life, more memory, and a faster processor. Oh, yeah, and the whole tilt sensor and touch screen thing.)
About the only thing the iPhone lacks that would make it a PSP killer is removable storage. But with flash storage space increasing, it's not unimaginable that either a removable flash slot could be added to the iPhone or that in later iPhone models it simply won't matter.
The PSP is already basically dead as a handheld. The DS hasn't managed to completely kill it, but the iPhone will finish the job in time to ensure that Sony will never be a player in that handheld market ever again. Apple's already pushed Sony out of the MP3 player market, so why not games too?
That mistake alone should get you kicked out of slashdot.
"You're not going to get a DS/PSP beating experience with touch and motion controls."
You haven't even seen what's going to be offered tomorrow, much less a year from now after developers gain even more experience designing games for it, and you're still willing to make that pronouncement? It doesn't fit in with your preconceived notions of how a game works, so it's going to fail?
Does this sound familiar?
"No wireless. Less space than a Nomad. Lame."
I bet you and CmdrTaco can be staring members in the same club...
Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.