I have had my Apple iPhone for about a year now and have had the pleasure of seeing the iPhone come into its own. The iPhone delivers many features, such as a multi-touch screen, tilt sensor, and an unmatched software platform, that have revolutionized the smart phone industry. In doing so, they have also become a player in the handheld gaming market.
Two years ago, if you would have told me that Apple was coming out with a gaming device, I would have called you a liar without blinking. And if you told me it would initially be masqueraded as a phone, i would been even more skeptical. Let us be honest, as far as gaming goes, APPLE COMPUTERS have never really been a viable gaming platform. But what Apple could not do in the desktop/laptop arena on the gaming side, they have more than made up for in the handheld space. Let’s take a look at how Apple has positioned themselves to become a strong number three, behind Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP, in the handheld gaming arena.
A Formula For Success?
If I were to build a formula for success in the gaming industry, the first thing I would do is find someone that’s fairly successful and emulate them, while adding things that I feel are important to me. I know this may be blasphemy to most Apple fan boys, but the iPhone software platform is similar to what Microsoft’s XBOX Live has done in a lot of ways.
- Provide an awesome platform for development
- Allow anyone to distribute through an online store
Essentially, in many ways, the gaming features in the Apple iPhone SDK, can be equated to the Microsoft XNA. Both provide tools which allow for the development of games on hardware which can be mass distributed. Likewise, the XBOX Live Marketplace, is the equivalent to the iPhone App store.
The average Joe can make a game for the iPhone, submit it to the app store, and instantly get it published for millions to download and purchase. I have even seen a few games by the same developers popup on both platforms. Also, as far as getting your app in the Marketplace/App Store, I’d probably choose Microsoft’s peer review systems over the Apple app store review, simply because of the level of clarity and disclosure on things that would allow/prevent certain games from making it into the App Store.
As you could have guessed it, there is a downfall to this user submitted systems, crap ware. You can easily overlook a great title while wading through the crap. Lucky for us, Apple provides top apps functionality when browsing for a new title. Also the app store allows for demos, which let allows the user try before buying, which is a huge plus. Next let’s take a look at where the iPhone falls amongst the big two handheld gaming platforms, Nintendo DS and Sony Playstation Portable, or PSP.
In Comparison
Okay, I think first and far most we should look at the obvious things, what sets the iPhone apart from the big two and what are their similarities.
The Apple iPhone graphics easily fall between the the great almost Playstation 2 quality graphics of the Sony PSP, and the subpar Nintendo DS graphics. As we know from the PSP, great graphics does not always translate into great games. Let’s not kid ourselves, clearly Nintendo reigns supreme in the games arena. Playing on nostalgia and uniqueness of play (i.e. stylus and duel screen), the Nintendo software library is far superior to that of the PSP. In fact, the number one complaint about the PSP platform is that there are no good titles, which is also a common argument towards the PSP’s big brother. Where does the iPhone fit into all of this?
The iPhone is in a perfect position to play on the gimmick’s of the DS and the better graphics of the PSP. The touch screen and the tilt sensor has allowed for game programmers to provide a uniqueness to games that often only comes from Nintendo (DS, Wii). While the enjoyability of tilting your iPhone back and fourth on a racing game, or something like Sega’s Super Monkeyball can be disputed, there is no question as to the innovations this platform provides.
We have also seen that Apple has increased the graphics capabilities with each iteration of the iPhone/iPod Touch, with the latest iPod Touch having the most powerful graphics. Also, the product cycle of the iPhone and iPod touch is about once a year, which provides great potential for Apple to incrementally position itself, since the life cycles of the DS and PSP are about three years and ten years respectfully.
The Future
Sufficient to say, the future is looking bright for the iPhone gaming platform. With at least one hardware iteration and one major software update a year, the iPhone is well on it’s way to becoming a major contender in the handheld gaming space. The only question is will developers continue to create new and interesting titles that will continue and expand this gaming platform. We are also looking for the iPhone/iPod Touch game that will make this device a must have! (Oh, and maybe a hardware add-on for buttons/d-pad!)
