“In the eye of the typical beholder, Apple’s iPhone is simply a popular device, great for fun, on-the-go applications — and phone calls,” Mike Snider reports for USA Today.
“But mobile-game publisher Neil Young sees the iPhone as a catalyst for a revolution in entertainment that’s beginning to spread from mobile devices to the home,” Snider reports. “Users of the iPhone and Apple tablet iPad already are setting the pace for spending on games and other apps, so it ‘
seems inevitable’ that these devices will jockey for space on the TV, says Young, 41, who helped produce big-name video games at Electronic Arts before leaving to start his own company, Ngmoco, in 2008.”
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“‘We are 12 to 24 months away from being able to disrupt the living room with experiences that you might be playing on an iPad version four, but projecting … to a TV in your living room,’ he predicts. It’ll be ‘every bit as good’ as the experience of playing a high-end console game today, he adds,” Snider reports.
Much more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Scott A.” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
id Software’s Carmack: ‘Unquestionable’ that mobile will surpass current game consoles – July 8, 2011
Why Apple should drop Apple TV to $49 and market it as an iOS accessory – July 8, 2011
Apple’s next move could change video gaming forever – June 25, 2011
I don’t think the iPad, much less the iPhone, will in any way dislodge console gaming in the home. Having played a number of FPS games on the iPad (the iPhone is virtually unplayable, the screen being too small), my conclusion is tactile onscreen control has a long way to go before being able to match, not to mention beat, the degree of control afforded by a dedicated Sony PS3 controller (I don’t bother with the super crappy XBox 360 RROD).
The controls on the iPad are antithetical to good gaming, being mushy, imprecise and quite frankly a load of crap. Oftentimes getting out of stage 1 was impossible due to the less than stellar controls.
Puzzle solving games, on the other hand, seem to lend themselves to the iPad’s onscreen control mechanics. Having said that, the screen is far too slippery for good FPS control.
For use with an external video source (like a TV), the iOS devices can do dual screening. This means the controls can be rendered on the device, and the actual game content appears on the TV (Already used on some games like Real Racing).
As well, texture based tactile feed back is moving towards commercial availability (e.g. a wood texture on the touchscreen feels like wood). Apple also has shown some signs of moving in to this field, for example, their shape shifting surface patent that can push touch screen controls up into a physically 3D form using a grid of censors that pushes a flexible material upwards.
Your concerns are those of the hardcore gamer, a minority who will always want an expensive, high-powered dedicated console. The majority of mainstream gamers will move away from consoles toward portable devices. In fact, that’s already happening. The big question is whether the high-powered console market can still be profitable only selling to hardcore game geeks.
In other news: How the hell do you pronounce “Ngmoco”?
——RM
The hardcore gamer space is likely relative small compared to those hundreds of million average gaming consumers. Sure, there won’t be those willing to give up their consoles or gaming computers, but what difference does that make since there’s still so many consumers out there that don’t have game consoles or gaming computers. It’s financially lucrative for game developers to increase their customer base and Apple will help them do it.
In terms of numbers, then the “hardcore gamer” may be the minority, but in terms of money spent on games (not including hardware), then hardcore owns the market.
No. Its the “hard core” gamers that make games like COD break records every year and drive the industry to make huge profits !
With new iPads coming each year they will face performance and compatibility fragmentation problems. Mark my words, or iCal this or whatever. Its already happening, many games play much better on iPad 2 then iPad 1. They will still sell and do well but this is a problem you will not have on consoles.
Oh, and the next gen consoles will blow away what iPads will be able to do for several years.
Solution:
http://icontrolpad.com/
“‘We are 12 to 24 months away from being able to disrupt the living room with experiences that you might be playing on an iPad version four, but projecting … to a TV in your living room”.
I was hoping that iOS5 together with Lion and an iPad and ATV was going to go a long way towards that already. Why 24 months from now? Why even 12?
Apple may have the technology built into iOS 5/6, but it will take some time for game developers to fully implement it into new versions of their games.
With iOS 5, game developers won’t have to do anything to have their game projected on the big screen. Now, if they re-wrote their app to have the controller on the iPad while the game view projected on the big screen, that’s a different story.
It could even be taken a step further I imagine- and once an apple TV is detected- the iOS device screen can even display information to manipulate beyond the mirrored screen on the TV.
so, for example, a flight sim game could have additional instrumentation on the iOS device and the only mirrored image would be the view out of the cockpit.. same for space sim games, etc.
I’d love for this to be the case, but as iPad/iPhone technology advances, so will dedicated gaming console technology. As long as game makers aren’t too greedy, we MIGHT have the current XBox 360/Playstation 3 experience on iOS at an affordable cost in 4 – 5 years. We have to keep in mind that iOS devices aren’t gaming dedicated (or even used primarily for gaming), so the other features must advance at least as quickly as the gaming experience. In my opinion, the email/web/video/productivity capabilities should be greater than the gaming experience. What I’d like to know is when a dedicated gaming controller will be created for the iPad. Airplaying a video game while using a controller would be even more of a threat to the iPad’s lackluster competition. Xoom WHO? Touch WHAT?
Im an avid gamer and revolutionary im all for. Only problem i have is when i read this stuff it does not sound like a revolution, it sounds like nothing more than another device that is capable of playing games that has some sort of TV out option.
Call me when the real revolution shows up.
In order for this to happen, Apple TV will have to get (more) involved in the process.
People will not want to have their iPad or iPhone (or iPod touch) connected to the HDTV with a cable, if they are going to be using the iPad or iPhone as the interaction device (controller).
But, with a wireless connection, having the iOS device be the “projector” (running the game) would be inefficient, because it would need to send the screen (frame by frame) to the HDTV. When a video is played from the iOS device onto an HDTV using AirPlay, the video file is streamed to the Apple TV, and the Apple TV “runs” (plays) it with the iOS device becoming the “remote control.”
I think that’s how something like this would work, for games. The game is purchased and stored on the iOS device. When it is played and the user selects to use an HDTV for video output, a portion of the game is sent over the wireless connection to the Apple TV. The Apple TV then runs the game and the iOS device becomes the controller (and “as needed” storage for game data).
Additionally, using the technology in Lion’s AirDrop, the wireless connection between iOS device and Apple TV can become a direct connection, instead of the current connection that relies on the user’s unknown-quality local wireless network.
This makes a lot more sense, compared to giving Apple TV its own “App Store.”
All you need is 30FPS. Currently accomplished with today’s hardware an iOS.
Plus go check out the YouTube video of AirPlay mirroring in action with no developer tinkering whatsoever. Runs perfect.
Maybe it works great under ideal conditions, with the fastest possible 802.11n network (and the latest iOS gear). I believe AirPlay currently works over the local wireless network connection, not with a direct connection between iPhone (or iPad) and Apple TV. That puts a major dependence on the quality of the local wireless network, and Apple may not want to risk a bad user experience because their network gear sucks (or the iOS devices happen to NOT be located optimally relative to the router). It should “just work,” and they’re going to be whining because their router is a cheap 802.11b Linksys from the 1990’s, or because it’s located two floors down in the basement.
Also, AirPlay is compatible with iPhone 3gs. iPhone 3gs only has 802.11g. For its current “approved” use (to play a video), AirPlay works because the FILE is streamed to Apple TV, and Apple TV does most of the work to display the file on the HDTV. iPhone 3gs is NOT trying to receive a file, play the file at 1080p (much higher than its own screen), and simultaneously stream every frame (30 per second) over the wireless network to the Apple TV, which then has to receive each frame and display it on the HDTV (30 per second). That is VERY inefficient.
And what about the power source? Why put the processing burden on iPhone or iPad, with a limited source of power (a battery)? If Apple TV does all (or most) of the heavy lifting, there is no battery to drain quickly because its power source is basically unlimited. All iPhone or iPad has to do is act as the game controller, and periodically act as the storage location for game data (as needed during game play). The battery will last a long time. Even iPhone 3gs would be able to handle it those chores.
Apple is all about user experience. Just because something can be demonstrated under ideal conditions, if there is a far more efficient (and reliable) way to implement the same experience, I think Apple will choose that method.
But I’m just speculating here… 🙂
It’s a good point- I, myself, am spoiled and forget there are people out there not running N, and indeed, have it in unlikely places.
Hard to say how battery life will be affected.. but that could become a concern. But- not more than your PS3 controller needing to be wired up to charge after a long play session.
I think for the people who are initially on board, the wireless isn’t going to be so much of an issue because, inherently, that crowd tends to have the best gear anyways.
I’m definitely pumped about this though, and look forward to leveraging this tech in my game releases.
As a game dev all I hear is cha CHING!
I love my iPad, iPhone, and Mac media center to death. I play a ton of iOS games. That said I don’t see this happening. Apple does nor and never has cared about the gamer market, they don’t understand the gamer market, and they would demand a level of control and approval over content that would keep a huge number of popular games off any apple gaming product due to M ratings. Now do I think you’ll see home theater integration of iOS games, bigger and better titles, and more, TV screen size optimized iOS games? Definitely. But look at most of the big “hardcore gamer” titles and honestly tell me there’s a chance in hell they’d end up on the app store or that apple will but a big ass grapbics card in an apple tv to make gamers happy at the expense of design.
I disagree that Apple doesn’t care about the gamer market anymore. That was definitely true in the past, but Apple now sees significant revenue from iOS games and sees how games help sell iOS devices.
Apple could easily implement some kinds of ratings system into iOS which would require a password to play M rated games, or could leave it up to parents to implement parental controls (either on device or via parental rules).
I think Apple sees a huge opportunity to really take a large chunk of the gaming market, even without some of the more demanding (hardware-wise) games. Then again, if you need an AppleTV to stream to your HDTV, then the AppleTV can handle the heavy lifting and your iOS device becomes a pure controller/secondary screen. Could be some very cool uses/applications in games for such a setup. Obviously would need to be wireless, so you could have your buddies playing with you in the same room.
This is already done with Real Racing 2 HD. And it works great. The idea of playing a game on your iOS device and sending it to your ATV to watch on your big screen totally works. Apple needs to make a beefier ATV.
Historically, what you say is true. Apple hasn’t paid particular attention to the gaming market. But that has dramatically changed around the time they released the ipod touch. That’s when they announced the gaming center, relationships with EA, and Id. John Carmack even took the stage at WWDC and showcased Id engine 5… which was supposed to be open source.. but sadly, he sold out and that is no longer fully the case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id_Tech_5
Apple has released M rated games- including Grand Theft Auto… aside from outright porn- you should be fine as some games have drug references, violence, etc.
Your understanding of tech is current, but not perpetual. Graphics and physics will be fine enough with upcoming chip upgrades and assuredly blow away consoles many times over while they fumble around with their stagnant development cycles.
24 months!? I’m doing this now with iOS 5 an AppleTV, an iPad and Real Racing 2 HD. It streams 1080p to the AppleTV wirelessly and displays info on the iPad. You steer with the iPad. It works great.
You won’t need an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Just an Apple TV and one or more trackpads. See http://www.mindfaze.com/?p=5193
I’ll be honest—I was hoping for an iPlay or something. I don’t like iOS games in general. I prefer my 3DS as a handheld already, and even the Wii is better with motion gaming.