A reaction to Christopher Breen
Dear Chris ,
I ’m not needfully a “ glass half full ” kind of guy , but I do n’t consort with your claim in last Thursday ’s Playlist blog post that iPod gaming suction . It is n’t the idealistic secret plan program , true , but there ’s in reality quite a few decent games for the platform .
Sonic the Hedgehog may not provide a very good gaming experience on the iPod…
We ’re both veterans of the Game Room editorial , and I profess that I ’ve seen more yawn - stimulate “ equalise three ” Mac puzzle games and halting first - person shooters than any sane , noetic person should have to administer with in a lifetime .
I try out not to have that inure me to experiencing a truly execrable game , however , and I confess that I ’ve had my plowshare of lousy iPod games too .
Sonic the Hedgehog may not supply a very undecomposed gaming experience on the iPod …
… but good iPod games do exists, as Bomberman proves.
transonic the Hedgehog is a pragmatic example . I love Sonic , and wreak the heck out of him on the Genesis , even bought the classic game for the Xbox 360 when it came out on the Xbox Live Arcade help . But it ’s just a risky iPod experience , for many of the reasons you suggest : The screen is too small and the click wheel is a wholly inadequate control system . That ’s the same thing that made Pole Position : Remix such a decayed iPod game too .
Those same limitations do n’t impress Bomberman , though , and I ’ve had a lot of fun with The Sims Bowling and The Sims Pool . Phase , the music secret plan from the makers of Guitar Hero and Rock Band , is hellaciously dear sport too . Though I ’ll be the first to include that my seeing is n’t what it used to be , and my hired hand cramp up quicker than it probably should . But as five or 10 minute diversions , which is really where I think the enduringness of iPod gaming lie , these are fun game .
… but good iPod game do exists , as Bomberman proves .
As far as audio is have-to doe with , well , Chris , I ’m afraid that you and I are of two minds on this one . After all , music does n’t work on the iPod unless you have your earbuds plugged in . When I use them , I hear plenty of level-headed consequence and music from my iPod games . I get word my euphony , too — iPod game are quite good at making sure that you’re able to use your own music depository library when you want .
Is the iPod going to give a Sony PlayStation Portable or a Nintendo DS a run for its money ? Hell no . But that ’s not the intent . Gaming on the iPod is , and will stay , a sideshow .
But here ’s where things get interesting : Consider iPod gaming ’s relationship to the iPhone . The two business organization could not be better example of extreme direct contrast .
iPod game development has always been shrouded in secretiveness . Apple has never put out a software ontogenesis outfit ( SDK ) for the iPod , and does n’t break who ’s work on what games . This , by the agency , has been a sore gunpoint for many Mac game developers , who wanted to get on display board with iPod secret plan development but were turned away . The company has also imprecate to secrecy its development spouse . I ’ve asked the companies that make iPod game about the process , and I inevitably slay a stone bulwark .
Apple does n’t print any data about how well iPod games have sold , either , so it ’s really anyone ’s hypothesis as to how these game come in the marketplace . Anecdotally , I do n’t know too many people who have download as many iPod games as I have . I expect that many iPod users may give one or two games a effort , but once the novelty wears off , they ’re not likely to keep at it . It ’s a bit like trying to play a secret plan on a cellular phone phone ( one that is n’t an iPhone , anyway ) .
iPhone program development is still a work in progress . There is an SDK , though it ’s a moving fair game , and many secret plan developer have signed up to create games for the iPhone . Some of them have even announced their plans . By all accounts , it looks like play on the iPhone is going to be a spectacular constituent of third - political party applications programme development on the platform , as opposed to a sideshow .
If you take a careful look at some of the big companies develop games for the iPhone that we know about already , some jump out at you . There’sEA . There’sSega . There’sGameloft . I do n’t think it ’s happenstance that these caller have been involve in iPod gambling for a while . I speculate here , but I would n’t be surprised to find out that their iPod biz development gave them an inroad to get on display board with iPhone plot development too .
So when the iPhone 2.0 software finally have its debut this June , I fully anticipate that the public eye will be on iPhone apps and games . But I do n’t expect this will write the remnant of iPod gaming , either . Apple ’s iPhone sales are a fraction of its iPod sales . The iPod touch is certainly an crucial component of that , but until the air ( and the monetary value ) blurs further between Apple ’s click roulette wheel iPods and ghost screen systems , I await that iPod gaming will be around for a while .
dearest and kisses ,
Peter
