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[Foffy]

I just said I don't think that market can sustain the current console/handheld business.

I don't see how anyone can argue otherwise. I'd assume all, or at least some 90% of the games in that market don't have the budgets games do in the console/handheld market. It would be unsustainable for what we have in other markets to all go to that. But that's also not to say such a market can't get good games with a budget that works for that model. I'm quite sure the "race to the bottom" approach of sorts allows smaller budgets, freemium, and small price tags allow bigger possibilities of ROI and less of having a bleeding tanker on your hands.

 

[TheExecutive]

Awesome sales, but without proper controls,buttons and sticks, the game experience will be limited in depth and genres, imho.
It's about needs , no doubt a lot of people are satisfied in their gaming needs with the ipad, and more so the newer generations, i began playing in the great '80s, my gaming vision is very far from what i device are offering right now.

​

I don't really see this as an opinion. The genres are limited by the controls and the tactile feedback they give.

There are great games on apple devices but they are fundamentally different experiences and I believe there is room for all devices.

 

[fluffydelusions]

Ipad is an all purpose on the go machine, consoles aren't. And unless you're an avid gamer you wouldn't buy consoles like 360/PS3. So, of course an Ipad is going to sell more than consoles, its a no brainer. I doubt people are buying an Ipad JUST to play games, though.

I'd hardly consider it an on the go machine. It's more portable than consoles, yes but you can't exactly put it in your pocket.

 

[LosDaddie]

I'm also far more productive on my iPad than my PC because I'm not tethered to a desk. I use it to manage my finances, browse the Internet, read/compose email, track my food intake, track my exercise/runs, watch TV, research, take free courses, read books and magazines, listen to music, play games, manage my schedule, keep in touch with friends via AIM/iMessage/Facebook chat, stay up to date with the news, listen to educational/informative podcasts, check the weather, buy crap online inc. movie tickets and the like, plan/map trips, brainstorm ideas (mindmap is AWESOME), jot down general notes, create grocery lists with software cook books that automatically add required ingredients, create general to-do lists, browse GAF....

Anyone saying the iPad is not a productivity device is off their rocker. This thing has made me more efficient, punctual, and productive than I ever thought possible. Way, way, WAY better than a PC for most things. The only thing I find myself turning on the laptop for are documents that require a fair bit of formatting. Pages is an awesome, fully-featured program but there is no substitute for a mouse (yet).

Agreed on all accounts. Like I said earlier in this thread, my iPad is now my home PC. It does 99% of everything I need at home. For the rest, I just bring home my work laptop.

 

[dreamcastmaster]

I'd hardly consider it an on the go machine. It's more portable than consoles, yes but you can't exactly put it in your pocket.

Here's the smart thing Apple have done, you can play games you've brought on any other iOS device. I want to play portable I install the game on my iPod Touch or iPhone. No extra (software) cost.

 

[Uno Venova]

That would depend on how one defines "few among the total demographic."

At $6 a piece, IB would sit at around 3.8 million by my count and around half a million IB2 at $10 a piece - from that data. Not sure how many iDevices are capable of running Infinity Blade to determine an attach rate.

Edit: There are at least 172 million iDevices capable of running IB and IB2, giving an attach rate or <2.2% and <0.3% respectively, at present.

Interesting.

 

[BigDug13]

I'd hardly consider it an on the go machine. It's more portable than consoles, yes but you can't exactly put it in your pocket.

I bought GTA3 for $1. I can play it on my iPad, iPhone, iPod touch for that single dollar I spent. What console can compete with that?

 

[maquiladora]

I bought GTA3 for $1. I can play it on my iPad, iPhone, iPod touch for that single dollar I spent. What console can compete with that?

A port of a game that's over 10 years old is hardly a fair comparison to the type of games people mostly play on current consoles.

 

[fluffydelusions]

I bought GTA3 for $1. I can play it on my iPad, iPhone, iPod touch for that single dollar I spent. What console can compete with that?

Fair point, but that takes into account you own another iDevice to play it on.

 

[numble]

That would depend on how one defines "few among the total demographic."

At $6 a piece, IB would sit at around 3.8 million by my count and around half a million IB2 at $10 a piece - from that data. Not sure how many iDevices are capable of running Infinity Blade to determine an attach rate.

Edit: There are at least 172 million iDevices capable of running IB and IB2, giving an attach rate or <2.2% and <0.3% respectively, at present.

I have owned 5 iOS devices and have played my 1 purchase of Infinity Blade on 4 of them.

 

[BigDug13]

A port of a game that's over 10 years old is hardly a fair comparison to the type of games people mostly play on current consoles.

You don't think more recent games of this style will ever get released? I was just making the point that a single purchase is able to be played across all platforms of iOS. How long until the game you buy on iOS plays on your apple TV in the living room, iPad in the bedroom, and iPhone on the go?

 

[Shtof]

I bought GTA3 for $1. I can play it on my iPad, iPhone, iPod touch for that single dollar I spent. What console can compete with that?

Isn't it $5? How did you pay only $1? Anyway, port of a 10 years old game. It already made a huge profit, and porting that stuff cost so little for Rock* they could basically have given it away for free and made a profit.

 

[test_account]

I bought GTA3 for $1. I can play it on my iPad, iPhone, iPod touch for that single dollar I spent. What console can compete with that?

You can probably find GTA 3 for PS2 used for $1, then you can play it on PS2, PS3 and PC Or PS1 games, can be played at PS1, PS2 and PS3.

 

[metareferential]

You can probably find GTA 3 for PS2 used for $1, then you can play it on PS2, PS3 and PC Or PS1 games, can be played at PS1, PS2 and PS3.

...no?

Nice stealth edit with PS1 games xD (that can be played on psp, xperia play and psvita, by the way).

Still, the comparison doesn't make sense.

 

[SmokyDave]

A port of a game that's over 10 years old is hardly a fair comparison to the type of games people mostly play on current consoles.

Imagine he'd said 'World Of Goo' then.

I have owned 5 iOS devices and have played my 1 purchase of Infinity Blade on 4 of them.

Same. 4 devices owned, 4 devices that I've played IB on. I'd wager that many, many iPad owners also have an iPhone.

 

[test_account]

...no?

Nice stealth edit with PS1 games xD (that can be played on psp, xperia play and psvita, by the way).

Still, the comparison doesn't make sense.

You can if you have a PS3 with PS2 backward compability. And there is also a PS2 emulator for PC Yeah, true about the PS1 games, the digital download ones works on multiply platforms indeed.

The comparison is that you can play the same purchased game on different platforms.

 

[amrihua]

156% growth!!

http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146801

This is very much like the old minicomputer people who called microcomputers (PCs) toys and incapable of doing serious work. Obviously minicomputers when they first came out in the 1960s were considered toys.

 

[BigDug13]

Isn't it $5? How did you pay only $1? Anyway, port of a 10 years old game. It already made a huge profit, and porting that stuff cost so little for Rock* they could basically have given it away for free and made a profit.

They had it for $1 over a weekend for iOS while android stayed at $5 over the same weekend. Instant buy for $1. I love GTA3.

It's really not bad with touch controls and shows me that VC and SA could easily be accomplished.

 

[metareferential]

The comparison is that you can play the same purchased game on different platforms.

Difference is that Apple products (or tablets and smartphones in general) tend to have a much broader audience. Not only that, but it is much more likely to find more than one device in the same environment.

E.g. dad has and ipad, the wife an iphone and kids some ipod touch. Everybody gets to play same games, if they want to, even simultaneously. Can't do that on a console or pc.

 

[Baconsammy]

Congrats again to Apple. I didn't buy it to play games on specifically but I've already spent more on games for it than I have so far for my 3DS.

 

[Fafalada]

That's not impressive for FIFA considering the enormous install base of iOS and the mainstream popularity of not only the game franchise, but also soccer.

Actually it kind of is considering they've been selling the same game on the platform for 3+ years and it's the basically the PS2 version of the game.

It probably says something about the quality expectations people have from these mobile platforms too.

 

[BigDug13]

Difference is that Apple products (or tablets and smartphones in general) tend to have a much broader audience. Not only that, but it is much more likely to find more than one device in the same environment.

E.g. dad has and ipad, the wife an iphone and kids some ipod touch. Everybody gets to play same games, if they want to, even simultaneously. Can't do that on a console or pc.

You could theoretically if the consoles were designed like their portable counterparts. I think PS3 and Vita are as close as we've come so far. But iPads are essentially big iPod touches which are essentially iPhones minus phone components. That allows a developer to create a game that works across them all. But none of the portable game machines are designed to be exactly like their console parent.

Digital download medium is also what helps. You can't exactly put 3DS cartridges into your wii for example. But down the road, a digital download PLayststion Portable game could play on a PS5 or something. iOS is already able to accomplish that because everything goes into the flash memory...no "changing cartridges or discs".

 

[test_account]

Difference is that Apple products (or tablets and smartphones in general) tend to have a much broader audience. Not only that, but it is much more likely to find more than one device in the same environment.

E.g. dad has and ipad, the wife an iphone and kids some ipod touch. Everybody gets to play same games, if they want to, even simultaneously. Can't do that on a console or pc.

Broader audience than consoles for sure, but not compared to PC (phones in general might exceed the number of PCs however). Consoles have game sharing, but if you talk about different devices, then i would count PC as well since there are tons of different PCs on the market. Unless there is some DRM in place, it is fully possible to install a PC game on multiply of PCs.'


But regardless, people play what they want. If people prefer to play touch based only games, i see no problem with that. Some people prefer to play Flash based games only, while others prefer to play PC/console games. Nothing wrong with that either =)

You could theoretically if the consoles were designed like their portable counterparts. I think PS3 and Vita are as close as we've come so far. But iPads are essentially big iPod touches which are essentially iPhones minus phone components. That allows a developer to create a game that works across them all. But none of the portable game machines are designed to be exactly like their console parent.

Digital download medium is also what helps. You can't exactly put 3DS cartridges into your wii for example. But down the road, a digital download PLayststion Portable game could play on a PS5 or something. iOS is already able to accomplish that because everything goes into the flash memory...no "changing cartridges or discs".

Yep, you also have stuff like Minis. They work on PS3, PSP and PS Vita. Only pity is that Sony has limit the game sharing to 2 devices, so there is one hurdle here if you want the game on all those 3 devices, but the games are however compatible with all 3 devices. It will be the same with upcoming PS Suite stuff. It will work on PS Vita and many smartphones as well Still no info on what the price with be for PS Suite games/apps however.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

You can if you have a PS3 with PS2 backward compability. And there is also a PS2 emulator for PC Yeah, true about the PS1 games, the digital download ones works on multiply platforms indeed.

The comparison is that you can play the same purchased game on different platforms.

And if you don't have a BC compatible PS3? Do you see Apple removing backwards compatibility from their iDevices? Nope. This is one of the areas that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo need to start copying. It's ridiculous that people have to repurchase games bought on the Virtual Network if they want to play the same game on the 3DS. I mean seriously? Inexcusable.

 

[Zoe]

And if you don't have a BC compatible PS3? Do you see Apple removing backwards compatibility from their iDevices? Nope.

Instead of removing BC, they make the OS unusable.

 

[Last Hearth]

I would estimate my wife has put in more hours playing Scrabble on her iPad 2 she got last October, than I've put in my entire catalog of games combined over the last 2 years. She's got some unhealthy addiction going on. Every time I look at her in the house, she's playing scrabble on her iPad.

Yeah but don't you know that playing Scrabble is not *real* gaming, only games where one shot/stab stuff is real gaming.

 

[dream]

Instead of removing BC, they make the OS unusable.

I dunno...iOS 5 runs fairly decently on the 2 year old iPad and the 3 year old iPhone 3GS. iOS 4 was atrocious on iPhone 3G, but that was running an ARM11 processor with 128MB of RAM.

 

[numble]

Instead of removing BC, they make the OS unusable.

They make the OS unusable in newer devices?

I dunno...iOS 5 runs fairly decently on the 2 year old iPad and the 3 year old iPhone 3GS. iOS 4 was atrocious on iPhone 3G, but that was running an ARM11 processor with 128MB of RAM.

People always single out the 3G but the 3G was a dog. It has the same basic hardware as the iPhone that was revealed in January 2007.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

Ipad is an all purpose on the go machine, consoles aren't. And unless you're an avid gamer you wouldn't buy consoles like 360/PS3. So, of course an Ipad is going to sell more than consoles, its a no brainer. I doubt people are buying an Ipad JUST to play games, though.

And the consoles apart from the Wii have become all purpose machines for the home, especially the PS3. Many folks purchased the PS3 specifically for the blu ray capabilities. The PS3 has a browser, it has music services, it has movie streaming services, it has blu ray capability, it includes a photo viewer, etc. It's an all purpose machine with its main feature being video games. The iPad is an all purpose machine and one of its key features for many is gaming.

 

[test_account]

And if you don't have a BC compatible PS3? Do you see Apple removing backwards compatibility from their iDevices? Nope. This is one of the areas that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo need to start copying. It's ridiculous that people have to repurchase games bought on the Virtual Network if they want to play the same game on the 3DS. I mean seriously? Inexcusable.

What if you dont have an iPod Touch? Then it is hard to play on it if you dont own it My point was just that it is possible. But the Minis games are maybe a better example, those games works on all PS3, PSP and Vita systems.

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

Instead of removing BC, they make the OS unusable.

iOS 4 and iOS 5 were perfectly fine on my 3GS.

What if you dont have an iPod Touch? Then it is hard to play on it if you dont own it My point was just that it is possible. But the Minis games are maybe a better example, those games works on all PS3, PSP and Vita systems.

I'd be shocked if most iPad owners don't have other iOS devices.

 

[dreamcastmaster]

But none of the portable game machines are designed to be exactly like their console parent.
.

PC Engine GT and LT say hi! That was 20 years ago though.

 

[test_account]

I'd be shocked if most iPad owners don't have other iOS devices.

My sister only owns an iPhone 3G and my parents only own an iPod Touch. I have no idea what is common though.

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

Considering selling my vita and picking up one, although I already have a OG iPad.



Nah I'm kidding.


But I will pick one up for Christmas for sure.

 

[NIGHT-]

I bought GTA3 for $1. I can play it on my iPad, iPhone, iPod touch for that single dollar I spent. What console can compete with that?

And each of them control like ass...

 

[ClovingWestbrook]

My sister only owns an iPhone 3G and my parents only own an iPod Touch. I have no idea what is common though.

Notice I said iPad owners. It's not surprising that not too many iPhone/iTouch owners don't yet have iPads. iPads aren't subsidized by the cellular companies. You can't buy an iPad for $50 or $90 with a two year contract. But if you have an iPad, it seems you'd have other iOS devices.

 

[Shtof]

And the consoles apart from the Wii have become all purpose machines for the home, especially the PS3. Many folks purchased the PS3 specifically for the blu ray capabilities. The PS3 has a browser, it has music services, it has movie streaming services, it has blu ray capability, it includes a photo viewer, etc. It's an all purpose machine with its main feature being video games. The iPad is an all purpose machine and one of its key features for many is gaming.

I hope you're not seriously implying anyone bought a PS3 for anything else than video games.

 

[RukusProvider]

Oh wow, we're back to calling systems still in their launch windows failures again? The only place we can honestly say the system failed in (and even then it's not a failure yet) would be Japan. Just one market, and looking at the types of games on the system, they're mostly catered to the West. No shit it's not selling there.

You are expecting the vita to succeed in the west? What do you consider success in relation to PSP sales? I'd like to hear your metrics for success.

 

[djplaeskool]

I hope you're not seriously implying anyone bought a PS3 for anything else than video games.

There was a point in time where the PS3 was the cheapest blu-ray player by a long shot.

 

[dream]

Not just the cheapest player, but the best Blu-ray player on the market.

 

[RukusProvider]

I hope you're not seriously implying anyone bought a PS3 for anything else than video games.

A lot of people bought it for blu ray. For many years it was the best option for a Blu-ray player. It's only in the last couple years when the other options are also viable.

For me, my goal was to use it for games and BR but these days it's only a BR player to me.

 

[btkadams]

I bought GTA3 for $1. I can play it on my iPad, iPhone, iPod touch for that single dollar I spent. What console can compete with that?

oh please haha. it's a 10 year old game and it controls nowhere near as good as on consoles. i own it for iphone and, while it controls surprisingly well for what it is, it is still very inferior.

I hope you're not seriously implying anyone bought a PS3 for anything else than video games.

what?? are you serious? so many people bought it purely for a bluray/netflix player. my parents did.

 

[Uno Venova]

My sister only owns an iPhone 3G and my parents only own an iPod Touch. I have no idea what is common though.

If I had to guess I would say the majority only has one.

 

[ElNino]

I'd be shocked if most iPad owners don't have other iOS devices.

While it might be possible, in my circle of family and friends there are 10 of us who own an iPad and only 2 who own an iPhone.

 

[AstroNut325]

I'll just say this... I game on my iPhone/iPad more than I game on my consoles and PC! It's not hard to see why a lot of developers are paying attention to the iOS platform. I think it's most likely the future of gaming. And with AppleTV and AirPlay... it's getting pretty close to console like experiences in these "fads!"

 

[test_account]

Notice I said iPad owners. It's not surprising that not too many iPhone/iTouch owners don't yet have iPads. iPads aren't subsidized by the cellular companies. You can't buy an iPad for $50 or $90 with a two year contract. But if you have an iPad, it seems you'd have other iOS devices.

Sorry, didnt see you said iPad. But it is good that there are systems that are unified like that, that have software compatible with eachother. I didnt mean to take anything away from this, i just wanted to point out that this also excist on other devices as well iOS and Andriod games/apps win on price however, but it depends on what types of game one primarily are satisfied enough with.

 

[ElNino]

I hope you're not seriously implying anyone bought a PS3 for anything else than video games.

Even as a "gamer", I bought my PS3 primarily as a Blu-ray/DVD player.

 

[Hari Seldon]

I have an iPad gen 1 and I turned it on less than my Wii. Never buying another tablet again.

 

[commish]

There was a point in time where the PS3 was the cheapest blu-ray player by a long shot.

Blu-ray was a MAJOR factor in me buying a ps3 at launch.

 

[Mrbob]

I bought GTA3 for $1. I can play it on my iPad, iPhone, iPod touch for that single dollar I spent. What console can compete with that?

This isn't exactly a shining example. Congratulations, you bought a 10+ year old game for 1 dollar that has already sold over 20 million copies at full price.

Come back when you are playing GTA5 or Mass Effect 3 (instead of Infiltrator) on your Ipad day and date. I'll enjoy your next post in 2022.