14 DAY TRIAL // Following news of Apple prepping to release an SDK for programmers, enabling them to develop better apps for the iPhone, an interview with Roger Ehrenberg of Information Arbitrage sheds more light on the possibility of seeing an Apple gaming handhled released soon.
Although Apple filed to protect their trademark in relation to items and categories concerning "hand-held units for playing video games", "stand alone video game machines" (and more), the company's entering the video games market has been rumored for quite some time.
First and foremost, everyone should agree that Apple undoubtedly likes the concept of video games on its devices. iPod owners can get revamped versions of some of the most popular arcade games ever released, for just 5 bucks. People like them, but they'll always want more, and Apple will of course try and fulfill that desire.
Although the handheld market is dominated by Nintendo's DS and Sony's PSP, as far as video games go, Apple's iPhone has some advantages. First of all, its touch-screen abilities are more advanced than those of Nintendo's DS - the iPhone's screen can register more than one touch point. Also, the Apple's device also features a motion-sensing accelerometer, something that Nintendo's Wii boasts. So basically, if one throws some nifty games at the iPhone, you have a Wii and a DS in one device. Well, more or less, but you got the point.
"Even if they don't come out with their own dedicated device, the ability to play more advanced games on the iPhone is a natural way for them to enter the market," says Roger Ehrenberg of Information Arbitrage. Speaking of taking iTunes games on demand to the next level, Ehrenberg says that, at this point, "it's a matter of simply turning up the volume [...]" "If Apple hires some rock-star developers who are able to develop some games that work with the existing [user interface] on the iPhone, that could be a good way to stick a toe in the water," he added.
Another relevant clue is Harmonix (the guys behind Guitar Hero) being convinced by Apple to develop a music game for iPod called Phase. The game automatically turns any song into a playable game level on the iPod.
However, the features on Apple's currently available devices don't allow for complex control, not to mention graphics, so yeah, Apple will most likely throw in a new device, a bit more dedicated to video games (if not entirely dedicated to games).