14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, it was Mercedes that was partnering with Apple to deliver a revolutionary car navigation system. Today it is Nintendo that is partnering with Apple to deliver iPhone games. Whether there is any truth to them or not, rumors keep popping up, one after the other.
This latest rumor has Apple working with Nintendo, and licensing a limited amount of content for the upcoming iPhone. The result would be exclusive games, released on the iTunes Store at a $29.00 price point. As many have already noticed, one of the key issues in developing such games for the iPhone would be the lack of buttons, something that has apparently been remedied by a touchscreen D-pad. Then again, considering that the iPhone has built in sensors and an accelerometer, it would make sense for such games to be designed especially to take advantage of this and over novel game play and controls.
This rumor has been questioned by some who argue that such a move would make little sense for Nintendo, as it would cut into Nintendo DS sales. However, this is not the case because these new games would be exclusive to the iPhone and cater to an older audience, thus steering clear of Nintendo's current markets. Then again, such a partnership would see Nintendo defer to Apple, and giving up control of the platform has not historically been a practice Nintendo has taken.
Despite these issues, such a partnership would make sense, as gaming on mobile and smart phones is a potential threat to Nintendo's core business, and this could be their entry into a very profitable market. Apple offers the advantage of the iPhone, and the little portable is a force in itself, which AT&T sees as game changing. Whether or not this comes to pass remains to be seen, but Apple and Nintendo would make great partners.