Apple may sweep console casuals

[Timman_24]

Casuals have been the battleground for MS, Sony, and Nintendo since the Wii exploded in the mainstream. Startups like Ouya are trying to cash in on casuals by pushing the price point down and opening the platform for cheap games.

With this in mind, I'm kind of surprised that I haven't heard much about Apple's announcement that the Apple TV now supports Bluetooth game controllers (controllers used to be read as keyboards) and added game specific API to the Apple TV SDK.

I think this could be huge and entirely destroy Ouya's momentum plus render the Xbox One's entertainment features as trivial for most people unless they want to hardcore game since the Apple TV does practically everything the One does for $99 except play high end games. Logitech is already working on a great looking controller. All Apple needs is to offer a pack-in version for $129 and the casuals will be set for life.

[ImaNihilist]

IMO, if someone comes up with an Xbox-like controller that works on iOS it's game over for consoles all together.

Are the graphics going to be as good as a next gen console? No, not today. Next gen iPads will probably have double the RAM of current gen. Gen after that will probably double again. Once an iPad has 4GB of RAM for developers to play with it will be on par in terms of graphics given texture resolution and viewing distance. So if today's iPad games are somewhere between PS2 and PS3, the 2015 iPad will have surpassed the Xbox 360.

I LOVE GTA Vice City on the iPad, even with the crappy controls. Give me a decent controller and I'll have no need for a console every again.

[Timman_24]

Apple announced their MFi (Made for iOS) game controller initiative. Rumors have logitech coming out with one really soon. I know the idea of Apple killing consoles has been around forever, but there are actually recent developments that could take all casuals away. Could be interesting. I'm going to keep a close eye on this for sure.

There was talk in the developer community that Apple hosted a WWDC presentation about integrating game controllers. They established human interface guidelines and best practices during the presentation. They had Logitech branded controller on hand during the demonstration. Supposedly the support and controller will launch with iOS7 this fall.

[Nabby]

Haha, leave it to Apple and take an untapped market by storm. I look forward to seeing what people come up with this model.

I would be willing to upgrade my "console" every year at the cost for $100. There are far worse things to buy for that kind of money.

[taggart6]

Ehh..heard this before. Lets revisit this in a year and see if anything actually happens once the ouya hits.

[ImaNihilist]

Even the FPSs on tablets have gotten pretty decent. Modern Combat 4 is a pretty solid CoD clone. The problem is the controls suck. With better controls I think the game would be just as fun as most console shooters.

I'm still hoping that, somehow, TF2 makes its way onto the iPad. Pretty sure an iPad with 2GB of RAM could run TF2 beautifully… at 2048x1536.

[Timman_24]

Ehh..heard this before. Lets revisit this in a year and see if anything actually happens once the ouya hits.

I know its been said before, but there is actual evidence that was made available to developer during WWDC. Official controller support is a major step as well as game specific frameworks and improvements to the SDK. Put the Apple name on a small rectangular box that does everything, and MS doesn't have a chance.

[ImaNihilist]

Microsoft can get into the game at any time with the Surface. Think about it. Xbox is now just a software stack. A software stack that runs on Windows 8. All they'd have to do is release Xbox for Windows 8 or pre-install it on the Surface and you've got the ultimate tablet.

They'll probably be late, as always, and show up to the game in 2016.

[taggart6]

Controller support is great but I'm not hearing anything about the software side. Alot of the current IOS mobile content uses the touchscreen intimately and simply porting it to controller isn't going to be a simple transition. With steam boxes, ouya, and new consoles coming out; I think I'll just wait to see if Apple shows more effort.

[ImaNihilist]

Controller support is great but I'm not hearing anything about the software side. Alot of the current IOS mobile content uses the touchscreen intimately and simply porting it to controller isn't going to be a simple transition. With steam boxes, ouya, and new consoles coming out; I think I'll just wait to see if Apple shows more effort.

The way it works is there are controller specs and an API. All controllers must conform to spec, which is basically # of inputs and type of input (button, stick, shoulder, etc.). Controllers are certified through the MFi program like other certified accessories (Thunderbolt cable, Airplay speakers, etc.). Games must be able to be played without a controller.

I think what it's going to do is take games like Modern Combat and GTA, which are good, and make them great because inputs have always been lacking. I've gotten used to it, but it's far from what I'd consider a "good" experience.

Third party controllers for consoles have mostly been crap IMO. That's the big hesitation I have with this. I really wish you could just use a Bluetooth PS3 controller. Part of me hopes that maybe Apple will enable this by just creating a "standard" driver that maps that controller, although I doubt it. This is how it works on OS X though, so who knows.

[taggart6]

I have no doubt that playing GTA with a controller is a great experience.

[Timman_24]

I know from developing input systems in the past, that it is an easier task than it seems to implement a new input device in some cases. If an iOS game is using a virtual analog stick and on-screen buttons, it is very easy to map those to a controller. Writing input is usually one of the smallest modules on a game. Games like Modern Combat and dungeon crawlers could likely be ported over quickly. I agree that Apple needs to do a little more to spark consumer interest, but they put all the tools in place during WWDC for developers to begin integrating with the controller so we may see more on the consumer front when iOS7 launches.

Now that Apple has laid out the specific number of buttons and analog controls in their best practices and human interface guidelines, devs would be dumb not to add support to their game going forward if that game complements a controller scheme.

[taggart6]

That's a good point. However, some games just won;t make the transition well from a gameplay standpoint. I could never play something like Fruit Ninja, Words with Friends, Draw Something, and etc with a controller with out wanting to kick my tv in 5 min in.

It would be nice to try Infinity Blade 2 with a controller though.

[Timman_24]

That's a good point. However, some games just won;t make the transition well from a gameplay standpoint. I could never play something like Fruit Ninja, Words with Friends, Draw Something, and etc with a controller with out wanting to kick my tv in 5 min in.

It would be nice to try Infinity Blade 2 with a controller though.

Yup, there are games that specifically target the touchscreen. IMO, those are the best made games on iOS because they target the platform instead of shoehorning standard controls onto the screen. Add a decent controller, and you've now got a console that has already sold 500 million units.