Several weeks after the announcement of Apple’s new iPad there has been a lot of talk regarding the presence of the new device and how it will impact the gaming industry (if at all). Some sites have gone so far as to blatantly make fun of the device (not that it doesn’t necessarily warrant it) but after having some time to let it all soak in, I thought it would be good to put things in perspective and see what the EBA Community thinks about the matter. Not to single out Kotaku (even though I will with Example 1 and Example 2), but it seems to me that some of the information being put out there for gamers is not being properly put into perspective. After all, this is Apple, a HUGE company, and while hardcore gamers might not feel the impact directly, publishers and developers dedicating time/resources to the platform means that gamers will most likely be impacted in some shape, way, or form. So, let’s take a couple swigs of the ‘ole spirits and discuss, shall we?
Before we get caught up into the normal gaming platform dance, let’s consider the niche market that the iPad could thrive in. The casual gaming market used to be a joke, especially in the eyes of PC and Console gamers. We have all made fun of those silly little games you could play on your old cell phones – that while fun, are just a temporary fix – hence the term ‘casual’ gaming. The emergence of the iPhone and growing popularity of community and social gaming on the web, most notably Farmville on Facebook, has given rise to an entirely new type of gamer. With millions of subscribers and just under $100 million in profit in 2009, the developer of Farmville, Zynga, stands to make record profits in 2010. With the use of the simplified gaming mechanics of casual, community gaming and the use of micro transactions, these types of games could be just the ‘niche’ market that the iPad could fill. Zynga and Playfish, both power players in these social community games ‘genre’, continue to find ways to bring their increasingly popular titles to their consumers.
So, if it’s direct impact on the gaming economy you’d like to discuss, then don’t sell the iPad short. There may be those that make fun of the device, but the ease of application distribution and micro transactions could quickly elevate an already aggressively expanding market even more into the mainstream ‘gaming’ community. Hell, we may even start to see large scale integration of these casual games into our consoles. Online Farmville on Xbox Live? Sure, laugh! Don’t count it out, either…
With gaming’s infusion into a wide array of devices and across ever increasing demographics, it becomes less about what types of bad ass first person shooters you can make for the iPad and more about how to bring highly profitable, addictive games to the device. You can bet that the major pubs/devs out there are gonna invest in the opportunity and as a result, look to provide experiences that may just make the iPad more relevant than you’d expect.
So, what do you all think? Sound off in the comments section below and as always we’ll keep you posted on all of the latest iPad info right here on EpicBattleAxe.com!
I still think the iPad looks like a huge iPod touch, although if a new version comes as a huge version of a iPhone I might consider thinking that it could be a viable “online gaming device”.
I am guilty of downloading a couple of games to my iPhone 3Gs but in all honesty, they are what you call “a fix”, I can’t really play them for more than 10 minutes in a row because they are repetitive and bland.
I don’t really think the iPad has the potential (yet) to be considered a serious gaming platform, but it surely has a grip on all those Facebook and Myspace “gamers”. I used to be one and I know how addicting Mafia Wars (1 and 2), and Vampire Wars can get, or even that damn Farmville, or Zynga’s Poker Texas Hold ‘em.
In conclusion I consider the target market for these games would be more of the “cosmopolitan” young adult professional that can afford it, because not even a student would find a use for this device. Only if it was more of a “netbook” and less of an over sized MP3 player…
Oh well that’s how I see it
Cheers Axe heads!
There’s never any potential to anything that Apple releases. They are bad company. They should burn in hell. These are facts.
I can’t believe that guy makes so much off of shitty Farmville… an idea that is completely stolen.
How well the iPad makes it as a gaming device depends entirely on how well it fares as a whole. Since they aren’t launching it as a gaming device, no major publisher/developer is likely to step up and make huge AAA titles exclusively for the iPad.
It’s probably gonna start off similarly to the iPhone with simplistic games aimed at a casual audience. Maybe if it goes well a few game developers will make their games compatible with it.
If we’re gonna see major titles released for it, it is probably going to take years.
I really don’t think much good of the Ipad. For me it’s a pretty useless device and i’m finding very odd that the guys from EBA actually found this piece of garbage full of all sorts of potencial. Truly I see none! With the money i could spend buying and Ipad i could just easily buy a netbook which is WAY BETTER in every way except… fucking touchscreen. But really? I could care less about touch screen on my computer!!! Did u saw how much time a guy takes to write a fucking email or a fucking tweet or whatever it writes on that giant shiny brick? So long sending an urgent email. U might as well walk back home and write it on your PC and u’d still be faster!!
Plus, no-multitasking! When i read this for the first time i really thought this was a joke! Multi-tasking its like the most basic thing any sort of computer does. Even my shitty MP4 Player can multitask!! And it has also a touchscreen!!! So… if i had a big screen and internet access on it, my 100$ MP4 player would be better than this overpriced crap.
I’m no fan boy but damn i hate Apple. For every gadget they have, there’s another one, from another company that is way better and Cheaper!! FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR CRAPS!! And still they making loads of money?? How can this happen?? i really dont get it!
I just hope consumers pull a PSPGo on this motherfucker and sent it straight to where it belongs. The vacuum in space. Not even in the garbage.
Cheers from Portugal Axe Heads!
The only potential is to show some work you’ve done for a client provided that the client is an idiot and doesn’t know much- fancy design and showing presentations and previews will surely impress the idiot.
It’s practically useless in almost every other way. Buy a netbook/lap top.
Personally I don´t see any potential for games on the ipad. Atm I just can’t make anything more of it than a big Iphone, but
Maybe it will work properly for gaming
Maybe their will be good games for
Maybe gamedevolpers will give it a shot
But it seems it will be 500$ and where I live; Europe most likely 500€ and everyone can choose between this Ipad and a console.
To me the Ipad is a lager version of the Ipod touch and nothing more.
I think the ipad would be great for some old school isometric RPGs. The larger screen would be great for turn based or pause and play games like this. You could also bring back some of those in-table arcade games like river raid etc. You could even have the flip screen for the second player. Digital board games would be an option. No poising pieces or the rules. Card games like magic would be kina cool. This device has great potential for these kind of games, bringing dead genres back to life and giving Microsoft a run for it’s money with their new arcade zone thing.
Can’t seem to edit my post. I meant to say loosing pieces for board games
I still don’t even know what the iPad is for? I still want one lol
Huh, good point.. I don’t know what a couple of these guys are saying – it’s not like the ‘axe is saying it’s an uber gaming platform, I personally like the prospective – not a conventional gaming platform, but potential for another demographic of gamers…. I think we are just talking about gaming here, not multitasking, email or watching porn..you know, everyday stuffs…
Great prospective though, your not buying into or out of the device, but bringing up something very interesting that hasn’t been addressed..we’ll see how it plays out -
Well Zimini, I just don’t see what prospect you see in this device if it has already been announced it cannot multi task.
Besides being an over sized iPod touch, most people just don’t see any actual functionality on it besides having a bigger screen. I guess the only added value is increasing someone’s ego by saying “I got an iPad and you don’t”.
Cheers Axe heads.
Honestly, I liked the iphone/ipod a lot for making it possible to develop and sell games easily.
The hardware has also made whole new kinds of games possible, something i still believe hasnt been taken full advantage of. The iPad is something im excited for (both as a designer/dev and consumer) Its kind of like an interactive sheet of paper, the kind of thing you dream about as a kid. Sure its not perfect but the possibilities for new games are even wider because of it.
Im working on a game at the moment (its unannounced so i cant talk much of it now) but its more of an original and hardcore experience, something i believe real gamers would enjoy, fresh and fun. (would love to get in contact with axe once we have something to show)
Whats important is that the platform doesnt limit games, just the imagination and risks of developers.
Looking forward to seeing what comes of the device.
Loving the site update by the way
I’m glad you brought this up. I think another approach to make is this: Why oh why would they make the iPad with such limited functionality without having a set plan for it’s use in the market? I hear lot’s of people saying things like “Just go buy a Netbook” and I have to agree. But let’s look at the implications of what our reaction mean.
I think we have to assume Apple (being a successful business) was aware of the immediate thoughts to consumers. Why did the iPod succeed? because not much else allowed you to compile ALL your music into one portable music player. CD players are bulky and limited to one album at a time. You can also get new music, though I have to say buying music on iTunes is an absolute rip off, the point is people still do it.
Why the hell does an iPod touch sell? It’s the same thing as an iPhone, but cant make calls. And you still have to pay for subscription to get the service in order to buy games or apps. It’s absurd, yet people still buy it. You can play free flash games, buy higher quality games on other consoles, other portables, or on the PC; and yet people still game on iPods and and iPhones. I’m with EBA when I say that we should’t sell it short. Perhaps our imaginations are limiting our ability to see what it’s for.
Have said all that, I personally have absolutely no interest in the thing, but I’ve never been one to “game-on-the-go” and havn’t owned a portable since the Game Boy color.
Thus far, I think CannonGoBoom had the best idea. One in which old-school games can be re-envisioned. I think one of the main problems we see with it, is that because of it’s size and PC mimicry (the email thing) we compare it to a more functional pc, laptop, or netbook. When compared, we cannot find the value or purpose of such a lesser piece of machinery. Now it’s also said to be a big iPod Touch (to which I agree) but isn’t this an identical approach our portable gaming consoles use? Aside from generation leaps, the psp or game boy is tweaked, altered, screen enlarged, etc and re-released. Has the same functionality, but it’s bigger, shinier, new.
Uriel’s two cents