Archive for: Mobile Gaming
Apple has, in just one year, made a huge impression in the mobile gaming market, eating up market share once held by larger gaming company companies like Nintendo and Sony. More specifically Sony saw approximately half it’s market share drop from 20% to 11% as Apple’s mobile platform, especially with the release of iOS4, saw a rise of 5% to 19% from 2008 to 2009 alone as reported by the AppleInsider.
It appears as if Sony is now charging headlong into the mobile phone industry by creating a hybrid gaming phone based on the design of the current PSP Go. This would support the rumors that Sony was looking to make a move into the mobile phone market, but perhaps the numbers above have forced their hand a little prematurely.
According to AppleInsider, the phone would be based on Android 3.0 (aka Gingerbread) and use “PSP-like” controls instead of the standard QWERTY keyboards. It’s being more specifically described as a combination of the Samsung Captivate and the PSP Go. I’ll let your minds create the product.
Sony would definitely be playing a game of catch up in this space since Apple is already working on creating an iOS4 centralized gaming hub that would contain leader boards, track friends, and build an entire social community around their gamers. Add to that the fact that Apple has been rumored to purchase a Chinese game making company into the mix and there is no doubt that Apple is looking to eat up market share very quickly.
I can see how Sony would be threatened by this considering that the PSP, while nice in style, has not come close to outselling or matching the long time champion of mobile gaming, Nintendo. As for Nintendo, while they are sitting high on the mountain, Apple has proven that they can indeed make a splash in the market. We saw it with mp3 players, we saw it with the iPhone, more recently tablets, and now perhaps a gaming system.
Fans of the music video game genre rejoice, one of the classic games that started it all has finally come to the iPhone/iTouch. After years of playing on consoles, Guitar Hero finally comes to the mobile world. Currently we’ve been occupying our time playing games like Tap Tap Revenge and other similar style games, but nothing brings the feeling of full rockstar status like Guitar Hero.
The app, $3, has been downsized and altered slightly for mobile playing. The interface is simplified to appeal to a much wider audience that would not normally pick up the game on a console. Whether you’re new or a veteran Guitar Hero gamer, you’ll still be able to tap, strum, whammy, and slide to the beat of the songs on the game. The game currently comes with six songs: The Rolling Stones, Weezer, Vampire Weekend, and The White Stripes, just to name a few. If you’re looking to increase your rockstar library you can find more games in app, but it’s going to cost you.
A huge thanks to Activision for making this game a reality. No more air guitar while you listen to your music, now you can really jam out. Still, people might look at you funny…but who cares?
Guitar Hero iPhone App
Being a huge fan of Square the news that they were releasing an iPad app really excited me. Square has been very active recently with apps released on the iPhone/iTouch and with the release of the iPad, it was only a matter of time before it would happen. Currently some of the bigger apps they’ve released include Chaos Rings, Crystal Defenders, Final Fantasy I & II, and Song Summoner.
Recently Square has made two big announcements, the first being the release of FFXIII image gallery, which was previously released on the iPhone/iTouch, but the iPad version now supports 3D images. With use of the regular red and blue glasses, the images will come to life in a whole new way. The second announcement was the release of an actual game involving the iconic Chocobo.
Chocobo Panic has users attempting to keep control of the many Chocobos bouncing around the screen. The game allows for up to six points of touch, so get together with six of our friends and keep the Chocobos from going chaotic on the screen. Sounds like a lot of fun, but for how long? I’m interested in seeing this game and actually interacting with it.
It was also confirmed that Chaos Rings and Crystal Defenders would be coming to the iPad in the near future. This will excite many iPad owners who have been waiting for Square to make a big splash on the larger device.
*This article is purely speculative based on information gathered from a variety of rumor sources and track record of Apple.
Could Apple's new device be the casual gaming machine Nintendo fears?
Many of us have been waiting for Apple’s big announcement with more anticipation than I’ve seen collectively in a very long time. I can remember when the iPhone was first rumored that the world waited, breath held, and excitement at an all time high. I can’t say that any other company has truly fascinated the world as much as Apple has in the last ten years, but then again, very few companies have changed the way we interact the way Apple has. From the launch of the iPod, to the launch of the iPhone, and even dating as far back as their initial Apple computer, the company is known to make waves.
As we approach the big announcement date, the word on everyone’s mind is tablet. I can’t imagine that anyone has not heard the rumors, but this coming Wednesday, along with some other announcements, the world is waiting for the announcement on what they see as the iTablet. Will happen? Does it exist. I’m not here to neither confirm nor deny what’s happening, I’m not privy to that information. But what I will do is make an assumption that I think is at least 85% true.
Should an iTablet of sorts arrive, I’m looking at a device that is purely a media consumption device. I don’t see any content being created with this device, but more for entertainment purposes. While the device will more than likely play movies and audio, it’s being said it could also function as an e-reader. But what I’m looking at is the gaming value.
There have been numerous sources stating that games would play a big factor in this new device and if so why, to what end? Currently the mobile gaming industry throne is held by Nintendo. Since the release of its Gameboy, which was a revolutionary device in its own right, it has been known as a great gateway gaming machine for those not typically used to playing games. Nintendo enjoys its position as being an easy point of entry for the casual gamer that perhaps would not pick up an Xbox or a PS3. This has been the bread and butter for this market, followed by the hardcore fans that thrive on franchises like Mario and Zelda.
The iTouch/iPhone has quickly become the gaming alternative for those of us waiting in line or just passing the time. With quick pick up games that can be played in short bursts and then put down, the release of an iTablet could easily transcend the small screen but bring the same mindset of carrying a slightly larger device that won’t just offer the same gaming diversion, but also offer up video, audio, and published entertainment.
Maybe I’m going out on limb here, but I think Nintendo might be in their sights. Not necessarily as a gaming machine, but rather, eating up their casual gamer market share that are looking for something a little more sophisticated than a Nintendo DS or DSi interations.
What are you thoughts? Do you care? Do you think it’s all hype? Leave your comments and let me know what’s what.
With the iPhone and Andriod phone set to battle for mobile supremecy, mobile apps have taken off with more and more people looking to access their content on the go. iPhone has taken the lead with its App Store, which offers free and low cost apps, and has apparently sent the standard by which other competitors have designed their markets.
GPS-apps have been very popular with all types of geo-aware apps available for a variety of uses. Now imagine taking those geo-aware apps and turning it into a MMO game where players use their actual location as the point of reference for a game. That is exactly what Parallel Kingdom, set to launch later this month, will attempt to do.
Now at first glance, Parallel Kingdom does not compare to the desktop MMO’s such as World of WarCraft, but for a mobile platform, it appears to be a pretty decent entry. Naturally the designers will have to upgrade their graphics interface to get players to keep coming back, but for starters the concept is pretty intriguing. Users will utilize their current location as the basis for the game. If you are sitting in a restaurant, it will be such that the location may be inhabited with monsters or other such obstacles to overcome. Meanwhile, walking down the street or exploring nearby blocks might reveal new weaopns, treasure, and other real life peopel to interact with in-game.
The game is still somewhat limited, but future releases look to take mobile MMO to the next level. If Parallel Kingdom can find a way to attract players to return to their world, find a suitable price point, and keep the game fresh and interesting, then there is no limits as to where this game could go. The game will be free for users on both the iPhone and Android platforms upon release with a price plan coming down the road.
