Comments on: Why Apple should release a game console

Don Reisinger thinks now is the perfect time for Apple to get in on the console gaming front. Does Steve Jobs agree?

[sobishop]

I say go for it. Nothing like competition to drive the prices even lower. You want to know the real reason why Nintendo is so successful? It is a hardware and software company. Sony is a hardware company. Microsoft is a software company. Sony and Microsoft should join forces so Sony can make the hardware and Microsoft can make the software. Nintendo can stay focused on kids and the family while SonySoft can focus on true hardcore gamers. But alas, if the world thought the way I did, this would be a better place......who wants that?

[JHauser203]

I think they ought to fix Leopard first.

[dnscompanies]

What in the world would Apple add to the market? Right now the same games are available on different consoles (for the most part) so why bother? Not to mention it's Apple... so they're really only be 3 or 4 games available for it!

[drewdizzy]

Why not, there is always room for competition. I think Apple can jump the band wagon on game consoles, since all the products that came from Apple under Steve have been successfully. I think they should also considering buying SEGA technology, I believe they had the advance technology in games, but never successfully promoted the product.

[pir8matt]

I think Apples inability to play nice with external companies (in this case, a variety of potential game developers) would preclude them from entering this market. If Apple made a console, it would probably have one game, maybe two, and be advertised as the 'only game you'll ever need', have a white background with white characters, and be really quiet.

Probably not the space they need to be in.

[oliverru]

Would have been a better fit before Apple swithed from PowerPC to Intel chips (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii all use RISC chips).

[sgwizzy]

They wouldn't stand a chance... they can't even pull together games on the PC.

REAL gamers don't want "gimicks"... they want a PS3 or 360... the casual gamer wants a Wii for its light hearted party games... not iphone compatabilty.

I almost hope they do try it, so I can watch all the i-fans go down in flames! lol

[JimSatterfieldW]

First, a crowded space is only an absolute disqualifier if the industry is mature. Gaming is still growing. Secondly, if they did get into the gaming space and acquired a good sized game developer to develop for it they could (Assuming the console is designed properly.) create a synergy by not only having the developer produce games for their console but games native to the Mac OS.

[69twinturbo]

When is there a good time to enter the market? Human behavior can not be predicted and I am sure the marketing manages at Nintendo are taking the credit for the Wii doing wellj when in essence you really can not. Apple and whomever else should create a gaming console in order to drive the creative atmosphere of the gaming market even futher. That is what competitiion tends to do at times: force people to create a better product. Lack of competition makes companies lazy. A great example is EA sports having the exclusive rights to creating an NFL football game. No competition which has allowed to make crappy Madden games now riddled with error after error and they brush it off by saying it is due to the pressure of release date. Typical. Unethical in my opinion to knowingly send out defective games and still get to keep the revenue. The Dreamcast was a phenominal system. However people were just still caught up on the Playstation. You can't predict this. Why would people pass such a great system? Who knows for sure really? Many opinions are out there. Please Apple. Go for it. reap in the rewards when they come and write off any losses if you should incur them.

[tjt620]

Apple has filed for a remote very similar to the wii-mote. I remember when Apples were the best gaming machines around when i was a kid (1980's), much better than any pc. All the reports say the remote would be paired with the appletv or mac mini.

[Practical-Mac]

I was involved in the Pippin world, and let me set the record straight:
It is a *Bandai* Pippin using Apple technology, so Apple never made a game counsel, never marked it, never did anything for it, but did rigidly control the trademark and distribution rights. Bandai simply paid Apple to make something for Bandai.

WHY it did not succeed was because Apple did not support Pippin, and the major reason for that were the declining fortunes of Apple, and Gill Amelio?s administration. When Amelio took power, no one ever told him about Pippin until some Japanese showed up at Apple HQ wanting to know how development is going (not sure if factual event). Because of the contract with Apple, Bandai was held captive by how and where they could sell Pippin, and it is wholly possible that Apple board saw Pippin as a threat to its low-end computer market, thus would be opposed to it.

Microsoft spent BILLIONS on its Xbox. Apple only spent about a million. Is it any wonder the Pippin did so poorly?

To the question should Apple make a gaming system?
Apple has historically poorly supported games, despite the fact gamers spend huge amounts for top-of-line systems. For Apple to even think about doing a gaming console, they would need to invest as much in that department as they do for its iLife, and give as much support as they do for Adobe. IOW, tens of millions of dollars for development and programmers over 5 years.

Then Apple could have a successful product, say an online MMO for its iPhone.

[gzstang]

Apple should stay out of the gaming world,don't like any of their products and will never ever buy an ipod...sales figures in a certain product does not mean BEST product sold.

[oonal13]

Here is my take on this...
As we all know, Apple's products are easy to use and don't require a lot of tecnical support or repair. In my opinion, they would get in the game console business only if they know that the product thay come up with is good enough for public. Thay care about their image and they would not come up with a console that you would hate and give bad reviews. We all spent a lot of time fixingor learning work with the mp3 players, pcs and other devices from companies like Microsoft whom really did not care to put great products.

[richardlol]

This is all about convergence and software... not dedicated gaming consoles. Everyone I know with a PS3 bought it because they wanted a Blueray player anyway and Hey Look,... I get a game system too. Apple TV needs a Hey Look like that. They should partner with Nintendo and put out a set-topbox with current Apple TV streaming and media center fnctionality, along with a Blueray player and the next gen Wii type system. They could even skip the Blueray player if the prices for streaming from iTunes would come down.

On the software side, Apple does not like to work with third-party developers and there are already too many game formats to support. They should find a way to partner and license the ability to play someone else's format and build a killer set-top-box, that the next big market. In a few years we will all be streaming video and the set-top-box market will explode. Even hi-def DVDs will seems dumb.

[hameiri]

Probably a good idea. But, instead of building something new and flopping, why not start slow?

Apple could use the Apple TV set top box to start offering games. XBox and the PS 3 used their game console for getting online to game, browse and download entertainment. What if they used their machine to go the other way?

I'm actually about to buy a PS 3, not for the gaming. I want it for the Blu-ray player and the internet browsing and downloading. If I get a game or two that will be fine also.

[joshdeboer]

I have been an Apple user for over 13 years and I disagree with Veggiedude. They dropped Computer from there name and became a consumer electronics company. I miss the days when people were like, "Apple" what's that?

The bottom line is Apple is trendy because of the iPod and iPhone. The hardware and OS was why I bought into Apple for so many years. As far as a gaming machine (Please No),

I am tired of the trendsters walking around listening to iPods all day, the last thing I what to hear is the shortage stories and long lines of stupid people at Worst Buy camping-out for 5 days to get an Apple game console. YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just for fun:
Remember when Apple told everyone for years that the Power chips were better and faster than PC's with Intel chips? LOL

Cons:
iTunes, iPods (128 bit music), HD movies that are not real HD, iPhones, Hype, Apple stores, iPod marketing ads, Steve Jobs

Pros:
OS X, hardware, innovation

[His SHadow]

Jeez, Josh, drama queen much? iTunes, iPods and Apple stores are Cons? Do you understand business at all? Apple can make the hardware of the future because they are profitable, and the above combination secures Apple's success far into the future.

[dane_62]

The consel apple would make is already out. Nintendo made it and it's called Wii. Apple has always been the computer company that takes revolutionary techonolgy and makes it apeal to the simple non-hardcore user, this is exactly what the wii does.

If apple tried to come out with something that would be inline with thier corprate culture right now they wouldn't be competeing much with Xbox or PS3 they would be competeing against the wii and I think they'd have a very hard time turning the wii mani around.

If they really want to get into the gamming market they should partner with Nintendo. Nintendo's biggest problem in the gamming market right now is they are competeing with two companys that have almost infinately deep pockets. Getting a partner like apple would really increase what they could do in the Research and development area.

[Koloblicin.wizard]

Apple is an excellent choice for computers and they pretty much own the mp3 world. They would FAIL IN THE CONSOLE WORLD. There is so much competition now in the gaming industry that it is ridiculous. There is no way that they would be able to survive. Apple, save yourself some money and time, do not make a console attempt.

[PunkNugget]

Ummmm, what do I say to this? Well for starters with the existing Macs that we have currently have right now don't even allow us to play the new PC games out there anyway. The lackluster, outdated graphics video cards from ATI & Nvidia don't push the power these new PC games need to make them work, even if Mac had all these new PC games ported to work. I mean come on, ATI 2600 and Nvida 8800 GT - PLEASE !!! They should be selling the ATI 3870 x2 and Nvidia GX2 cards in both Crossfire and SLI mode. So why would Mac even think they would be in the running for a gaming console unit. They have already proved to me they aren't even going there, which forced me to go buy a PC just for my gaming purpose alone. I still use the Mac for everything else. It's too bad, because I remember being able to play Unreal Tournament on my Mac a seven years ago. Come on Mac, if you're going to get on board do all the way or forget it. If Mac attempts to do anything like that, what they need to create is a console system that will allow you to do three things, 1) allow you the ability to upgrade your graphics card (or cards if you have them in Crossfire or SLI mode) at least one time of the console systems lifespan 2) allow you to update your processor at least one time of the console systems lifespan 3) allow you to play ANY AND ALL PC games currently out there regardless if it's ported for Mac or not. Lastly, have special pricing available for the trade ins for the graphics cards and processors where you ONLY pay 50% of the price of newer cards and processors that come out for that one time upgrade. Make it so irresistible that no one would pay the same price as they would pay for a gaming PC and all of what goes into it. Then you would capture your gaming market. This would be a good challenge for Mac to go after... Make it happen...

[grazlo]

Probably too late, even if they entered the in the next-gen war. Homes with an interest in console gaming already have either a PS3 or 360 (or Wii, which some stil consider last-gen). These consoles are developing new services to try to get the consumer financially vested to the point where it woudn't practical to experiement with different consoles (I'm mainly refering to the average middle class household with kids). These new services and features are already developing their hold. Apple may be able to get some business from hardcore Apple fans, who practically own an "iHome" (I know a couple of people like this). But I really don't feel that they can penetrate the console gaming market at any profit. Any console they make would need a solid library of innovative exclusive titles. They have to be able to give people a reason to choose their console, and porting multi-platform games would not achieve this. They need the equivalent of Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo and Mario. They would also need to carefully study what each existing console will offer in the next couple of years, and which ideas and services will pass or fail. Because the console gaming industry is evolving into something new and is currently experiencing growing pains. If they can do this, then they may have a chance against the big 3 in the next gen war. But even so, it would be a risk going up against companies with 30+ years of an established fan base between them.

Here's an idea. Spend the next few years focusing on game development for the Mac. Release more titles to gain the trust of the gaming community. Create an Apple game development department and develop Mac exclusive titles. If good enough, these titles may wet the apetite of new Mac gamers. When the next generation of consoles are released, jump in the ring with a background in game development and sequels to exclusives that have already proved to be a success. I don't care how saturated the console gaming industry is. Once the next-gen is here, every gamer reevaluates their allegiance to their last-gen brand, because gaming has become a big investment these days. When I bought my PS3, I knew that it was going to be the only console I get for the next few years.