Should Apple release handheld device dedicated to gaming?

[firteen88]

So I was just wondering how you guys would feel about this....

I think the current selection of games in the App store are great. Developers have really come up with some creative ideas for using the touchscreen/accelerometer, BUT there's a huge limitation when creating games for the simple fact that there are no buttons on the device. How would you feel if Apple released a dedicated gaming handheld? Some ideas...

- It would look VERY similar to the touch/iphone in terms of size and screen. I'm sure it would need to be a little bigger to fit the buttons but not much.

- It could have dual analog sticks similar to the one on the PSP, the standard four buttons on the right (i.e the triangle/square/circle/x on the PSP) as well as 2 shoulder buttons.

- All games would be purchased from an App store just like they are now, but it could be a dedicated store made specifically for the gaming device. Games like trism for instance can be submitted by the developer to be put on BOTH app stores, while games that specifically utilize the buttons will only be submitted for the gaming systems app store.

- It would have a hard drive much like the iphone/touch does now so you can still put your music collection/videos/etc... on it.

I would love to photoshop a picture of this if I had the skill but I think you guys get the point. Would you guys purchase a device like this?

[dvdsteve2000]

I didn't even know you could game on the iTouch until I saw the commercial on TV...very cool. I plan on getting a Touch, but seeing that makes me want one even more, and sooner!! I think if Apple could get some quality big name games they would have a chance, but if it's going to be like a PC game handheld, no dice. By PC game, I mean the kind of games you find online at different sites, usually freebies that aren't bad, but not worth a purchase.

[Rob V]

I'd much rather Microsoft release a portable Xbox system --- that laptop turned Xbox 360 by Ben Heckendorff is kick-ass.

But to your question about Apple, no thanks.

[firteen88]

I think if Apple could get some quality big name games they would have a chance, but if it's going to be like a PC game handheld, no dice.


they would def get some big name games. they already have big name developers developing games for them.

[fumanstan]

I'm sure it would do well these days since anything Apple is the trendy thing to get and people will buy anything with the Apple logo and a fancy commercial behind it. Personally, I think they design some of the coolest looking products so they could really come up with something cool, but I'm not the biggest fan of the actual functionality of their devices.

[spainlinx0]

I didn't even know you could game on the iTouch until I saw the commercial on TV...very cool. I plan on getting a Touch, but seeing that makes me want one even more, and sooner!! I think if Apple could get some quality big name games they would have a chance, but if it's going to be like a PC game handheld, no dice. By PC game, I mean the kind of games you find online at different sites, usually freebies that aren't bad, but not worth a purchase.

You saw the commercial and think it's cool, but aren't you constantly ripping Nintendo for the DS and Wii for being gimmicky? I guess if you combine the two it's no longer gimmicky?

[tanman]

There's no way Apple would do that. They aren't going to uglify their iTouch or iPhone with buttons. I really don't think they are that interested in game development. I think they are perfectly happy coming up with the hardware and the store and just letting developers work within those boundaries. They aren't going to let applications dictate their hardware.

[The Bus]

You saw the commercial and think it's cool, but aren't you constantly ripping Nintendo for the DS and Wii for being gimmicky? I guess if you combine the two it's no longer gimmicky?

Zing!

[dvdsteve2000]

You saw the commercial and think it's cool, but aren't you constantly ripping Nintendo for the DS and Wii for being gimmicky? I guess if you combine the two it's no longer gimmicky?

As I said, the upgrade from last gen's iPod to this one is HUGE, and I will be buying one. I planned on buying one before I knew they played games, so this is just a plus. If the gimmicky games were the reason I was buying one, then zing, but that's just some (optional) icing on the cake. Playing mp3's, videos, and adding games to the mix is win-win. If I owned a 4th gen iPod, I wouldn't have upgraded to the 5th. The Touch is a vast improvement over the 5th gens. If they just changed the case and made it brighter, I wouldn't be biting.