Article: Does iPhone SDK mark the end of Click Wheel iPod Gaming?

When Apple announced the iPhone Software Development Kit in early March, game developers were nearly unanimous in praising the tools, iTunes-focused distribution methodology, and opportunities Apple was providing to their community: the iPhone and iPod touch, they made clear, were going to be exciting new gaming platforms, and companies such as Electronic Arts, Sega, and Gameloft were quick to commit to releasing new titles. But what, we wondered,…

In defense of iPod gaming

Christopher Breen had some harsh words about the state of gaming on the iPod. Peter Cohen responds, pointing out the interesting titles on the iPod and how iPod game development is paving the way for iPhone-based games.

News: iTunes Store drops eight 5G iPod Games, updates Zuma

Following an extended period that saw Apple re-release some of its fifth-generation iPod Games in a format compatible with third-generation iPod nanos and iPod classics, the company today added Zuma to its master list of nano- and classic-ready iPod Games, and removed a section of the iTunes Store that linked to eight other titles. The titles are: Bejeweled iQuiz Lost Mahjong Mini Golf Musika Royal Solitaire Vortex Two of these titles, iQuiz and Vortex,…

News: Kaplan re-releases 2008 SAT Prep titles for 2007 iPods

Updating three titles previously available only for fifth-generation iPods, Kaplan and Apple today re-released the 2008 versions of SAT Prep Reading, SAT Prep Writing, and SAT Prep Math in a downloadable format compatible with the iPod classic and third-generation iPod nano. Though sold through the iPod Games section of the iTunes Store, the titles are actually not games, bur rather educational software designed to help high school students prepare…

News: EA releases Scrabble, updates Mini Golf iPod game

Alongside the re-release of Mini Golf, Electronic Arts today released Scrabble as a downloadable game for the third-generation iPod nano, iPod classic, and fifth-generation iPod. Mini Golf was originally released in 2006 as one of the first iPod games, and lets players putt their way through three themed courses, complete with various obstacles and secret shortcuts. Based on the popular crossword game, Scrabble lets players vie for high score by forming…

Will the iPhone kill iPod Click Wheel gaming?

Section: iPod + iTunes, iPod touch, iPod Family, iTunes, iPod, iPod nano, iPhone + Communications, iPhone, iPhone SDK & Apps, OriginalsYes, and it’s about time we put it out of its misery. Even before the iPhone, the iPod never stood a chance as a legitimate gaming device. This saddens me somewhat, too, because I really wanted it to be. I viewed gaming on the iPod much as I do on my Macintosh, in that I didn’t buy a Mac to play games, but if there are games available, I’ll certainly play them. Unfortunately, developers just never put much thought into iPod games, and Apple didn’t seem interested in helping out. The main problem, of course, is the scroll wheel. There are very few games that can be effectively controlled with a wheel, and developers just haven’t been able to work around that. Games such as Mini Golf, Vortex and Peggle are workable, but only because of the simple control schemes that mainly involve spinning in a circle. Okay. But why is Sonic the Hedgehog on the iPod? Bomberman? Pac Man? These are big name titles, sure, but trying to control them with a click wheel is an exercise in frustration and futility that only turns gamers away from the iPod. Games for the iPhone are being developed specifically for the iPhone. Developers are excited about the touch screen and accelerometer, and are already putting them to good use. Obviously, developers didn’t have that excitement about the iPod’s click wheel. As a result, we got a mess of games with titles we recognize—Scrabble, Yahtzee, Pole Position, Pirates of the Caribberan(?!)—because that’s the only way people would buy them. Even EA, apparently recognizing no one wants to play pool on an iPod, threw their popular Sims franchise label on top of it in an effort to move some copies. They did the same with The Sims Bowling and The Sims DJ. Actually, The Sims DJ goes in a direction that more games should have, in that it puts your music collection into the game. It’s not just background music while you play; rather, the gameplay is built around your music. It’s an original concept that could only work on the iPod. The same goes for iQuiz, which creates trivia games based on your own music. This is what more developers needed to do, instead of just throwing unplayable ports of cell phone games at us. Or, someone could’ve given us an iPod game pad. I imagine if the market had been there, someone would have. I’m not a developer and know little of design, but I can’t imagine it would’ve been hard to put together a cradle in which the iPod classic and 3G nano would sit, placing a D-pad to the left of the click wheel and a few buttons to the right. The D-pad would take over the touch commands of the click wheel, and the buttons would take over the wheel and center button clicking functions. With that device, the games would be able to be played as they’re meant to, and the entire catalog would open to all iPod owners on a device combo no larger than a Nintendo DS. Of course, the problem with such a device is that Apple updates the form factor of the iPod so frequently that it would have to be a wide open design to avoid becoming obsolete within a year or two. Plus, as I mentioned at the top of the article, people aren’t buying iPods for the games. The Nintendo DS and Sony PSP have that market covered, so it’s unlikely the type of person looking to play Sonic the Hedgehog would look to do so on an iPod. And so, we’re back to game design. Developers need to put games on the iPod that work on the iPod, which is why I’m thrilled to see a company as huge as Square Enix getting into the mix with Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes. Here’s a game that not only works with the click wheel (it’s not a perfect fit, but the turn-based strategy gameplay doesn’t require quick, precise control, and is therefore more forgiving), but that takes full advantage of the your music collection; the songs on your iPod actually become ”Tune Troopers.” How cool is that...building an army based on your music. I just added this game to my collection, and can’t wait to see what type of soldiers songs such as Queen’s “Ogre Battle” and “Vultan’s Theme (Attack of the Hawk Men)” give me. Or, for that matter, “Particle Man” from They Might Be Giants. So, is there hope for iPod gaming, or is this too little, too late? I fear it’s the latter, but I hope Song Summoner does well enough to convince Square Enix to embrace the iPhone and iPod touch platforms. Support from big name developers and publishers will improve public perception within the gaming community, and that can only be good for sales. After all, showing friends Vortex on the iPod never convinced anyone to run out and buy one, but Super Monkey Ball could certainly have that effect. Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »