When Will Apple Finally Push the Right Buttons?

[Michael Essany]

Image via SkateandAnnoy


Many Apple fans like myself love the cool games available for the iPhone and iPod.

To a considerable degree, the gaming experience for the Apple product line can hold its own with the lineup available for any competing portable video game handheld maker - even the PSP, in my estimation. In addition to cost effectiveness and appearance, the outright game play for many titles just feels better on my iPhone. And it's impossible to place a value on the convenience factor of "game readiness."

But as analyst Jeff Bakalar pointed out following last night's Apple event, there's still something missing from the iPhone and iPod gaming experience. And it's hard to put your finger on exactly what it is.

Literally.

It's tough to consider the iPhone as a legitimate gaming platform until Apple can offer some sort of tactile button functionality.

Although the day after an Apple announcement seems a little premature to begin speculating about what next year's
announcement may reveal, the often ignored Apple gamers are dying for a gaming themed extravaganza like the music-oriented
spectacle we saw Wednesday.

The way it currently stands, controlling such games on the iPhone or the iPod Touch is a frustrating mess. Players must navigate using a virtual D-pad, which isn't able to provide the accuracy or physical feeling an actual control pad offers on the PSP and the DS.

It's no secret that Apple has an enormous and untapped potential advantage over competing handheld gaming devices.
Because of the multiple functions that an iPhone, for example, can perform, even die-hard gamers will gladly overlook
some superior characteristics of their DS or PSP just for the sake of their handy-dandy all in one Apple device.
But gamers will eventually run out of patience rather than cultivate it if Apple doesn't make improving the gaming functionality a higher priority.

The first step toward that goal--whether it be an add-on or hardware change--is to add buttons.

[tigermad]

I know what its missing. It needs a gamepad type thing that snaps on to the iphone. Whenever I play an iphone game I am not keen on the buttons that appear over the screen, why not just have some kind of pad?

[MetallicaFan1991]

Never play games on my iPhone, PSP ftw.

[jdys_1991]

A "plug-in" pad would be cool, especially for games like Assassin's Creed and that.

[Trist06]

I think somthing like icontrolpad is perfect for this problem,
iControlPad - Add real gaming controls to your iPhone!

the iphone looks perfect as it is, adding buttons to it rather then a plug-in system will just make it look ugly.

[CaptainChaos]

Image via SkateandAnnoy

To a considerable degree, the gaming experience for the Apple product line can hold its own with the lineup available for any competing portable video game handheld maker - even the PSP, in my estimation."

Not even close!

I know what its missing. It needs a gamepad type thing that snaps on to the iphone. Whenever I play an iphone game I am not keen on the buttons that appear over the screen, why not just have some kind of pad?

I thought someone already made a snap in gamers pad.

Never play games on my iPhone, PSP ftw.

+1

[howlett15]

what happened to the bluetooth controller shaped like a bone? i thought that was a good idea.

[staniphone]

I think that the games that apple are bringing out are acceptable for handhelds without buttons. If you do a little research its the buttons that restrict some games and programmers from making new innovations.

Why are Sony and Nintendo looking for new controllers and ways of making the games more fluid and interactive.

No one could say that the Madden series would suffer from not having buttons after seeing the demo.

hand held games are for a quick bit of fun.
If you are a serious gamer you have one of the big home consoles or a decent PC.

Marketing, price and carrying only one machine that does all the different functions will win in the end.

[rwin84]

The dogbone will end it all...

[Jahooba]

If I had an iPhone I don't think I would play games on it. I like having a dedicated phone for only that purpose -- I would never arbitrarily drain the battery on such an important communication device. That's why I got the Touch (and because I'm poor). Now I can do anything I want with it and not worry about the battery charge level.

I guess the big question is, will Apple go against everything that made them popular by altering the industrial design of the incredibly minimalist design of the iPhone/Touch?

Personally I think a device with a game pad would fall flat. People buy the iPhone for the phone, the music player, and the apps... that it can play games as well is just kind of a bonus. My evidence for this is the fact that so many "non-gamers" own the device. It's the casual-gamer's oasis.

An Apple gaming device is just wishful thinking.

[k.nitsua]

An Apple gaming device is just wishful thinking.

Yeah, totally wishful thinking - they never would stoop so low =P

[DarkoNova]

Not even close!
I thought someone already made a snap in gamers pad.


+1

I thought the same thing when I read the post. iPhone just as good with games as a PSP? LOL!!

Matt

[plcrules]

umm ok in the 3.0 sdk u can make accessories for the fone and make it work with ur app
u shouldnt b askin apple 2 make it just get some hardware devs

[tankz504]

The dogbone will end it all...

What is a dogbone?

[awesomeSlayer]

It does need some controller...I wonder if it is possible to use a Wii Remote as an iPhone/iPod touch controller since the Wii and the Wii Remote uses Bluetooth to connect.

[powa]

Actually there are 2 buttons that we can use, the volume up and down.

I'd agree iphone might need a controller, but I think they are standing in a good place now. It brings something that other gaming device can never produce (hence multi-point touch screen, acclermeter). Instead of making "buttons", let developer make something up with what they have right now with their creativity. If i want buttons, i play DS, or consoles, or even PC for more button sake.

[PlatoTheForms]

wth, iphonees and ipods are for calling, music, internet and great apps that can help us...sure a coupe games are nice but they are a Plus, IT IS A PHONE and an IPOD! one should be grateful for having such great games on the devices.

buttons(on top or bottom? eww noooo it will look like an android phone, and an adapter noo way! it will look award when playing games that require tilt and shake and yeah! it's a subway ride gaming device...until i get to the stop at my college.

[StealthBravo]

dogbone ftw!!!!!

[lilskaterpunk]

I wish that vans skate game was actually for iPhone, its been going around since 2007 lol

[mdc929]

i think iPhone/iPod games are great for when you're in line at the doctor's or dentist's office or bored at school or something but i dont think it can ever seriously compete with the DS or PSP even if it did have tactile buttons.
and i would feel and look absolutely ridiculous carrying around a dogbone controller bigger than the phone itself