| 26 JAN 2010 at 12:37am |
IviniaGuild Master
Posts : 4459
Joined: 7 JUN 2003
Location: US
Status : Offline | You are daydreaming.
The platform isn't going to do anything for the genre. I keep hearing the hype of these platforms revolutionizing things. The thing is, all they do is change they way they are delivered or viewed.
The iPod didn't change music and make it more popular. The only change is that lesser musicians have a better chance of being noticed since they aren't being filtered out by large corporations, but that is because of the web, not the iPod.
This new tablet is just another method of delivery. As far as the content goes - it's the same old stuff. If the genre is stagnant, changing its platform isn't going to do squat.
In the end its what developers do with the new platform that make the difference. The other genres embraced the changes and helped push them along. I really don't put much faith in AGs considering how little we've seen done with emerging technologies with the PC, iPhone, etc. I seem to recall reading about how the Nintendo DS was going to revolutionize and change adventure gaming.
Frankly I think the genre is in the worst shape it's even been in.
The last time I looked forward to a new release was The Lost Crown. The new Black Mirror also has my interest. Beyond that, I've just seen mostly disappointments and I rarely get excited about games anymore. :-/
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 1:38am |
CarolineJA+ Overseer
Posts : 16540
Joined: 28 JAN 2007
Location: AU
Status : Offline | I like what I've heard about this so far. I've been holding off buying a laptop but this tablet may just do the trick.
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 2:49am |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | I suspect the Steve Jobs distortion field is at work. If adventure games weren't palatable to a mass market on desktop PCs or laptops or various handhelds, what difference would having them available on Apple tablets offer?
Or maybe I'm just grumpy....
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 3:07am |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4940
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Being the humble guy I am, I will mention that I was the first one to hypothesize on this forum that first, the iTouch & iPhone were the first signs of a new, potentially exciting platform for AGs and (what was then) the possible 7 to 10 inch screen (now said to be 10 inches) Apple Tablet to follow would likely be another.
I firmly believe that, if the Apple Tablet turns out to be what it has been forecast to be: an essentially enlarged iTouch with, likely, an Apple OS to provide some computer functions, then it may well be the ideal AG platform for both large & small developers. Not to mention that, if it has the reach of other portable Apple audio/video hardware (ie. Ipods, Nanos, iPhone/ITouch), then it will be worthwhile for publishers to re-release a number of old AG titles at minimal cost. This has already happened to some extent with the iPhone/iTouch.
I've mentioned the reasons for my forecast before, but to repeat: This would be a combination of a highly portable unit with a highly legible screen. It would allow developers to develop and provide games at minimal development & support cost. It would allow for the sort of price-point of games that would attract a broad audience. It would have the benefit of 'impulsive-purchases' because of the ability to download & play games immediately. Another reason might also be that more women might be ready to buy the Tablet because, apparently, it is set to compete with the Amazon Kindle as an e-reader and we all know that women particularly like Adventure games!
btw: In answer to MrLipid's 'If adventure games weren't palatable to a mass market on desktop PCs or laptops or various handhelds, what difference would having them available on Apple tablets offer?': There isn't necessarily a mass-market for AGs, but there is a market. It's just that AGs are no longer cost-effective to produce for PCs & laptops, and handhelds (eg. PocketPCs, Nintendo DS and the like) have ended up being of limited interest to the masses (speaking as someone who has several of them and has put many AGs on them).
If this were any other manufacturer, then I might be less optimistic, but Apple has been successful with virtually all the portable audio/video hardware it has produced in the last 10 years and it has the track record of the iPhone/iTouch which has been both original and ingenious in design.
If the Apple Table turns out to be everything I think it will and AGs don't get a lift from it, then the genre will be almost dead, but I don't think that will happen, one reason being that AGs particularly lend themselves to this hardware format. Some action games will work also, but not to the extent that they do on PCs, Xboxes or Playstations ie. you won't see Crysis on the Apple Tablet!
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 3:29am |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By SirDave (26 JAN 2010 3:06am)
btw: In answer to MrLipid's 'If adventure games weren't palatable to a mass market on desktop PCs or laptops or various handhelds, what difference would having them available on Apple tablets offer?': There isn't necessarily a mass-market for AGs, but there is a market. It's just that AGs are no longer cost-effective to produce for PCs & laptops, and handhelds (eg. PocketPCs, Nintendo DS and the like) have ended up being of limited interest to the masses (speaking as someone who has several of them and has put many AGs on them).
Really.
A market.
A non-mass market (enthusiast?) that can't support AGs on PCs or laptops or handhelds but will be able to support them on a shiny new Apple tablet.
Once, that is, everyone in this non-mass market buys a shiny new Apple tablet with the money they have been saving by not buying AGs for PCs or laptops or handhelds. Or something.
We'll see.
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 4:13am |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4940
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By MrLipid (26 JAN 2010 3:29am)
Originally Posted By SirDave (26 JAN 2010 3:06am)
btw: In answer to MrLipid's 'If adventure games weren't palatable to a mass market on desktop PCs or laptops or various handhelds, what difference would having them available on Apple tablets offer?': There isn't necessarily a mass-market for AGs, but there is a market. It's just that AGs are no longer cost-effective to produce for PCs & laptops, and handhelds (eg. PocketPCs, Nintendo DS and the like) have ended up being of limited interest to the masses (speaking as someone who has several of them and has put many AGs on them).
Really.
A market.
A non-mass market (enthusiast?) that can't support AGs on PCs or laptops or handhelds but will be able to support them on a shiny new Apple tablet.
Once, that is, everyone in this non-mass market buys a shiny new Apple tablet with the money they have been saving by not buying AGs for PCs or laptops or handhelds. Or something.
We'll see.
Keep in mind that this isn't just about an Apple Tablet, it's about a whole new concept that the iPhone/iTouch started: direct downloading and playing of games & apps on portable hardware- no setup required, just load & run. The Amazon Kindle has been very successful when it comes to the same concept applied to digital books and several new competing portable e-readers are presently sold out (eg. 2 models of the Sony and the Barnes & Noble Nook). If the Apple Tablet is successful, you can bet that Sony and other manufacturers will not be far behind.
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 9:21am |
Taurnil MithrandirJourneyman
Posts : 1093
Joined: 13 AUG 2006
Status : Online | I don't think that this new Apple platform threatens the genre of AG.
I am rather a classical guy who buys the retail editions (most of them), sitting in front of a big screen and boasting of his new video card.
....set the controls for the heart of the sun....
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 1:53pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Ivinia (26 JAN 2010 12:37am)
The platform isn't going to do anything for the genre. I keep hearing the hype of these platforms revolutionizing things. The thing is, all they do is change they way they are delivered or viewed.
The iPod didn't change music and make it more popular. The only change is that lesser musicians have a better chance of being noticed since they aren't being filtered out by large corporations, but that is because of the web, not the iPod.
This new tablet is just another method of delivery. As far as the content goes - it's the same old stuff. If the genre is stagnant, changing its platform isn't going to do squat.
Keep in mind that method of delivery and revolution may come hand in hand. I would argue the iPod and more specifically the iTunes store did revolutionize the music industry, forcing labels to deliver music digitally and cheaper. This was unthinkable before the iPod came. You're right in saying it didn't change music or made it any better (and I certainly agree that music is mostly crap these days) but it did provide higher exposition to indie labels.
It's impossible to compare software to music, however. My reasoning regarding the tablet comes from the proven experience of the iPhone, a platform that is already enough by itself to support entire companies. Not even the PSP (a dedicated game console) can claim that. And if you look closely, you'll see that many of the best-selling games came from indies. In little over one year we've also seen over a dozen adventures re-released for the iPhone, it may not seem much but it's certainly exceeded the DS already, previously the handheld of choice for adventures and, as far as I can tell, pretty much all the output from the major consoles as well. Personally, I like to see the iPhone as a proving grounds of sorts and the tablet as the "real deal". If the iPhone was any indication, adventures are going to be very popular on the tablet. And this can only mean more exposure for the genre.
In the end its what developers do with the new platform that make the difference. The other genres embraced the changes and helped push them along. I really don't put much faith in AGs considering how little we've seen done with emerging technologies with the PC, iPhone, etc. I seem to recall reading about how the Nintendo DS was going to revolutionize and change adventure gaming.
The DS had a problem though and it's the prohibitive costs for developing for it. Those dev kits cost thousands of dollars and (even worse) console programmers are also way expensive. Do you see any indies developing for DS? On the other hand, the entry level of the iPhone, a platform that may have already more exposure than the DS itself, is extremely friendly to indies. Just a hundred bucks and you're in. No dealing with publishers, free access to its APIs with Xcode and immediate distribution via the App Store. If this is what developing for the tablet will be like, I can only dream of the possibilities!
The last time I looked forward to a new release was The Lost Crown. The new Black Mirror also has my interest. Beyond that, I've just seen mostly disappointments and I rarely get excited about games anymore. :-/
I don't think the genre is in such bad shape, at least it's somewhat better than a few years ago but, in any case, I'll try to get you excited about a new game
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 2:00pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By MrLipid (26 JAN 2010 2:48am)
I suspect the Steve Jobs distortion field is at work. If adventure games weren't palatable to a mass market on desktop PCs or laptops or various handhelds, what difference would having them available on Apple tablets offer?
I totally agree about the Steve Jobs' reality distortion... the guy could sell sand to desert people. But the thing is, he's successful in doing so (being maybe THE greatest salesman ever) and this is why many competitors are readying up for the tablet - if you think about it, a product that still (so to speak) doesn't even exist.
It worked for the iPod and it worked again for the iPhone. It could, or maybe should, work for the tablet as well.
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 2:09pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By MrLipid (26 JAN 2010 3:29am)
Once, that is, everyone in this non-mass market buys a shiny new Apple tablet with the money they have been saving by not buying AGs for PCs or laptops or handhelds. Or something.
I wouldn't say the problem is people not wanting to buy adventures - it's always the exposure. We've all been saying for years that the new generation of gamers doesn't want adventures, that they're a thing of the past, but reality is begging to differ. Some casual games are closely starting to resemble lighthearted adventures and they're hugely popular. The new Monkey Island series from TellTale seem to have been pretty successful as well. Heck, the port of Beneath A Steel Sky on the iPhone has been a popular release too... a 1994 VGA adventure for crying out loud!
I'm definitely convinced now that people still love adventures, not just us old-timers, but the new generation as well. The problem remains the exposure since the few adventures out there keep getting lost among the tides of major game releases each month, and I'm hoping the tablet will change that.
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 2:24pm |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Rael (26 JAN 2010 1:59pm)
Originally Posted By MrLipid (26 JAN 2010 2:48am)
I suspect the Steve Jobs distortion field is at work. If adventure games weren't palatable to a mass market on desktop PCs or laptops or various handhelds, what difference would having them available on Apple tablets offer?
I totally agree about the Steve Jobs' reality distortion... the guy could sell sand to desert people. But the thing is, he's successful in doing so (being maybe THE greatest salesman ever) and this is why many competitors are readying up for the tablet - if you think about it, a product that still (so to speak) doesn't even exist.
It worked for the iPod and it worked again for the iPhone. It could, or maybe should, work for the tablet as well.
The New York Times ran an article this morning pointing out that publishers are looking to the Apple tablet to be their salvation.
We'll see if the iTablet is an i too far.
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 3:24pm |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Rael (26 JAN 2010 2:09pm)
Originally Posted By MrLipid (26 JAN 2010 3:29am)
Once, that is, everyone in this non-mass market buys a shiny new Apple tablet with the money they have been saving by not buying AGs for PCs or laptops or handhelds. Or something.
I wouldn't say the problem is people not wanting to buy adventures - it's always the exposure. We've all been saying for years that the new generation of gamers doesn't want adventures, that they're a thing of the past, but reality is begging to differ. Some casual games are closely starting to resemble lighthearted adventures and they're hugely popular. The new Monkey Island series from TellTale seem to have been pretty successful as well. Heck, the port of Beneath A Steel Sky on the iPhone has been a popular release too... a 1994 VGA adventure for crying out loud!
I'm definitely convinced now that people still love adventures, not just us old-timers, but the new generation as well. The problem remains the exposure since the few adventures out there keep getting lost among the tides of major game releases each month, and I'm hoping the tablet will change that.
Exposure? Have these people no interwebs? No Google?
It seems to me that someone who wants adventure games (and isn't afraid of paying for downloading them or paying more for a hard copy) has a lot of choices today. In stores, not so much. Of course, folks who are fearful of downloads aren't going to be customers of the iTablet.
Interesting times....
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 4:44pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4940
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By eragon (26 JAN 2010 9:20am)
I don't think that this new Apple platform threatens the genre of AG.
I am rather a classical guy who buys the retail editions (most of them), sitting in front of a big screen and boasting of his new video card.
'Threatens the genre of AG' ??
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 5:01pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4940
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Rael (26 JAN 2010 1:53pm)
Personally, I like to see the iPhone as a proving grounds of sorts and the tablet as the "real deal". If the iPhone was any indication, adventures are going to be very popular on the tablet. And this can only mean more exposure for the genre.
Augustin, you're take on this subject makes me even more optimistic since you've very much been around the block when it comes to 'regular' AG development & distribution. I'm still impressed when I see copies of Scratches at our local Target store here in Southern California- that's not an easy thing to accomplish.
For those who haven't seen an iPhone/iTouch, the screen resolution at 480x320 is astounding on a 3.5 inch screen. It has an 'accelerometer' function whereby the unit senses its position so that if you tilt an iTouch it can do things like act as an up/down or rt/left button. If you shake it, it can 'roll the dice' on the screen.
I have put Doom on practically anything that will run it, including 3 inch screen pocketpcs, but they all had limitations- funky button assignments, poor screen resolution or no music. Doom on the iTouch is essentially an exact replication of Doom on a computer, music and all- the 'button's are replaced by touch icons on the screen and they allow for complex functions such as 'circle-strafing'.
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 8:08pm |
Steve VeaseySpace Cadet
Posts : 115
Joined: 30 MAY 2009
Status : Online | I don't want to quote the whole of Sir Dave's first post but this -
'It would allow for the sort of price-point of games that would attract a broad audience'
Strikes me as irrelevant, given that you can pick up games that have been out for less than a year for ten bucks in many places or download practically hot off the presses games for 6.99?
Speaking personally, amongst my thirty-something friends, family and acquaintances (Lets say sixty people) I only know 3 who own an I-Pod or other MP3 player and none (yes, Steve Jobs..ZERO) who own an I-phone or have even shown any interest in purchasing one. I will admit that this is probably not a representative sample of the general population, but I think its probably representative of many groups of 35-45 year olds in the UK, beaten down by the recession and having to budget accordingly.
For 16-25 year olds however, its a different ballgame, they see no problem in squandering their entire disposable income on non-essential fripperies so I could see the Tablet becoming another techie accessory that they just 'must have'..How many of them are interested in playing Myst or Syberia on these gadgets is another matter..
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 10:05pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4940
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Dr_Watson (26 JAN 2010 8:08pm)
I don't want to quote the whole of Sir Dave's first post but this -
'It would allow for the sort of price-point of games that would attract a broad audience'
Strikes me as irrelevant, given that you can pick up games that have been out for less than a year for ten bucks in many places or download practically hot off the presses games for 6.99?
Irrelevant? When it comes to older games, on the iPhone/iTouch, Beneath a Steel Sky is selling for 99 cents, Myst for 4.99, Return to Mysterious Island 2.99 (all prices USD).
But a good example of a more recent game: Microid's Dracula 'Path of the Dragon' released in 2008: List price $19.99, Amazon present price $12.99, BigFish Download price: $6.99, iPhone/iTouch download price: 99 cents!
(Edit: Oops! I mis-spoke a bit here. The iPhone/iTouch version of the above Dracula game is split into 3 parts at 99 cents for each part and it is a version customized for this platform ie. it is not exactly the same as the PC game.)
Likely the maximum price of a new adventure game would be around $4.99. That has the potential to bring a profit for a small indie developer if the game is provided for both the iPhone/iTouch and an Apple Tablet- if the latter takes off.
Originally Posted By Dr_Watson (26 JAN 2010 8:08pm)
Speaking personally, amongst my thirty-something friends, family and acquaintances (Lets say sixty people) I only know 3 who own an I-Pod or other MP3 player and none (yes, Steve Jobs..ZERO) who own an I-phone or have even shown any interest in purchasing one. I will admit that this is probably not a representative sample of the general population, but I think its probably representative of many groups of 35-45 year olds in the UK, beaten down by the recession and having to budget accordingly.
Hate to say it, but the UK is not going to determine the direction of this market. The iPhone/iTouch has its greatest penetration, by far, in the U.S. The iPhone is somewhat limited by it's being 'bonded' to AT&T, but it still has sold in the several millions in the U.S.. The iTouch is not limited since it isn't a phone and it is selling like hotcakes here.
One limitation in all of this is certainly going to be the price of the Tablet, but if it is successful, there will almost likely be less expensive versions and the precedent will be set for other manufacturers to hop in. This isn't going to happen overnight- but IMO, it will happen.
btw: An interesting example of what a developer can do with this platform is Return to Mysterious Island. The full game sells for $2.99, but the developer has made available a FREE app that is a series of puzzles (with a few bonuses) from the full game that you can solve separately. You wouldn't see this made available for the traditional PC game.
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 10:42pm |
Steve VeaseySpace Cadet
Posts : 115
Joined: 30 MAY 2009
Status : Online | Heres a quote I found on a review of the latest itouch at some uber geek site..
'As a gaming device, it's still a long way behind the PSP and DSi but that's got as much to do with the games as anything else. So, if you're looking for purely that purpose, then it's not the one for you'
I don't know what they mean by 'thats got as much to do with the games as anything else' but I think the message is that its really not that great..
Maybe I'm just being a luddite here, I don't know, it just seems to me that if the future of AG's is on devices with relatively tiny screens and memory capacity then we can't look forward to any kind of renaissance...
|
| 26 JAN 2010 at 11:17pm |
Jenny100Guild Master
Posts : 3510
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Dr_Watson (26 JAN 2010 10:42pm)
Heres a quote I found on a review of the latest itouch at some uber geek site..
'As a gaming device, it's still a long way behind the PSP and DSi but that's got as much to do with the games as anything else. So, if you're looking for purely that purpose, then it's not the one for you'
I guess you're talking about this review
http://m.pocket-lint.com/reviews/review_summary.phtml/4291
Overall it's favorable to the iPod Touch.
As a gaming device, it's still a long way behind the PSP and DSi but that's got as much to do with the games as anything else. So, if you're looking for purely that purpose, then it's not the one for you
Without knowing the reviewer's taste in games, or how many new iTouch games have come out since 11 September 2009, I don't think you can say it doesn't have any potential for adventure games.
After all, if you went by my personal preferences, except for games I can play in ScummVM, my PSP has no games worth playing at all. Even the so-called puzzle games are full of these #%@! timers that take all the fun out of them.
I don't know what they mean by 'thats got as much to do with the games as anything else' but I think the message is that its really not that great.
That means he didn't like the games that were available for it at the time of his review.
|
| 27 JAN 2010 at 12:37pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By MrLipid (26 JAN 2010 3:24pm)
Exposure? Have these people no interwebs? No Google?
It seems to me that someone who wants adventure games (and isn't afraid of paying for downloading them or paying more for a hard copy) has a lot of choices today. In stores, not so much. Of course, folks who are fearful of downloads aren't going to be customers of the iTablet.
You got me wrong, I'm not referring to the already existing adventure game consumers. Certainly enough, anyone who wants adventures today knows how and where to get them. But most people don't know what they want and they certainly don't know that adventures even exist. Let's be realistic here: adventures won't take the spotlight on major consoles or even the PC, they probably never will. However, in the case of the iPhone that possibility just seemed to scratch the surface: like I said, Beneath A Steel Sky was universally acclaimed, the Myst port caused many waves and now the recent Broken Sword release is grabbing a lot of attention as well (among many others). What I'm saying is, adventures could take the spotlight on the Apple tablet and this can only mean exposing the genre to a whole new audience and attracting renewed interest, both from the old-timers disenchanted with the genre and publishers.
|
| 27 JAN 2010 at 12:48pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By SirDave (26 JAN 2010 5:00pm)
Augustin, you're take on this subject makes me even more optimistic since you've very much been around the block when it comes to 'regular' AG development & distribution. I'm still impressed when I see copies of Scratches at our local Target store here in Southern California- that's not an easy thing to accomplish.
Probably just got lucky
Seriously, I'm still baffled about the success of Scratches - it was always intended to be a quaint adventure for a very specific public - difficult, slow paced and requiring your utmost patience and attention to detail. It wasn't supposed to appeal a mass audience but it did. This is one of the reasons why I think that people doesn't know what they want and many would be pleasantly surprised if they gave adventures a chance.
Now let's see if I can repeat the feast with the new project
|
| 27 JAN 2010 at 12:55pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Dr_Watson (26 JAN 2010 10:42pm)
'As a gaming device, it's still a long way behind the PSP and DSi but that's got as much to do with the games as anything else. So, if you're looking for purely that purpose, then it's not the one for you'
The PSP is a joke. I can't believe anyone in his sane mind would recommend buying that console, period. I own all three (iPhone, DS and PSP) and there were barely any reasonably good games for the PSP. In fact, it's safe to say that the PSP has been slowly dying.
The DS on the other hand was certainly my platform of choice for a while and I've invested hundreds of hours on the darned device, but the iPhone has been slowly taking over. Basically, I can get similar titles at a better price on a more appealing device: smaller, lighter with plenty of storage for countless of games (plus, you get several other features the DS doesn't have). The appeal of the iPhone is simply undeniable, even for hardcore gamers.
|
| 27 JAN 2010 at 3:20pm |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Rael (27 JAN 2010 12:37pm)
Originally Posted By MrLipid (26 JAN 2010 3:24pm)
Exposure? Have these people no interwebs? No Google?
It seems to me that someone who wants adventure games (and isn't afraid of paying for downloading them or paying more for a hard copy) has a lot of choices today. In stores, not so much. Of course, folks who are fearful of downloads aren't going to be customers of the iTablet.
You got me wrong, I'm not referring to the already existing adventure game consumers. Certainly enough, anyone who wants adventures today knows how and where to get them. But most people don't know what they want and they certainly don't know that adventures even exist. Let's be realistic here: adventures won't take the spotlight on major consoles or even the PC, they probably never will. However, in the case of the iPhone that possibility just seemed to scratch the surface: like I said, Beneath A Steel Sky was universally acclaimed, the Myst port caused many waves and now the recent Broken Sword release is grabbing a lot of attention as well (among many others). What I'm saying is, adventures could take the spotlight on the Apple tablet and this can only mean exposing the genre to a whole new audience and attracting renewed interest, both from the old-timers disenchanted with the genre and publishers.
Sorry about the misinterpretation.
That said, I'm skeptical that the iTablet is going to attract loads of people who are not currently gamers, adventure or otherwise. In fact, I'm skeptical that the iTablet is going to attract loads of people who are not currently computer users.
Unless, of course, the iTablet pulls off the trick that the Wii managed in creating a new audience of console gamers who neither had nor have any interest in any other consoles.
Stay tuned....
|
| 27 JAN 2010 at 3:44pm |
Agustín CordesGuild Master
Posts : 5696
Joined: 23 OCT 2002
Location: AR, Buenos Aires
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By MrLipid (27 JAN 2010 3:20pm)
That said, I'm skeptical that the iTablet is going to attract loads of people who are not currently gamers, adventure or otherwise. In fact, I'm skeptical that the iTablet is going to attract loads of people who are not currently computer users.
You're most right to be skeptical. Heck, the whole thing sounds rather dubious, to say the least. An oversized iPhone? It should barely appeal Apple fanboys on paper, to say the least.
However, there's a latent market for a device that meets the requirements of the Apple tablet, something falling between a smartphone and a netbook. It's really odd if you ask me but this unexplored territory definitely exists. Why? I'm not sure but people seem to want the power of a computer without the complexity of netbooks and the portability of phones. Who cares? Who knows! Then again, nobody thought smartphones would become so ubiquitous. Who needed smartphones back in the 90's? Practically no one but most professionals nowadays can't live without one.
This really could be the start of something new and exciting, and if any company can pull this one off, I definitely think it's Apple. We'll see.
|
| 27 JAN 2010 at 5:50pm |
SirDaveGuild Master
Posts : 4940
Joined: 17 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | As I mentioned above, this is not just about the Apple Tablet, but about a new concept that the industry and the public have been moving towards for some time. In the end, when it comes to audio/video hardware, people have become increasingly attracted to something that is portable, easy-to-use and requires no special knowledge to set up and maintain.
People have been buying devices to both read books and play games for the last several years, but all of them have been hampered in one way or another and usually, you would have to own more than one device to get the job reasonably done.
Then came the iPhone and, specifically, the iTouch (because the phone in the iPhone sucks away battery life making it less useful for book reading & game-playing) which provided a very portable gaming & book reading unit. But the even bigger advance was the ability to download the apps and play or read them immediately, requiring no setup or any kind of hardware expertise on the part of the user- and all at a reasonable price!
But the small screen is a limitation. That's where the Apple Tablet comes in because a 9 to 10 inch screen is very functional for both basic gaming and book reading and yet, the unit is still very portable and battery life very reasonable (the Amazon Kindle has already supported this premise though it is b&w only). Thus, if Apple does a good job when it comes to an intuitive and ergonomic design, something Apple has excelled in in the past, then this will be a big winner.
The future ain't what it used to be!
|
