First off, I am not an Apple person (except for my iPod), I respect them as a company that makes good products, but I tend to favor PC's and Microsoft goods. But last night, I had a strange dream that Apple released a videogame console...it looked quite a bit like a Wii, but with more processing power and graphical abilities. And then I began to wonder, is this even a possibility? I think it could happen sometime down the line, here is my reasoning for this:
Apple attracts a major market of middle-upper class folks (everyone of all demographics uses Apple products, I know, just work with me here), much the same market the Wii targets. Furthermore, Apple is considered very 'hip', even with people that may not necessarily be tech-savvy or avid tech followers. Also, Apple caters to people in a (usually) very tech friendly way. I can see an Apple console being a direct competitor to the Wii for market-share and accessibility, as well being a competitior to the more advanced systems on the market. How? Two words, Apps, and iTunes. The rise of the App has become extraordinary, and while there are plenty of crappy ones on the market, there are also some gems (games or otherwise). Also, creating an iTunes based media service with music, movies, T.V. and more, directly on the T.V. could put major pressure on Microsoft and Sony to meet these entertainment standards as well as the (likely) smooth and slick interface details.
Apple could be a major force. They have swept the music player world by storm, as well as cell phones, now they are tackling tablets...what might be next? Would you buy an Apple console if it came out? What do you imagine it looking like, playing like, costing? I probably wouldn't buy it, but I would welcome the new wrench thrown into the now stagnant machine of innovation.
First off, I am not an Apple person (except for my iPod), I respect them as a company that makes good products, but I tend to favor PC's and Microsoft goods. But last night, I had a strange dream that Apple released a videogame console...it looked quite a bit like a Wii, but with more processing power and graphical abilities. And then I began to wonder, is this even a possibility? I think it could happen sometime down the line, here is my reasoning for this:
Apple attracts a major market of middle-upper class folks (everyone of all demographics uses Apple products, I know, just work with me here), much the same market the Wii targets. Furthermore, Apple is considered very 'hip', even with people that may not necessarily be tech-savvy or avid tech followers. Also, Apple caters to people in a (usually) very tech friendly way. I can see an Apple console being a direct competitor to the Wii for market-share and accessibility, as well being a competitior to the more advanced systems on the market. How? Two words, Apps, and iTunes. The rise of the App has become extraordinary, and while there are plenty of crappy ones on the market, there are also some gems (games or otherwise). Also, creating an iTunes based media service with music, movies, T.V. and more, directly on the T.V. could put major pressure on Microsoft and Sony to meet these entertainment standards as well as the (likely) smooth and slick interface details.
Apple could be a major force. They have swept the music player world by storm, as well as cell phones, now they are tackling tablets...what might be next? Would you buy an Apple console if it came out? What do you imagine it looking like, playing like, costing? I probably wouldn't buy it, but I would welcome the new wrench thrown into the now stagnant machine of innovation.
I imagine if they did make a console, it would be somewhere between the Wii and 360/PS3. I don't think it would be of any interest to those looking to get the most "hardcore gaming" out of their console, though. I just can't imagine actual games being released on the thing. It would dethrone the Wii as the king of shovelware.
As far as cost goes: you thought Five Hundred Ninety Nine US Dollars was bad?
Also, the controller would have like two buttons, lololololol.
The market is already crowded enough, I think. And as you said, the particular demographic that Apple may target is already being catered to by the Wii.
It would be overpriced as fuck, and even after that initial price, they'd constantly try to nickel-and-dime me into poverty. They would release a new model every year, and when something didn't work, they'd say it was my fault because I was holding the controller wrong, and try to sell me an accessory meant to prevent a flaw they had built into the machine.
Of course, none of this would affect me, because I wouldn't buy it. The incessant smugness from the massive tools (not saying everyone who buys Apple products is a tool... just more of them than I'd like) who would would probably be insufferable, though.
I would laugh. Hard. I feel the same way about Microsoft trying to get into the phone and mp3 player market. Just stick to what you're proven at being good at.
" It would be awful. Chances are it would be like iTunes in that the console would just randomly delete your games and data whenever it feels like it. "
Lol...too true
.@Icemael said:
" It would be overpriced as fuck, and even after that initial price, they'd constantly try to nickel-and-dime me into poverty. They would release a new model every year, and when something didn't work, they'd say it was my fault because I was holding the controller wrong, and try to sell me an accessory meant to prevent a flaw they had built into the machine.Of course, none of this would affect me, because I wouldn't buy it. The incessant smugness from the massive tools (not saying everyone who buys Apple products is a tool... just more of them than I'd like) who would would probably be insufferable, though. "
Amen to that.
@jorbear said:
" I would laugh. Hard. I feel the same way about Microsoft trying to get into the phone and mp3 player market. Just stick to what you're proven at being good at. "
" Yea, they already did. It was the Pippin, and it only had, what, 12 games? "
You're right...but that was put out by Bandai in 1995...Apple has changed (as well has the gaming market)...they also probably learned from that debacle. One would hope at least.
"It would be overpriced as fuck, and even after that initial price, they'd constantly try to nickel-and-dime me into poverty. They would release a new model every year, and when something didn't work, they'd say it was my fault because I was holding the controller wrong, and try to sell me an accessory meant to prevent a flaw they had built into the machine.Of course, none of this would affect me, because I wouldn't buy it. The incessant smugness from the massive tools (not saying everyone who buys Apple products is a tool... just more of them than I'd like) who would would probably be insufferable, though. "
Thanks for saving me time by writing my exact thoughts.
" I would laugh. Hard. I feel the same way about Microsoft trying to get into the phone and mp3 player market. Just stick to what you're proven at being good at. "
Zunes are pretty awesome. Zune HD is a better music device than the Ipod Touch.
" I would laugh. Hard. I feel the same way about Microsoft trying to get into the phone and mp3 player market. Just stick to what you're proven at being good at. "
Zunes are pretty awesome. Zune HD is a better music device than the Ipod Touch. "
" I would laugh. Hard. I feel the same way about Microsoft trying to get into the phone and mp3 player market. Just stick to what you're proven at being good at. "
Zunes are pretty awesome. Zune HD is a better music device than the Ipod Touch. "
" I would laugh. Hard. I feel the same way about Microsoft trying to get into the phone and mp3 player market. Just stick to what you're proven at being good at. "
Zunes are pretty awesome. Zune HD is a better music device than the Ipod Touch. "
lolno "
Compelling argument "
fine. its all a matter of opinion. ive used both and i like the ipod better. you cant really convince me nor can i convince you the other is netter.
" am i the only one who considers the iPad a game console? "
I would consider the iPad a portable gaming device, like a DS or PSP in gaming terms. A console, to me, is something which is semi-permanent (not easily transportable) and connected to a television. I'm sure people have other definitions and ideas though.
If Apple made a game console everyone would bitch about.... oh wait, even thinking about it makes everyone bitch about it. In all seriousness it probably would be overpriced, look incredible and have absolutely no 3rd party support, and all the 360 users would sneer at it because they have inferiority complexes.
I think if they do make one, (i'm aware of the apple pippen) that most of the games will be incompatible, unless you run it with steam cloud. Not to mention that it will have last gen graphics with really low framerates with a sleek exterior. It would cost thousands of dollars and the interface will be a bunch of shiny icons, that doesn't actually do anything.
" Holy shit. Could you imagine if Apple had invented the Wii instead of Nintendo. Fuck everyone in the WORLD would own an apple product then. "
no they wouldn't. the reason the wii has been successful is because it is priced so low. If Apple released it, it would cost twice as much and my 12 year old sister wouldn't have got one.
" Holy shit. Could you imagine if Apple had invented the Wii instead of Nintendo. Fuck everyone in the WORLD would own an apple product then. "
no they wouldn't. the reason the wii has been successful is because it is priced so low. If Apple released it, it would cost twice as much and my 12 year old sister wouldn't have got one. "
Haha touche.
SO what if they released the Wii, at the same price that Nintendo released it.
" I would laugh. Hard. I feel the same way about Microsoft trying to get into the phone and mp3 player market. Just stick to what you're proven at being good at. "
Zunes are pretty awesome. Zune HD is a better music device than the Ipod Touch. "
lolno "
Compelling argument "
fine. its all a matter of opinion. ive used both and i like the ipod better. you cant really convince me nor can i convince you the other is netter. "
I have a Zune. It's not bad, but it's not selling nearly as good as they had hoped. I just want Microsoft to improve on their PC support to be honest.
I came in here only to post this. Well done, people. Well done.
EDIT: Actually, I still can't believe Bandai made a console (this was an Apple/Bandai cooperative, if I recall correctly). It's as if Namco made a console today. Except their console would only play Tekken, Time Crisis, and Dig Dug. I would buy it, because I'm an idiot.
Every year we would get a new slightly upgraded console from apple ...
launch: yea wii graphic and 2 player year 2: 4 player on one console (revolutionary!!!) year 3: omg, internet! It's revolutionary, ... AGAIN! year 4: 360/ps3 graphic + 1 usb port year 5: DVD support year 6: motion controls
etc etc etc
edit; i have forgot to mention that it would cost the same astronomical price every year...
It would be a pretty console, a new one would come out every year and would not support HDMI only mini displayport. And all games would be downloadable and belong to the app store. Gore would not be alowed on the App store. And if a game sucked that Steve the bitch who rapes children Jobs was promoting hard, he would simply tell you that you are holding the controller wrong.
Disclaimer: I love apple products but hate apple marketing and Steve Jobs. And the brass that has copper balls that controls the app store.
I could see an advertisement for the system. Two prick wearing turtle necks, with their game faces on. The elusive would he Cake Mania and iMobsters. And no, I wouldn't buy it. And I would slap any of my acquaintances for buying one.
" They have. It's called an iPhone/iPad. It's incredibly popular, fun to use and very useful :) "
I agree. Their current hardware has the juice required and already boasts games that are on par/better than a lot of DS and PSP games. In that light you could say that they already have a gaming platform much more successful than any attempt at selling the average consumer another "gaming console" or a handheld that only plays games (it would seem like a step back from their current direction, which is to make their handheld do as much as possible).
In a "what if" scenario, just to humor the idea, I imagine that it would be very underpowered, overpriced, comprised solely (or almost) of third-party titles like mini-game collections and internet oriented facebook style games that you can ONLY download from their game app store. It would have to connect to your apple TV device. You can only interact with it if you have iTunes installed. Here is why you would buy it: It would look like a little sphere, no wires, sending image to your Apple TV by wi-fi. Oh, and the controller IS the console. You just pick it up and move it around like a wii controller. This novelty and applauded GENIUS DESIGN would make sales roar.
" I would laugh. Hard. I feel the same way about Microsoft trying to get into the phone and mp3 player market. Just stick to what you're proven at being good at. "
Zunes are pretty awesome. Zune HD is a better music device than the Ipod Touch. "
I agree, but Apple has the upper hand by having a fleshed out app market unlike Zune and iPods are now too popular that people forget that other mp3 players exist. I think that MS should integrate Zune software into it's window mobile and start some competition in the phone market, combating the iPhone would be easier than combating the iPod.
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