iPod (Platform)

iPod

PLATFORM» IPOD» November 10, 2001

The Apple iPod is a popular MP3 player that garnered a bit of game support due to its large market. Support for games never took off until the newer, touch-screen iPod Touch and iPhones were released, and development of iPod Classic games has ceased.

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N.B.: This page is ONLY for games released for the traditional click-wheel iPod, retronymed the iPod Classic. For iOS-based games, please visit the iPhone (Platform) platform page.

Overview

The Apple iPod is a popular MP3 player that also saw the release of a few games. It was never intended as a real gaming platform but due to it's incredible popularity, hackers put homebrewed games on it, and eventually Apple released a proper games section in the iTunes Store. iPod games are not available at retail, only as digital downloads, and they are linked to the specific device once they are purchased. iPod games cannot be shared or transferred. No external controller is available for the Apple iPod, and most games made use of the clickwheel using innovative, and often considered lacking, control schemes. All iPod games were available for $4.99 each from iTunes.

History of Games

The Apple iPod first generation included Brick as a built in game, a simple breakout clone that was playable while listening to music. Originally it was an easter egg on the device, but in later firmware updates it was added to the menu. The fifth generation clickwheel iPod devices shipped with 3 more built in games: Parachute, Music Quiz (Game), and Solitaire. Parachute is similar to Missile Command (Game), in which the player controls a turret at the bottom of the screen and shoots incoming paratroopers. Music Quiz is a game that plays a clip of music from the iPod's library and asks the player a question about it. Solitaire is a portable version of the popular card game. The sixth generation iPod and newer iPod Nanos ship with Vortex, iQuiz and Klondike. In September 2006, Apple launched iTunes 7, and added the game store for clickwheel iPods fifth generation and up. Touch-screen iPods have an entirely different application store. iTunes 7 launched with Bejeweled (Game), Cubis 2 (Game), Mahjong, Mini Golf, Pac-Man, Tetris (Game), Texas Hold 'Em, Vortex (Game) and Zuma (Game) all for $4.99 each.

iPod History

iPod "Classic" 2001 - Present

Generations:

One: 2001, 5 and 10 GB
Two: 2002, 10 and 20 GB
Three: 2003, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 GB
Four: 2004, 20 and 40 GB
Five: 2005, 30, 60 and 80 GB
Six: 2007, 80 and 160 GB
Six (Refresh): 2008, 120 GB (80 and 160 GB Models discontinued)
Six (Refresh 2): 2009, 160 GB (120 Slim body) (120 GB discontinued)

iPod Mini 2004 - 2005

Generations:

One: 2004, 4 GB
Two: 2005, 4 and 6 GB

iPod Shuffle 2005 - Present (no screen)

Generation	Years Released	Storage (GB)
One	2005	0.5, 1
Two	2006, 2007, 2008	1, 2
Three	2009	2, 4
Four	2010	2

iPod Nano 2005 - Present (use IPOD platform for iPod Classic compatible games)

Generation	Year	Storage (GB)	RAM (MB)	Display
One	2005	1, 2, 4	32	176x132 @ 151ppi
Two	2006	2, 4, 8	32	176x132 @ 151ppi
Three	2007	4, 8	32	320x240 @ 204ppi
Four	2008	8, 16	32	240x320 @ 204ppi
Five	2009	8, 16	64	240x376 @ 204ppi
Six	2010	8, 16	64	240x240 @ 220ppi

iPod Touch 2007 - Present (use IPHN platform for iOS compatible App Store games)

Generation	Year	Storage (GB)	iOS versions	RAM (MB)	Display
One	2007	8, 16, 32	1.1 – 3.1.3	128	480x320 @ 162ppi
Two	2008	8, 16, 32	2.1.1 – 4.2.1	128	480x320 @ 162ppi
Three	2009	32, 64	3.1.1 – 4.2.1	256	480x320 @ 162ppi
Four	2010	8, 32, 64	4.1 – 4.2.1	256	960x640 @ 326ppi

Notable Games

While the iPod gained develop support from popular developers such as NAMCO, Square Enix (Company), Sega (Company), EA, and Hudson, the game library remained rather small. With the debut of the newer iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, development for iPod Classic has all but ceased. No iPod Classic SDK is currently available to developers, and all iPod games have been delisted from iTunes.

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