Game Design, Gamer Culture, PC, iPhone
While Nintendo has been in the business of making video game consoles for years, others console developers have come and gone. Although Sony and Microsoft make-up the other 2/3 of the console market today, there’s no guarantee that future systems will always be made by either of them. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t other companies out there that could, and probably would, make consoles in their stead.
While, looking up everything I could on the new Android phone, I came across this little piece of gold shot, I guess, from some guy’s living room. Besides his vehement and hushed affection for the iPhone, what the hell is he whispering for? And what on earth does he look at?
This made me laugh so freakin’ hard.
Now, I’m not one to say I told you so… until after I’m proven right. Has that time come yet? Nope. Not quite. “What on earth are you talking about,” you ask?! Oh, just this little concept called the “DS Mobile” I dreamed up over a month ago that our friends over at GoNintendo soundly rejected after pangs of nausea. No, no announcements as of yet, but this little known publication *cough*Forbes*cough* happens to agree with me.
Once cell phone technology developed to the point that simply making phone calls was not enough, people began to wonder how many different devices could be integrated into one mammoth handheld machine. As Palm Pilots and the ever-expensive Blackberry began integrating gaming, organization software, and mobile capabilities, people began demanding that a more inclusive phone be introduced to the practical consumer market. And then Apple gave us the iPhone.
If you’ve got an iPhone sporting the new 2.0 firmware, chances are you have Super Monkey Ball. (And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?) But there’s more goodness to be culled from the iTunes app store besides playing games. There are plenty of cool apps out there, and some of the best ones don’t cost a penny. After all, when you spend a big chunk of your disposable income on limited-edition video games, free and useful stuff is a godsend.
The MacBook Air is truly a piece of technology to marvel at. Boasting specs such as a 3-pound weight and a .7-inch height, the MacBook Air really puts a lot into a small package; but just like any new piece of fancy technology, this bugger is expensive ($1,600-$3,000).
Apple recently announced that the MacBook Air would be receiving a price cut: a $500 one to be exact. The change in price comes as a result of some advancements in the data storage field, specifically Solid-State Drives (SSD).
As we’ve discussed numerous times before now, Apple is upping the ante on the iPhone and iPod Touch with the addition of the App Store. The App Store sells amateur and professional applications made by the people, for the people. Anyone who purchases the developer software can apply to the developer program, send his or her new app to Apple and, after review, get their game or program up for sale (or free download). Here’s the catch: you might be able to find a handful of Nintendo Wii consoles before seeing your App up for sale.
Early last month, Steve Jobs and the rest of team Apple announced the release of the iPhone 2.0 software beta. This update enables Apple to fully leverage the SDK that it released earlier this year, which enables third-party developers to more easily create applications for the iPhone, by creating the “App Store.”
The App Store “lets users browse, search, purchase and wirelessly download third party applications directly onto their iPhone or iPod touch.” Importantly, Apple gives 70% of software sales revenues to developers and even lets development parties give their applications away for free.
So, why should this matter to Nintendo? Well, game publishers are already hailing the fact that this development may make the iPhone the handheld gaming platform of choice.
According to John Riccitiello, the CEO of Electronic Arts, “The animation technology in the iPhone OS enables us to build awesome games… I think iPhone consumers are going to be blown away by the games we create for this platform.”
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