Apple TV to serve as casual games console?
by Blake Snow 
{ Mar 7th 2007 at 9:55PM }
Some interesting query strings were unearthed with the release of of iTunes 7.1 on Monday suggesting that casual iTune gamers will be able to replicate the experience onto shiny HD TVs via Apple's TV device. One string file hidden in the software reads, "Are you sure you want to sync games? All existing games on the Apple TV." Another states, "Some of the games in your iTunes library were not copied to the Apple TV [...] because they cannot be played on this Apple TV."
Apple Insider reports that a total of 12 game-related code strings were found deep within the bowels of iTunes. Obviously, this is far from an official confirmation, but the idea seems plausible especially in light of recent comments made by official iPod game maker PopCap. "[Casual games] are going to continue to grow into non-core demographics," said Greg Canessa in an interview with Wired last month. "This is relevant as it pertains to devices that are not currently earmarked as gaming devices: mobile, set-top boxes, Apple TV, MP3 players and other devices in the home that will reach the non-gamer."
Furthermore, email solicitations for summer interns were sent out recently by Apple seeking persons capable of creating "consistent, high quality 3D and 2D art for games." Repurposed iPod games merely steamed to TVs, original game content, or none of the above? It's looking like option A, B or both.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ty @ Mar 7th 2007 10:01PM
no. dont start.
jay @ Mar 7th 2007 10:05PM
*if* they can manage to scale (heh, new take on universal binary) iPod games and stick them up on the big screen. Then they might have something. I've found myself sticking the Wii on for a few minutes during adbreaks for the VC. I don't see why Apple couldn't bring me some more of the same, WITH portability (iPod, boo DS why can't you at least play NES VC games).
Can't wait for my Apple TV though. Just the ability to stream all my stuff from my Macs/PCs to one sleek box over 802N. nice.
Promit Roy @ Mar 7th 2007 10:28PM
Hmm. The Apple TV based on a barely capable G4 and iTunes' downloads, versus the very powerful 360 and Live Marketplace's HD media downloads.
I know where I fall.
Promit Roy @ Mar 7th 2007 10:29PM
Er, sorry. Not a G4. Disregard that. Still, I seriously doubt that the Apple TV can run with a 360 graphicaly.
REUYL @ Mar 7th 2007 10:50PM
360 > Apple TV
samfish @ Mar 7th 2007 10:53PM
I'm cautiously optimistic for this thing. It has a LOT of potential, if you ask me.
Although for me, buying it will hinge on whether or not Apple makes it easier/possible to switch language tracks, since a lot of the movies I have on my HDD have multiple language tracks. I'm *REALLY* hoping that happens because I hate watching things on my monitor.
Anyway, as far as games go, I'd be interested to see how you can play them. This thing totally could be a stealth gaming system, but as much as I like the Wiimote, I don't see how you could effectively or comfortably play a game with the Apple Remote. I mean, those things are pretty tiny.
I also hope people find ways to hack this thing. It has awesome potential for homebrew, too.
Ben @ Mar 7th 2007 11:01PM
Just today they said that the Apple TV would not play games. It was on digg.
ill trooper @ Mar 7th 2007 11:24PM
"Er, sorry. Not a G4. Disregard that. Still, I seriously doubt that the Apple TV can run with a 360 graphicaly."
...but it may be able to hang with a Wii or Ps2, for party-style games. Either way, Apple's not promoting this thing as a console.
Kalroy @ Mar 7th 2007 11:47PM
Sure, why not. Even my DirectTV box will do Bejewelled and several others. Playable trials/unlock full game. I just discovered it last night channel surfing with all channels open.
Kalroy
Vexorg @ Mar 7th 2007 11:49PM
If Apple got into the console games market, they'd only manage to pick up a 2-3% market share, but that 2-3% would toss out all their other systems, spend inordinate amounts of time trolling blog comments, and fail to realize three years down the road that Bejeweled 2 remains their killer app.
Jonathan @ Mar 7th 2007 11:58PM
I read on MacOS Rumors that Apple is working on new resolution-independent technology for their upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" release. The idea is that a game would look the same whether it was on iPod, iPhone, Mac, or any other Apple-branded product regardless of screen size.
My guess is that they'll wait for this technology to come out first and then enable games on Apple TV.
I have no interest in Apple TV personally, but I have no interest in a 360 either. But I'm sure there's a market for it. If there's one thing North Americans love, it's sitting on their fat rear-ends and spending hours in front of the TV. (I'm Canadian and I'm fat so I can say that) ^_^
Sly @ Mar 8th 2007 12:45AM
Throwback to the 90's.
Ordeith @ Mar 8th 2007 1:06AM
* Apple's not promoting this thing as a console
But they charge as much as one.
for the price the 360 (core, even) is more capable, and with Connect 360 you can stream from your Mac as well.
ill trooper @ Mar 8th 2007 3:03AM
"10. If Apple got into the console games market, they'd only manage to pick up a 2-3% market share, but that 2-3% would toss out all their other systems, spend inordinate amounts of time trolling blog comments, and fail to realize three years down the road that Bejeweled 2 remains their killer app.
Posted at 11:49PM on Mar 7th 2007 by Vexorg"
...and who's trolling this time?
Also, Ordeith:
"for the price the 360 (core, even) is more capable, and with Connect 360 you can stream from your Mac as well."
I love my 360, and my Macs, and Connect360 is a really great program... But a $299 360 core system doesn't have HDMI, a 40gig hard drive or wireless '.n' capabilities... You'll have to add $100 for '.g' wireless if you buy the 360 adaptor, and no options for HDMI or a hard-drive larger than 20gigs have been officially announced. So while it's a great value for gaming, you're still better off with an AppleTV if streaming content from iTunes or having an wirelessly accessable media server is what you're looking for.
DrXym @ Mar 8th 2007 10:03AM
Apple have really screwed up with this one.
Not only is an iTV + iMac ridiculously expensive, but it doesn't do anything that you can't do on a cheaper console.
Besides, streaming content from a computer to a box by the TV is back-asswards. Who is going to do that? Yes, I'm sure a few people really will leave a Mac or PC turned on, but the vast majority won't. In fact they'll rightly conclude that having two machines on to serve content is simply stupid. Same goes for 360 streaming - it's great that it does it, but I suspect that most people rather it could store and play videos held on its own hard disk. Even MS recognize that with their download service.
I have a feeling that Apple is not going to do too well with iTV.