Apple patent hints at iPhone/iPod Touch gaming
by Scott Jon Siegel 
{ Dec 7th 2007 at 5:30AM }
If it sounds wordy and confusing, it's because it's a patent. The technology described allows users to access a secondary application on a device without needing a second screen or overlay. If the user is tapping the screen, they're using the one interface, but if they're pressing down, they're accessing the other.
This would normally be a fairly unremarkable patent, except that the wording describes its usage as being specifically for "a game or gaming application." Our educated guess is that this patent is talking about games on the iPhone and iPod Touch, especially considering the patent references the secondary application as a "media-player," and makes at least one reference to the gaming application possibly being a "music-based game." Of course, it could also be something entirely different, or an out-of-date idea, given that the patent application is over a year old. Still, at least we know that Apple's thinking about it.
[via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ill trooper @ Dec 7th 2007 6:07AM
Well, it could be cool. Those units are pretty capable, even though they aren't dedicated gaming devices. The EA games for the iPod were acceptable pass-time sort of things, like 'mah jongg' and 'bejeweled,' but I'd like to see something with more depth, like that weird 'Hotel Dusk' for the DS. I'm not sure I need another 'Lumines' or 'Tetris,' both good games, but neither has a storyline or progression other than 'harder, faster' to quote Daft Punk.
Either way, these sort of 'mobile phone' games can grip people with a passion, even though the more 'involved' (read: dedicated 360/wii/-PS3 ownin' sort of folks here on Joystiq) gamers might scoff at the games these devices usually have. But my girlfriend's mom is actually considering dumping her new Blackberry and going back to her Treo, mainly for two reasons: she doesn't like the device's font handling in the e-mail section as much as the Treo's, and the blackberry doesn't have any sort of variant of a Treo game that's some mix of 'Bejeweled' and 'tetris' or something - I don't remember the name.
Dale @ Dec 7th 2007 10:21AM
Klondike on the iPod Classic has taken over my waking thoughts.
Dan @ Dec 7th 2007 7:10AM
I thought there already were games on the iPhone, or is that 'unofficial'
ThornedVenom @ Dec 7th 2007 7:18AM
I'm not surprised considering technological convergence. Hopefully, this won't turn out into a mini-pippin, because if they try going hardcore into their gaming library (a la Ngage), then I foresee failure unless they manage to find a way to create touchscreen feedback.
Because maybe touchscreens are cool when you're looking and pointing at stuff on the screen, but ergonomically, it's a disaster. I need to feel buttons to act intuitively.
eMag @ Dec 7th 2007 8:36AM
It's not a patent. It's a patent *application*.
But applying to grad school is the same thing as getting your PhD, right?
DemonGSides @ Dec 7th 2007 11:06AM
Well, duh.
James @ Dec 7th 2007 2:42PM
I'd buy two.
required @ Dec 7th 2007 4:05PM
No thanks. I like my PSP, scratch that, I love my PSP.
Cuja @ Dec 8th 2007 3:21AM
Patent application for existing hardware would be great. Patent for new hardware wouldn't if you already have the current one. I'm leaning more toward the Apples than a PSP. If the PSP had better web browsing plus touchscreen along with larger storage, then I would consider it highly.