BioWare eyeing iPhone development

13 Comments by Randy Nelson Jul 1st 2008 6:25PM
Filed under: Business, Mobile

Speaking to MTV Multiplayer, the developer of such epics as Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic confirmed that it is looking into games of a much smaller (physical) scale. Specifically, BioWare co-CEO Greg Zeschuk states that he finds Apple's iPhone "intriguing" as a games platform. Mind you, he's not saying development is underway, but he is a fan.

"Something that's as big a cultural and technical success as the iPhone is something you've really got to take a close look at," explains Zeschuk, adding that, "We've got a lot of folks looking at it." Zechuk's statements come just a few days after the project lead on BioWare's Nintendo DS RPG, Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, revealed that the company is also investigating Wii and PSP dvelopment. Now BioWare just needs to look into developing for those LCD games you see at mall kiosks and it'll have all bases covered.

Tags: bioware, iphone, kotor, mass-effect, sonic-chronicles

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Marty: Jul 1st 2008; 6:27PM

Take your eyes off the iPhone, BioWare. Do it now.

Now get back to work on Mass Effect 2.

WhoMe: Jul 1st 2008; 8:42PM

The iPhone has like 5 users?

Shouldn't a company be looking at the bottom line when they decide to develop a game?

waves: Jul 1st 2008; 6:43PM

The iPhone interface would lend itself well to RPGs, RTSs. It's funny that the first games we've seen have been more action oriented.

I know it would never happen, but it's not hard to imagine a World of Warcraft type of game on the iPhone (or Diablo, or Starcraft, for that matter).

komamura: Jul 1st 2008; 6:51PM

I approve of this news =D

uh-oh polio: Jul 1st 2008; 7:04PM

estimated battery usage time:10 minutes

deaftly: Jul 2nd 2008; 10:47AM

Yea running games on my iphone pretty much just scares me because the battery life is just awful when its not doing anything heh

Snowblind: Jul 1st 2008; 7:08PM

I don't see the problem with this. Mobile phones do everything else, it's only a natural step that more serious games will be released for them. In Japan, mobile gaming is already a fairly big thing, and the iPhones touch screen works farily well, from what I hear.

I'm pretty sure I won't be playing any games on my phone anytime soon, but I'm not sure why so many are against the idea.

Velops: Jul 1st 2008; 7:36PM

I don't know what to think. Bioware still heavily favors the use of dialog trees in their projects. They are even doing it in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the DS.

Mobile games tend to favor simple time wasters that you can play for a few minutes to relieve stress.

Avoli: Jul 1st 2008; 9:14PM

Hell, Im still waiting for ME:PC to get a patch so I can finally play it.

PRIORITIES!!!

ronald.raygun: Jul 2nd 2008; 12:51AM

touchscreen might work for this type of game but trying to use the NES emulator with it just did not work

Tim The Enchanter: Jul 2nd 2008; 11:17AM

Is that Bibleman? He looks vaguely familiar...

I don't see a problem with developing for phones, as long as they don't bite off more than they can chew. But for me it's more important that they nail controls.

My blackberry pearl would be well suited for many games. There's this zelda remake that works well, but doesnt use the pearl as a controller. If only it would...

trotskylite: Jul 2nd 2008; 11:03AM

thing aint got no buttons, man

Mez Jr: Jul 2nd 2008; 1:29PM

Dude, way off topic, but someone NEEDS to port X-Com: UFO Defense to a mobile platform. That game would be fantastic on the iPhone or on any touch screen phone.

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