Jobs: 1/3 of iPhone App Store launch apps are games
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jul 10th 2008 at 11:25AM }
Steve Jobs, ruler of all things Apple, hath decreed to the New York Times that, of the first 500 applications to launch on the App Store, "a third ... will be games." As you can see from our undersized graphic above, most of these games range from $4.99 to $9.99 – in fact, according to Jobs, 90% of this first wave of apps will be $9.99 or less, and 25% will be totally free (nothing free in the top 57 games) . We'll be checking out plenty of these games and we'll get you a report soon. Until then, any iPhone owners make the 2.0 bump and load these up yet?
[Via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Erwos @ Jul 10th 2008 11:29AM
Interesting. So is the iPhone now going to be the third handheld in the handheld war, or are these going to be more like cell phone games? Between Spore and S-E's new interest in the iPod, I wonder if an iPod Touch won't be a gamer's handheld in the future.
Marty @ Jul 10th 2008 11:48AM
The iPhone as a third major handheld gaming device?
Don't hold your breath.
Compare the sales numbers of the original iPhone to the sales of the DS and PSP, and realize how completely ludicrous the idea is. All cell phone have games on them. You can play them a bit differently on iPhone due to touch controls. That's not enough to make it into a huge gaming platform.
NaeemTHM @ Jul 10th 2008 12:03PM
Marty,
How can you compare two 2 year old game-centric devices, to a one year old PHONE.
You can't. This is the iPhones first real shot at getting it's game on. Apple is in no way trying to take over the gaming market. The games are just another application to use, on a phone that already does so much. Hey it has a calculator! Better watch out...it may take over the calculator market.
Personally, I expect the first batch of games to be "meh" at best. At least until developers have more time to understand just what the iPhone is capable of.
And, with that...MONKEY BALL HERE I COME!!
ChooChooCharlie @ Jul 10th 2008 12:03PM
The only way that will happen is if Apple decides to cut the price in half. Not many people I know are willing to pay $500-$600 for a glorified handheld.
Darayz @ Jul 10th 2008 12:31PM
@ ChooChooCharlie It's $200 now.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/12/iphone-3g-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-but-were-afraid-t/
Marty @ Jul 10th 2008 12:33PM
NaeemTHM,
How can I compare them...?
The first poster said that the iPhone was to be the third big handheld gaming console. I've heard other people around the net speak to the same tune, and I think that gives me every right to compare them.
Obviously, this is the first "big" step Apple has taken in this direction, but that doesn't exempt them from comparisons, especially if you think gamers are going to decide between the iPhone and other handhelds.
Simply put, if you're going to make the ridiculous claim that the iPhone is going to sit alongside the DS and the PSP as a gaming platform, then expect comparisons to those platforms.
ChooChooCharlie @ Jul 10th 2008 12:44PM
Well don't I look silly now. Ignore my previous comment.
Ocho @ Jul 10th 2008 1:02PM
I have to admit, I've been picking up my iPod lately over my DS to play Harmonix's Phase and Square Enix's Song Summoner. They're fun and well made -- plus, the music selection is always good.
Apple needs to look into getting some non-glare icons, though.
clay @ Jul 10th 2008 11:31AM
thats because the iphone is nothing more than a TOY like the ipod touch. want a real smartphone that is actually smart? check out the blackberry bold!
ogvor @ Jul 10th 2008 4:35PM
Unless you consider all MP3 players toys, name one Toy that can play movies and music, connect to the internet via Wi-Fi, has YouTube, Google Maps, and various other useful apps and doesn't look like ass doing it.
Also, we have the same name.
Marty @ Jul 10th 2008 11:36AM
Jobs: 90% of iPhone App Store launch apps are games [that you've played on your iPod already].
Jakka @ Jul 10th 2008 11:39AM
Apple has a portable console! Noes the world is about to end! We'll be flooded with smug Iphone owners who will kill us because we would rather play on DS or PSP than those "sophiticated IPhone games!".
NATO_Duke @ Jul 10th 2008 12:13PM
Reality - most people are not smug because of their phone brand. You're insecure.
Jakka @ Jul 10th 2008 3:01PM
Oh, am I? Is that also why a stereotypical Mac-owner never shuts the fuck up about how much superior his computer is compared to PC's?
NATO_Duke @ Jul 10th 2008 3:20PM
I don’t know, since I don't own a mac. Yet I do own an Iphone, which doesn't make me special in any way. It’s just my phone. You were the one that jumped to the conclusion we were all smug because of a cell phone. Yet more importantly, you are the one who is talking all the trash about people using a device you don't like - hypocrite much?
John Z @ Jul 10th 2008 11:42AM
The big advantage that the iPhone/iPod touch have over the PSP and the DS, for now at any rate, is being able to pull full games over the air (3G for certain, but I think EDGE can do it too). That's a key element for the device to take a more active role as a 'game' machine, but I doubt that it will unseat either existing handheld for quite some time. I don't think that games are the biggest thing that folks are looking to the iPhone for-- it's certainly not high on my list of reasons for sitting in line tomorrow morning, though I realize I'm probably an exception. (I wasn't excited for the iPhone at all until native apps were announced, and the 3G bits wind up being icing on the cake.)
This might just be a North America thing, but most folks use their phones just as phones-- voice calls or texting are the primary uses, and maybe some music or personal organizer things if you have a nice smartphone. The whole convergence of gaming and communications is a relatively fringe thing here in the US, quite unlike Asia or maybe Europe, which is why we're usually green with envy that a new Square-Enix game is mobile only.
That said, I'm certainly going to take a look at the games available, though $10 is way too steep for Ms. Pac-Man.
danny. @ Jul 10th 2008 11:43AM
not yet... 1.1.4 is still the current version evidently
nxtiak @ Jul 10th 2008 11:45AM
iPhone software 2.0 is now live.
whoiscraig @ Jul 10th 2008 11:55AM
I can't wait for the first RPG.
Jomolungma @ Jul 10th 2008 12:32PM
Well, never sure if anyone is serious or not when they post here, but I'd be interested in something RPG-esque. What I'd really like to see, and this can be on the iPhone or any other location-aware device I suppose, is an interesting mashup of an ARG and an RPG that took into account your real-world location relative to other players and your environment. So, for example, you'd have an online character and an online world, but you would have real-world tasks to accomplish, and the device would know where you were in the real world and be able to guide you to certain locations and through certain tasks.
I dunno, just an idea. But if there was a story that involved this game world being aware of this other world (the real world) and sending you on tasks (could be as simple as "since you are walking on 38th street, please go to the library on 42nd street and upload a photo of X because a game world dude needs you to help him in his research of X") then I would probably be really interested in playing that. And if it was only available on the iPhone or iPod Touch, I might consider that a factor in purchasing one.
Ocho @ Jul 10th 2008 1:09PM
Square-Enix has already released an RPG (possibly the first, but I'm not completely certain) for it called Song Summoner. Brings in your music tracks to make soldiers out of them, gameplay's similar to Final Fantasy Tactics or Ogre Tactics.
Pretty fun, though more traditional and not nearly as cool as the virtual/real world deal that Jomolungma's talking about.
juju187 @ Jul 10th 2008 11:45AM
that is the sexiest mrs. pacman i ever seen.
so sophiticated
Marty @ Jul 10th 2008 11:50AM
It's got all the allure of a two decades old, pizza and soda encrusted arcade box.
Brian @ Jul 10th 2008 11:47AM
I updated to 2.0, but I'm not buying anything until I get the new 3G model. I did install a couple free apps and was suprised how easy it is.
Brittany @ Jul 10th 2008 11:48AM
apple fanboyism is lame.
The phone, along with the games, accessories, etc. will be overpriced as usual.
Christopher Grant @ Jul 10th 2008 11:50AM
OMG U R TOTALLY RITE !!!!1111!11!1one
danny. @ Jul 10th 2008 11:49AM
yeah, not sure why it keeps telling me 1.1.4. I will just have to be patient.
Christopher Grant @ Jul 10th 2008 11:52AM
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/iphone-firmware-2-0-is-live/
danny. @ Jul 10th 2008 11:57AM
got it. thanks!
monal @ Jul 10th 2008 11:50AM
2.0 firmware is out on the web if u know where to look
Abras @ Jul 10th 2008 3:45PM
This is a fairly good read: http://www.thunderboltgames.com/features/article/for-amp-against-apple-will-change-portable-gaming-forever-feature-for-all.html
Personally, I had a brief moment when I thought about buying an iPhone, but I quickly decided against. I'll stick with my DS and wait patiently for the next Nintendo handheld.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 10th 2008 12:00PM
Me heart Super Monkey Ball games =)
NATO_Duke @ Jul 10th 2008 12:01PM
I haven't downloaded the new update yet, but will tonight.
As far as those who are bashing the iPhone, including the usually people, why don't you give it a damn rest. Reverse fanboyism looks pretty silly too. You hate the device so much, even though it has no impact on you, and thats just weird. They made apps available for it and games too - they didn't suddenly launch an attack on the psp and ds, so you can sleep soundly. You don't need to grief everytime people talk about games coming out for it.
Fernando Rocker @ Jul 10th 2008 12:04PM
Well... I don't have an iPhone (I use Nextel), but I do have an iPod Touch, and is amazing. I prefer to take the iPod Touch over my laptop.
I can surf the web (very fast), watch YouTube videos, mp3, videos, movies, and it has a lot of apps. It gives me all the functionality that I need. Plus, it looks very pretty.
I really don't know why people bash the iPhone or iPod Touch.
Zoesch @ Jul 10th 2008 12:12PM
For the same reason you or Marty bash the PS3, name123 bashes the Wii and 360, etc.... Idiocy coupled with the fear that one plastic thing might do better than the plastic thing you think it's the best.
PeterF @ Jul 10th 2008 12:16PM
LOOK its Enigmo! I got that years ago free with my Dell Axim x50v! It was pretty cool to have something like that on a mobile device.
Shay @ Jul 10th 2008 12:53PM
It keeps telling me that 1.1.4 is the current....where can I get 2.0??? What am I doing wrong? Please help!!!
danny. @ Jul 10th 2008 2:20PM
follow the link Chris posted above. Basically, you have to go to apple and download iTunes 7.7 directly (can't do it from the check for updates tab). Then hit the read link for the update file. Then hold shift and hit check for updates and select the file you just downloaded. Then it's just a (long) wait... you'll have to restore as well.
I got voted down for being confused about this, but none of that seemed very obvious to me either :)
SmartriX @ Jul 10th 2008 1:10PM
Very Excite
Anti-Apple League @ Jul 10th 2008 1:28PM
"don't think that games are the biggest thing that folks are looking to the iPhone for-"
Most reasons are
1) I'm a starbucks loving macbook toting thick black framed glasses wearing college liberal who loves him some shiny apple things whilst listening to The Decemberists. Gotsta have the iPhone! it's "Totally Sweet", as they say.
2) People lack a certain decision making brain cell
3) SHINY PRETTY PEOPLE LIKEY
NATO_Duke @ Jul 10th 2008 3:01PM
You're kinda sad. Our law firm uses the phone and not for those reasons - we all just think it works well. Keep wasting your time smack talking because you have nothing real to waste your hate on.
Hate Face McGee @ Jul 10th 2008 5:55PM
Yesss.. the typical Apple line "it works". It just works!
Similar to a toaster, or a tree, it just works!
SmartriX @ Jul 10th 2008 1:31PM
For everyone still in the dark you need to download the latest iTunes version 7.7.
Paulo Rules @ Jul 10th 2008 2:56PM
Hey guys. I installed the new firmware this morning and have enjoyed playing around with the new apps. There are a couple free games worth checking out (Cube Runner and Spinner), and Super Monkey Ball is a must play (if you can part with $10).
Jomolungma @ Jul 10th 2008 3:18PM
Any word on whether Audiosurf might be headed to the iPhone? Seems like a marriage made in heaven - touch screen controls coupled with many folks' primary musical repository.
Chris @ Jul 11th 2008 1:25AM
Tap Tap Revenge is hands down the best game for iphone (assuming its free on the app store, and if its not it gets 2nd)
Petert @ Jul 14th 2008 9:58PM
"a third... will be games"
Go check out the Irish App Store... we have 2, yes 2!!! This is ridiculous... Super Monkey Ball was one of main reasons for getting the iPhone 3G (didnt buy a first gen one). I dont know whats going on but Apple gotta get their asses in gear!