Round 1: iPhone 3GS vs. iPhone 3G -- fight!
We're not sure if the lines at the Apple Store are moving any faster this time around, but the early word from Touch Arcade is that games are loading faster on iPhone 3GS compared to the plain, old 3G (see videos after the break). The revelation comes as little surprise considering the bump in processing power, but there may be a few surprises lurking for early adopters. Case in point: Check out Touch Arcade's comparison screen of Snowboard TnT above. It's like the game's graphics can't even keep up with the speed of the 3GS! Wow.
It's unlikely we'll see many leaps in existing games (perhaps some sharper 3D renders and improved frame rates here and there) and any glitches in the move to 3GS will hopefully be addressed with the quickness, but as soon as developers get to tinkering with the 3GS's superior technology there could be an entire class of games that are unplayable on a 3G or, dare we mention, the original iPhone. Of course, doing so would essentially cut off twenty-some-odd million potential app buyers.
Needless to say, we don't think it's realistic to expect a ton of support for 3GS-only gaming until the older iPhone models are phased out. In the meantime, you'll have to stick to bragging about those blazing load times.
It's unlikely we'll see many leaps in existing games (perhaps some sharper 3D renders and improved frame rates here and there) and any glitches in the move to 3GS will hopefully be addressed with the quickness, but as soon as developers get to tinkering with the 3GS's superior technology there could be an entire class of games that are unplayable on a 3G or, dare we mention, the original iPhone. Of course, doing so would essentially cut off twenty-some-odd million potential app buyers.
Needless to say, we don't think it's realistic to expect a ton of support for 3GS-only gaming until the older iPhone models are phased out. In the meantime, you'll have to stick to bragging about those blazing load times.













Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
LordToastington @ Jun 19th 2009 9:11PM
Eeew.
[tre] @ Jun 19th 2009 11:46PM
@MowDownJoe: Strange, I'm the opposite of you. Started to read Engadget and then got 'stiq-addicted.
TexRob @ Jun 22nd 2009 9:04AM
I am so sick of everyone on every Engadget network site posting about what content THEY want to see. Guess what, nobody f'n cares what you want. I could care less about a lot of stuff they post, but I like that it's there for the person who does care. There is something wrong with you people in the head that you are so self centered that you can't see that.
As for this particular post. I have been gaming since Atari and my first PC, a Tandy 1000EX. I have built countless PCs, and played every console released in the US and then some. I would say it's safe to say I have "gamer credentials". I care about this post. If you don't think the iPhone is a valid gaming device, you clearly haven't played some of the great games on it. I challenge you to find a game with the fit, finish, and content of Rolando on the iPhone on any other phone, and it rivals and exceeds the expectations of $40 games on the DS. Other titles like Crash racing, Super Monkey Ball, all lend themselves to the iPhone perfectly. This IS a valid gaming device, and with the 3GS, it's putting up some impressive FPS. Crash racing on my original iPhone was very good, but suffered a little in the FPS, but on the 3GS it is buttery smooth.
T @ Jun 19th 2009 9:33PM
Hmmm...so the 3GS has such great processing power that now my old games will no longer run properly on it?
Cool. Now I know to pass on it.
This_Time @ Jun 19th 2009 9:35PM
Yeah, because your games are absolutely paramount and better overall performance just isn't worth it.
Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 19th 2009 9:56PM
I'm sure some throttle will be released for the new models to throttle their CPUs down to run the older applications properly, surprised it wasn't there already. YOU FUCKED UP APPLE!!!
MowDownJoe @ Jun 19th 2009 10:58PM
The 3G S uses OpenGL ES 2.0, while the iPhone 3G uses OpenGL ES 1.1. 2.0 has compatability issues with stuff written for 1.1.
The fact I remember that shows I've become too entrenched in reading Engadget.
T @ Jun 20th 2009 2:35AM
@This Time:
Oh come on now. If Apple wants the iPhone to be considered a legitimate gaming platform, don't you think step 1 should be making sure that products you purchase for use on the iPhone actually WORK with the iPhone?
This is just like MS and Sony having issues with BC on the 360 and older PS3's. How well was that accepted by the gaming populace?
Derick @ Jun 20th 2009 4:25AM
The issue stems from apple announcing the 3Gs days before releasing it.
If you watch the keynote, the speaker tells the developers that they need to get to work immediately to test their apps on the 3Gs platform and get them working because there would be hiccups.
That was less than 3 weeks ago. Some apps wont be ready at the pace Apple's set.
Comtar @ Jun 20th 2009 1:51PM
Hey T.
I got a 3Gs yesterday and all my games run amazingly well. I have no idea what the heck this article is talking about. Katamari Damacy for iPhone that was nearly unplayablecruns great and looks great now. Resident Evil Degeneration also holds about 60 fps the entire way and looks cleaner.
So I am really impressed and happy with my purchase. I have tried all my games and all work properly and are really fast. Even the 700 Meg juggernaut Myst loads and unloads quickly.
This_Time @ Jun 19th 2009 9:34PM
Hmm... I believe the 3GS wins. Despite the rendering glitches, the 3GS is really a lot faster. If all you plan on doing with it is playing a couple 3D games that don't play well with the new system, then sure, more fast phones for the rest of us.
Kenneth @ Jun 20th 2009 12:28AM
this gaming device makes calls too?
Brucie B @ Jun 19th 2009 9:38PM
WoW!
Anticrawl @ Jun 19th 2009 9:47PM
I thought I was visiting Joystiq.... JOYSTIQ. I guess I wandered into Engadget again. Hrmm, are there any decent new gaming websites out there I can use to replace JoyPod.com? I'm really sick of all the phone coverage. That is the puprose of Engadget and Mobile. Joystiq doesn't cover PC games so why the fuck all this iPhone nonsense.
Christopher Grant @ Jun 19th 2009 9:50PM
Is this something we really have to defend? The iPhone is a huge gaming platform at this point – it's 1000x bigger than Gizmondo ever was. It's bigger than PSN is now. Nobody complained when we covered those topics – why is the iPhone different. Not interested, don't read it. Simple.
Anticrawl @ Jun 19th 2009 9:56PM
Ah yes but we all know the real reason for all the iPress honestly. I have 4 members of my household who own either an iTouch or iPhone. It is not now nor ever will be a viable gaming platform. There is no quality assurance or standard and only 1 in every 1000 games is worth looking into. It's a niche feature and should be treated as such. It would be somewhat tolerable if there was a tag so I could filter them from my RSS feed or at least give the competition on the market a chance by covering the thousands of games released on every other mobile device known to man. I love Joystiq because it has or once had an objective standpoint in the gaming industry being a blog and not taking advertising funds directly from developers or publishers pockets. This iNonsense is getting a little out of hand and gives Joystiq some negative stigma.
Anticrawl @ Jun 19th 2009 9:57PM
I spoke to soon about the tag issue, apparently one has been added recently. My point however remains valid.
Jack_Jackington @ Jun 19th 2009 10:00PM
That's a good question. Maybe I can help answer it
You see, every time a small child cries alone in his/her room, he/she has terrible parent(s)/guardian(s). Those children then turn to video games for comfort. When they cannot play video games, they get on the nearest device with internet access and search the web for gaming news. And the pointlessness of my reply to you is equal to to the pointlessness of the post you commented on.
Maybe now you realized you have wasted your time reading my post. I apologize for that but now you know you have the right to chose! To answer your question, no
Anticrawl @ Jun 19th 2009 10:01PM
I noticed the Joystiq mantra or "mission statement" has been erased from the about page as well. I suppose this is the price of progress. Sad to see Joystiq slipping away into decay but it is a cruel fate all things must suffer.
Manly Mcbeefington (Mr. ESC) @ Jun 19th 2009 10:24PM
I know that when Chris Grant posts his word is ultimate and we are supposed to shut up and cease any discussion but I agree with anticrawl on one point:
Thinking about it iphone games aren't nearly as good as some cellphone games,MGS touch isn't as good as mobile or ac!d.Is like Iphone devs can get away with lackluster games playing the "I'm indie, give me a break" card and that gives a bad name to some small developers.
I think a little coverage about other small mobile platforms would be nice since some of them have really cool games.
Or you could start banning people who disagrees with some of the content of the article a la Gamespot.Ha ha but you wouldn't do that right...right?
Anticrawl @ Jun 19th 2009 10:36PM
I respect Chris and how well he has handled Joystiq after Ben left but this "new" Joystiq does not follow the sort of clean ethics it once did. Joystiq is one of the most influential websites on the internet and its bloggers deal with quite a bit of heat. I just don't want to see the once great Joystiq fall. I have nothing against Apple or any blogger on this website but I do yearn for the days where Joystiq actually represented each side regardless of the wads of cash they had. At least give the little guys a shot. There are a lot of hardworking mobile game developers out there that you are putting down by suggesting the iPhone is the only viable mobile platform to develop on. Everyone starts somewhere Grant.
Jansperus @ Jun 19th 2009 10:51PM
I don't understand all the hate that the iPhone gets. Sure, many of the games on it are junk, but isn't that the case with the Wii? Should Joystiq also stop blogging about the Wii? There are quality games on the iPhone. You might prefer traditional gaming, but that doesn't mean the games on the iPhone are all junk.
Respectable gaming companies aren't ignoring the iPhone, so why should Joystiq?
Christopher Grant @ Jun 19th 2009 11:30PM
Lolwhut? Are you serious?
"Sad to see Joystiq slipping away into decay but it is a cruel fate all things must suffer."
"I have nothing against Apple or any blogger on this website but I do yearn for the days where Joystiq actually represented each side regardless of the wads of cash they had."
First: That's some serious trolling.
Second: If you don't recognize the iPhone as one of the most disruptive and successful gaming platforms to date, you're either ignorant or lying. That's our editorial stance and it's not being paid for by ... well, anyone. Who do you think would be "buying" that point of view? The weight loss ads on our site? Seriously, don't like it? Skip the posts. Think we're "for sale"? Go somewhere else.
Anticrawl @ Jun 19th 2009 11:43PM
Quite defensive today Grant. I just call it like I see it. I'm not here to incite a riot; I just don't think the coverage is fair. The iPhone is a disruptive platform, but not in the gaming market. Name calling though, that’s low brow. I’m certainly not ignorant and industry speculation is a hobby of mine. There is a clear bit of favoritism here, and anyone who doesn’t think so is as you so eloquently put “ignorant or lying.”
Christopher Grant @ Jun 19th 2009 11:50PM
So: it's not disruptive in gaming? Really? Thrall me with your acumen!
So, at GDC this year when the iPhone and accompanying App Store was literally the most talked about thing at the entire event, that was what? Just "hype"? When the president of Sega leaves to go to an iPhone publisher? Hype? When Sony repositions the PSP as a competitor to the iPhone, with a new focus on bite-sized downloadable content? Not disruptive in gaming? You've got a serious stubborn streak in you, and a completely baffling (and as yet unexplained) refusal to acknowledge the iPhone as an increasingly important (and viable) platform.
Disagree, fine. But don't come here and start accusing us of ethical lapses and then have the audacity to throw it back at me. Give it up, or get banned and never come back.
Anticrawl @ Jun 20th 2009 12:02AM
You’re as stubborn as I but I'm through with arguing. If you want to pick out bits of my comments, take them out of context, then attack me personally that's fine. I'm voicing an opinion and nothing more. The tone in which you respond speaks volumes to your character and position. None were directly accused of any actions nor specifically implied, but you defended said alleged actions with reckless abandon. Your word is fact and in said world I don’t belong. Good day Grant.
Anticrawl @ Jun 20th 2009 12:05AM
One final word before I'm banned. Hilariously enough I had just finished some outsourced work at the newest EA studio and came to Joystiq looking to vent about something. Ahh time for Far Cry 2.
Slaziman @ Jun 20th 2009 12:31AM
Now that Anticrawl mentions it, why is it that you shun the PC? Is it because none of you guys are PC gamers? Get someone that is, last I checked the PC was still a bigger market for games than the iPhone.
BigFat @ Jun 20th 2009 12:44AM
this articule should be retitled as
"Round 1: Chis Grant vs. Anticrawl = Fight! "
it was a tough battle too, even though Chris won when he used a illegal blow and threaten to ban Anticrawl. Good fight overall though.
samn @ Jun 20th 2009 1:14AM
"So, at GDC this year when the iPhone and accompanying App Store was literally the most talked about thing at the entire event, that was what?"
Ummm whaa? My brother, who is finishing school to work in the gaming industry, went to GDC with his professor, who used to be a highly respected gaming engineer, and there was hardly any talk about the iPhone at all. The main thing covered about the iPhones were how they were a "recession antidote" for the gaming industry. Any joe blow can make a crappy game for it, slap a cool name on it, and millions of people will pay for it, and of course, some of the most respected gaming news sites will cover it because it's considered the "next big thing". Gag me. Anyone who considers a cell phone to be part of the gaming industry is a retard.
If this is the new trend for the gaming industry, then say Hello to the gaming crash of 2010!
NaeemTHM @ Jun 20th 2009 1:15AM
"it was a tough battle too, even though Chris won when he used a illegal blow and threaten to ban Anticrawl."
To be fair Anticrawl does tend to troll most iPhone topics.
No offese Crawl, I think you're a great poster, but we get it....you don't like post about the iPhone. Just scroll past it brah.
I mean I don't read the Sports section of the newspaper, but I don't call the Editor and bitch. I just skip that section.
NaeemTHM @ Jun 20th 2009 1:24AM
"Ummm whaa? My brother, who is finishing school to work in the gaming industry, went to GDC with his professor, who used to be a highly respected gaming engineer, and there was hardly any talk about the iPhone at all."
Earth to whatever your name is, your brother and his "professor" are not the final word on gaming.
What do you think is happening here folks? Do you think there's a fucking conspiracy within the gaming industry? Take a look at this:
"GDC Keynote: Why the iPhone Just Changed Everything"
http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/03/gdc-keynote-why/
"GDC 2009 Bioshock Teased for iPhone"
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3173394
GDC iPhone game round up
http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/694340/GDC-2009-iPhone-Game-Roundup.html
Now I don't know what GDC your brother went too, but the iPhone is a viable gaming platform and it's here to stay. If you don't like hearing about it, you might as well stop coming to video game sites.
There's a very good reason why every developer worth a damn can't stop talking about the iPhone: It's changed the portable gaming industry for the better.
samn @ Jun 20th 2009 1:45AM
Better for the portable gaming industry? Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. But how is it better for the consumer? It costs next to nothing to create the games for it, and they can turn around and sell them for way more than they are worth. They rake in the cash while the consumer is left with nothing but a crappy little game on their phone and shattered hopes and dreams. Society loves taking the easiest way out with get rich quick schemes, and everyone and their brother are going to try their best to take advantage of it. So please, tell me, elaborate if you will, how this helps not the gaming industry, but the consumers as a whole?
I think we all as gamers should grab our history books and reflect back upon the last gaming crash. What caused it and what it's solution was. There isn't anything left to be said here.
The iPhone has killed my inner child....
Derick @ Jun 20th 2009 4:44AM
Samm, nobody forces anyone to click the button to buy a game. The iPhone games are for the people that know they want something, or are willing to drop a few dollars for a chance.
If anyone's hopes or dreams are shattered by an iPhone game, they need to take a step back and re-prioritize.
And of course the developers are taking advantage of the customers! That's Capitalism (to capitalize!). Digital distribution is still being worked out on the retail end of things, and the app store luckily provides a well-established front for devs. Until the consumers stop buying things at their current price point, this is the status-quo and hopefully it will translate into a better future with higher quality programs and more fitting prices.
Let this new branch of the industry go through its growing pains because so far this seems like a nice path for the future.
Sir Buzz Killington( The Artist formerly known as Jakka) @ Jun 20th 2009 4:48AM
You're all skipping the most meaningful and serious question that Anticrawl brought up, whether he was trolling or not.
WHY THE FUCK ARE PC GAMES BEING IGNORED!?
Yes, I know there's BigDownload, but obviously I thought Endgadget was there to cover all iPhone news and yet the PC to iPhone news ration on Joystiq is easily 1:3.
The Baron @ Jun 20th 2009 11:18AM
Also, yes Joystiq do cover PC games.
ill trooper @ Jun 20th 2009 12:23PM
Anticrawl: Its so obvious.
You claim you're upset about Joystiq's gaming coverage being compromised. If you really cared about 'gaming,' and only that, you'd be stoked to see a new platform arrive, and stoked to see more coverage of it.
But that's not really it, is it? It's well-documented from your past comments that you just don't like Apple and the iPhone.
So your arguments are hollow. You can't hide from your past Apple-bashing, guy. And this last exchange just adds to the list.
And yes, Joystiq does cover PC gaming.
Christopher Grant @ Jun 20th 2009 3:39PM
PC gaming coverage is here: http://www.joystiq.com/tag/@pc
iPhone coverage is here: http://www.joystiq.com/tag/@iphone
One page of iPhone coverage goes back all the way to May 22nd – sounds commensurate with its level of saturation in the marketplace and our audience. Respectable, but not overwhelming. PC gaming coverage goes back to TWO DAYS. And, as some people have pointed out, we don't cover PC gaming as thoroughly as we do other consoles/handhelds.
Just illustrating that Anticrawl's (now) well known and outspoken distaste for the iPhone has nothing to do with our level of coverage (which is relatively spartan ... in fact, I think we should be covering it more!) and more to do with an illogical bias.
@samn: Not to disparage your brother and his professor, but from the vantage point of someone with a half-dozen reporters covering GDC this year, and for the last 4 years, we've gotten quite adept at sussing out what is and isn't a significant trend in discussion. Disagree if you want, but when I sat in a small room with Will Wright, Dave Perry, Rob Pardo, Neil Young, & Warren Spector and the conversation veered back to the iPhone on several occasions, I'd say the App Store has made an impact in the (at that point!) 9 months it's been on the market. Am I a "retard"?
Anticrawl @ Jun 20th 2009 8:28PM
My distaste is not for Apple or the iPhone, but the direction the industry is heading and the media's willingness to lead it right off the figurative cliff. My “well known and outspoken distaste for the iPhone” has nothing to do with the device but unnerving and even disturbing complex of Messiah surrounding the iPhone in the media. How is there to be any real innovation, change or competition without conflict? I say at least give all deserving games and hardworking developers some screen time regardless of what platform said game is developed on. This sort of cut and dry favoritism in the media is just unethical.
I’ve said all I’ve had to say and there is no need to defend any of my remarks against other Joystiq commenters. Clearly I’m not some lone crazed madman with the issues I’ve brought up, just the one man mad enough to speak out against the majority.
NOTE: I happen to know "samn" personally and without disclosing any names I'd say she is a very reputable source, and one can’t supply any more credentials to their rhetoric without making themselves public.
Sidebuster @ Jun 19th 2009 9:50PM
Every site I go to tells me to get an iPhone. Jeebus guys, give me a break.
Christopher Grant @ Jun 19th 2009 9:51PM
Yeah, just like we're telling you to get an Xbox, a PS3, a Wii, and a gaming PC. If you don't want an iPhone (or iPod Touch) ... or DS ... or PSP ... then don't get one. If you don't have one and don't want to read about it, then skip it. It's not homework. This isn't required reading.
InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 19th 2009 9:57PM
i think he was being sarcastic... relax
Sidebuster @ Jun 19th 2009 10:00PM
I do want a iPhone. I don't want to pay 400 doll hairs for one and I don't like iTunes. The more everyone talks about iPhone the more I want one.
My friend has one and I got to play around with it and all. We had a hellova time using Itunes and his Soundgarden album kept coming up as Backstreet boys.
That's what I meant.
[tre] @ Jun 19th 2009 11:34PM
Get an iPod touch. They run 250 and do everything the iPhone does in relation to gaming.
Joseph @ Jun 20th 2009 12:35AM
why not get a psp 2000 model, then you have the complete functionality of the ipod plus if you buy the mic for like 20 bucks tops you also get skype
psp has phone music movies games and webrowser
no other device can do any of these half as good
and dont say ipod has better music features, itunes is a pain, i dont care who you are, atleast psp has simple drag and drop without having to go through a program ike itunes.
ill trooper @ Jun 20th 2009 11:57AM
"psp has phone music movies games and webrowser"
Joseph, you're so out of touch, bro! Looking at all of your comments, you're just saying crazy things!
PSP DOESN'T "has phone"... I assume you're referring to how you mentioned Skype+$20 mic... Dude if that counts as a phone to you, then consider how iPhone/Touch users can download Skype as well.
PSP-2000 isn't even close in convenience and functionality to an iPhone/iPod Touch for web browsing (PSP is terrible for that), audio/video playback is comparable but it's far larger than either the iPhone or the Touch and the PSP headphone jack juts out of the side, making it lame in your pocket, if it even fits in your pocket.
And Sony software better than iTunes? OK, tell us again about that special naming convention for movie files you encode for the PSP and don't forget to remind us to put it in the right folder on the memory stick!
Just let it go, be happy with what you bought.
This is like taking crazy pills around here today.
Joseph @ Jun 20th 2009 12:44PM
wow you are aware that the ease of use of the psp has increased exponentially in the last few years right? now all i need to do is make it an mp4 and it will play on my psp, even your precious ipod format mp4s will play on it... thats it, i also just drag and drop music, and pictures... it is ALOT easier than when the psp launched
when the psp launched its movie playback capabilities were fucked because of that weird file system shit, now everything goes in the folder marked VIDEO right on the root of your memory stick, and if you fuckeed up putting a movie on NOWADAYS then i have know clue what to say to you, because your obviously cannot computer very well
also music goes in the MUSIC folder, photo's in the PHOTO folder, etc... its just simple now, infact almost every argument against the psp at launch i can safely say is not a problem these days..... maybe you should update your firmware, which is free of charge to do by the way ;)
Cosmo (formerly Chin-Poh) @ Jun 19th 2009 9:55PM
This is of course good and bad news at the same time. Its certain that the App Store will give rise to applications that will only work on new Iphones and Ipod Touches, such as taking advantage of the new IPhone's compass feature which the older models lack.
But then these games will also cut off many older customers as well, and upgrading to a new model isn't cheap. They'll have to be careful to not waste the potential of these new models but also not cut off the many existing customers...
LegendaryRedass @ Jun 19th 2009 10:12PM
I just got a 3g about 5 months ago. The new OS is good for me. Love autofill, my favorite new feature. However, I think I'll wait for next years phone, which will probably be a 4g. Though going by at&t's track record, probably not.
My point is, apple deliberatly holds back the tech so they can get us to buy a new phone every 6 to 12 months. And then AT&T screws you when you want upgrade.
Joseph @ Jun 19th 2009 10:29PM
so then answer me this... why is it that apple can release ipod after ipod and idiots buy them with a fuckin smile on their face, while overpaying tremendously for a PHONE.... with the apple logo... thats about it ya srsly.
BUT
sony shows off the go, FOR $250 and everyone mans the fuckin harpoons and crucifies them in media sites like this! saying sony's ripping you off, for what the psp can do, the price is not that bad.
PSP GO - 250 at launch
IPHONE(which is a fuckin phone) - $500 at launch
howemuch will this thing cost?
500 fuckin dollars a peice of shit phone cost you
ps3 price was $599 and you guys mocked it relentlesly
am i going fucking crazy, why especially in this recession that you americans always complain about, is it acceptable to pay 500 dollars for a PHONE
but a 599 dollar multimedia monster of a home console that does pretty much everything youd want in a home theatre setup/gaming rig.... was just un-fucking acceptable?
even now at 399 you guys complain, get a grip on reality for fuck sakes
what the fuck's going on!?