Devspeak: iPhone 3G vs iPhone 3GS

by David Hinkle { Jul 9th 2009 at 2:40PM }

The introduction of the iPhone 3GS is huge for a variety of reasons, but most important to gamers is how the new phone improves gaming. And that's why IndustryGamers pinged a few iPhone devs to get their thoughts on the new device, how it'll make their games even better, and whether they should be developing for the larger install base of 3G users or specifically for the improved 3GS model.

The first developer to speak on the matter is EA Mobile, who says it'll actually be developing for both versions. "To take full advantage of the new capabilities of the 3GS, our development teams will create an additional version specifically for it, so that our products will be available and enjoyable no matter which iPhone or iPod touch a consumer has." Trip Hawkins, CEO of Digital Chocolate, thinks otherwise, and says that the new phone's capabilities will make existing products better, making it unnecessary to explicitly develop for the more powerful platform. Paxton LaZar, director of digital content at Sega of America, is more in line with EA Mobile, however, and says Sega will offer products tailored specifically for each phone, although only on select titles. "Sega will continue to develop games for the 3G iPhones and for appropriate games we will also deliver versions with added and/or improved features/content to take full advantage of the extra power afforded by the new 3GS model," LaZar said. LaZar further compared it to games that are offered across multiple platforms, and says this is basically no different.

While we wait for developers to figure out how they're going to tackle the 3G vs 3GS conundrum, we suggest you see for yourself just how much the 3GS brings to the table in this video for Firemint Real Racing. It just might blow you away.

Tags: iphone, iphone-3g, iphone-3gs, mobile

Related From Joystiq

iPhone plays Doom, but what about Doom 3?
1 day ago
This Wednesday: Wallace & Gromit episodes 2, 3 and 4 on XBLA
4 days ago
Bayonetta's 'non-stop climax action' briefly goes live-action in new commercial
26 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NaeemTHM @ Jul 9th 2009 2:45PM

I don't see this as a bad thing, like one of the dev's said, they'll continue to support the 40 million iPod Touch/iPhones out there already.

Though twice the processing power, OpenGL 2.0, and the video camera certainly make the 32GB 3GS tempting.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jul 9th 2009 3:03PM

I don't see it as bad either, it had to happen sometime. I like the platform comparison, it makes a lot of sense. The original/3g is the Wii, the 3gs is the 360/PS3.

JayVe @ Jul 9th 2009 3:21PM

It is a bad thing, for the following reason. Developers supporting both platforms spend valuable time and energy supporting both platforms. It means extra development time, asset management, and testing that isn't necessary with a single platform. Ask any developer which is better, developing for one platform, or developing for two.

Another very important reason this is bad for gaming is the division of users it creates. Not all developers will be able to support both types of iPhone. It puts iPhone developers in competition with iPhone developers between platforms. This is specifically why you don't see Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony introducing marginally improved platforms, as it divides the user and developers into smaller camps of haves and have-nots.

So:
More overhead for developers
Divided user base

= bad thing

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jul 9th 2009 3:24PM

"Not all developers will be able to support both types of iPhone."

If a developer doesn't have the resources to support a seperate game for both, they can just release for the 3G and it will work for both. I don't see how that hurts anyone at all.

"This is specifically why you don't see Nintendo, Microsoft, or Sony introducing marginally improved platforms"

DSi says hello.

XLM @ Jul 9th 2009 5:23PM

Couldn't they simply add scalability to the games much like is done with PC games? If the user has the hardware, bump up the eye candy, if they don't, scale it back.

Seriously this isn't a brand new issue that needs to be tackled.

Create the game with an option to select 3G or 3Gs. Done.

JayVe @ Jul 10th 2009 9:07AM

@XLM

It means extra development time, asset management, and testing that isn't necessary with a single platform. Ask any developer which is better, developing for one platform, or developing for two.

Gamer4Life @ Jul 10th 2009 11:02AM

I hear the new 3gs only supports OpenGL 3.0 which is shit, I mean you have to program your own pixel shadder. I understand it has other issues but OpenGL 3.0 is apparently down right shit.

XLM @ Jul 10th 2009 4:03PM

@ JayVe

So by that logic, It's astounding that PC games are released at all. Never mind that there two main GPU venders, there are countless variations and capabilities of all their hardware. Yet somehow PC games are continually produced that are able to scale to play on a minimum config through the reccomended.

We're looking at 2 here.

I understand that sure, 2 is more than 1, but if I were to be developing a game that could take advantage of the 3Gs, I would. It would still be cake when compared to developing for either multiple brands of phones (Android, Pre, etc) or the PC.

Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge @ Jul 9th 2009 2:53PM

While that Firemint video is impressive, I only bought my 3G a year ago. It sucks that (of course) there's something better out already but what are you gonna do?

C @ Jul 9th 2009 2:54PM

That Firemint video is very impressive. It's almost comparable to the jump from the last generation consoles to the new one: more polygonal objects on screen at once. Hardware capability like this made games like Dead Rising possible and allow game-worlds to be more populated, which, in my opinion, makes them a whole lot more immersive.

It's going to be interesting to see what the additional shader prowess on the 3GS's GPU is going to yield. I've seen a lot of FPS increases and polygonal draws on screen but little on traditional shader approaches like bloom and HDRL (if that's even possible at a respectable frame-rate).

pete @ Jul 9th 2009 2:55PM

"The introduction of the iPhone 3GS is *not huge for a variety of reasons,"

Fixed.

C @ Jul 9th 2009 3:05PM

Listen, Pete, maybe you and the 3GS got off on a bad start. Maybe it man handled you too roughly on a Tuesday night after drinking with your friends and mistaking it for female, only to find out it was carrying a man sized garden tool in its shed instead of the tuna slot you were thinking of when imbibing that eighth shot of Goldschlauger.

Even after awaking in the morning to find your butt-slit not closing the way it should, and your sense of sexual orientation muddled with the flashbacks of tea-bag shenanigans assaulting your every orifice there is no reason to insult the 3GS because of the mistake you made.

jordan @ Jul 9th 2009 7:29PM

y would i wanna play games on a iphone .....just terrible imo psp is cheaper and better plus its a phone..........

Duke @ Jul 9th 2009 3:09PM

..."whether they should be developing for the larger install base of 3G users or specifically for the improved 3GS model"

You are leaving out the millions of pre-3G users there too (who have the same specs for most purposes as the 3G model.)

coyo t @ Jul 9th 2009 3:12PM

the iphone is a crazy expensive gaming platform http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3637847596_1f2961bc1b_o.png

Marty @ Jul 9th 2009 3:40PM

But people LIKE paying for two internet plans!

R (XBL: Esoteric Lord) @ Jul 9th 2009 5:07PM

Release date Original: June 29, 2007 (2007-06-29)
3G: July 11, 2008 (2008-07-11)
3GS: June 19, 2009 (2009-06-19)

(sauce:wikipedia)

Keep in mind if you are keeping up to date on iPhones, your also buying a new one every year. Sony seems to have started to do this too. psp-2000 came out in 07, the 3000 in 08, and we are getting the psp go this year.

jarhead906 @ Jul 9th 2009 3:29PM

I hate planned obsolescence.

adam @ Jul 9th 2009 3:30PM

The iphone play control is crappy. When I play by touching the screen, I am missing some percentage of the screen which often interrupts game play. The tilt control is just broken. While it can be fun at first, for real gaming, the tilt control needs something akin to wii motion plus. The real fix is that the iphone needs some tactile d-pad if it wants to be a real gaming platform. Battery life also seems to be a major hurdle. PSP and DS have WAY better battery life for gaming.

Duke @ Jul 9th 2009 3:58PM

Everyone knows the DS and PSP are better gaming platforms and have better battery life for it, that kinda goes without saying. If you are going to slam on it then compare it to other phones that happen to play games too - thats the correct market.

Cellien @ Jul 9th 2009 4:27PM

I have a 3gs and the 3g games play way better on it. The speed is really noticeable, especially on some games like Terminator: Salvation. My Chibi Chaingun comic runs faster on it! (/shameless plug ;) ) www.blackhivemedia.com

I think the 3gs will prove to be a pretty powerful device soon enough. I don't mind the touch screen controls after playing with them for some time now.

HDpurist @ Jul 9th 2009 6:38PM

3G/3GS...not worth it. I'd rather buy the PSP Go.

RavenLord @ Jul 9th 2009 6:58PM

The problem with developing for the iphone is that a new version of it seems to come out every 6 to 8 months. Unless Apple plans on sticking with the current 3GS and completely phase out the old 3G (which really isn't that old) how can one justify splitting development for basically the same hardware. I would wager that another 6 to 8 months from now Apple will unveil the iphone 3GOXS (the virtual mac in your pocket version of the iphone) True the 3GS has a faster processor but it just seems a ridiculous waste of time and money to try and develop for what they're trying to make sound like two completely different platforms. I own a 3G and am pretty happy with it. The games I play on it are simple and fun and work well. Frankly unless Apple pulls out an ultimate version of the iphone with EVERYTHING it should have had to begin with and then some (MMS texts come to mind. better late than never I guess) Flash compatible software, better battery life and a longer shelf life (meaning they won't release another version of it for at least a couple years) the whole idea of development for 3G and 3GS seems counter productive and stupid.