[Macworld]

Post your comments for In defense of iPod gaming here

[akira34]

WHEN will any games be offered for the iPod Touch????????? Every game I've seen for iPod's doesn't list compatibility with the touch... That's just f'd up... Then again this IS an apple product we're talking about. Where they have a stranglehold on what you can do to/with it...

[Peter Cohen]

I guess you haven't been paying attention to all this brouhaha about the iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK). Apple has said all along that the iPhone and iPod touch will be getting a software update at the same time that will enable you to install applications, games and other software on the devices. The update will be delivered for free in June, for iPhone users, while iPod touch users will need to pay a nominal fee to get the software.

[akira34]

'Nominal fee' is 100% BS!!!!! I'm tired of getting raped every time there's a decent 'software update' from apple on the iPod touch... I wouldn't mind paying for a game, after I've tried it out of course. BUT, to have to PAY just to have the chance to do what every other iPod can do is F'd up... Then again, most people won't care and will continue to pay apple for things that should be free... Just like the software update that comes with the new version of the iPod touch that people with older ones HAD to purchase in order to get...

[Artifex]

If you're feeling slighted financially by Apple, then don't pay the nominal fee, your device will still do exactly what it did when you purchased it. But don't think for a second that the iPhone users aren't paying for software and 'OS' updates for their products, and that only the iPod Touch users are supporting the entire development cycle. iPhone users are paying under the installment plan with a portion of their monthly contract fees going back to Apple to continue to develop the software. I was under the impression that Apple actually paid their software engineers, and I'll just make the assumption that many of the outside developers involved with this massive undertaking pay theirs as well (though I could be wrong). So continuing with this twisted logic, I'll then guess that the software to enable Exchange ActiveSync, new mail features, App Store, game features and whatever else was listed, won't magically fall out of the ceiling of some person's office in Cupertino and land in the iTunes store ready for you to download for free. Sorry.

[Peter Cohen]

akira34 said:

'Nominal fee' is 100% BS!!!!!

Actually it's not BS.

We explained this back in February. Ever since the Sarbanes Oxley Act was passed, accounting rules for companies like Apple have gotten more complicated and these sorts of actions have been the result.

[akira34]

I liken it to apple charging for updates to the computer OS... Oh, you want 10.5.3, updating from 10.5.x, well, you HAVE to pay $xx to get it... Doesn't matter how many stability issues it brings to the table. Doesn't matter that it was free before... "Sar-box" 'rules' make it required... 110% BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a cop-out for apple to rip people off...

[Kyle_Varnell]

"Sar-box" 'rules' make it required... 110% BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a cop-out for Apple to rip people off...
So following the law is a cop-out to you?

[natmusak]

akira34,
Apple, nor anyone else, is holding a gun to your head to buy an iPod touch, nor pay for its occasional updates that include applications, which...cost money to develop, thus requiring a nominal fee.
Does Microsoft have a stranglehold on the Xbox 360's OS, or Sony over the PSP's software, or does Nintendo have a monopoly over the Wii's operating system?
Can you see how that argument doesn't make sense?

[Peter Cohen]

Your irrational ranting is getting tiresome. Move along, Akira34.

[choiceweb]

It really depends on the game. Some games are made for the ipods clickwheel and single button like Tetris, Solitaire, & Peggle. Sonic the Hedghog looks beautiful, but it is difficult to control because the ipod wasn't built to click the select button and the play pause next buttons at the same time like a typical consule gamepad. I'm okay with $5.00 a game so far. It makes me just choose a few games to own right now for my infrequent plane trips.