[Macworld]

Post your comments for What Apple can teach Nintendo and Sony here

[fletc3her]

I think the premise of this article is a bit overblown. The iPhone/iPod are becoming a reasonable gaming platform, but I don't think they hold a candle yet to the DS in particular.
I have yet to meet an iPhone game that I actually want to play for more than a few minutes, let alone for many hours. Maybe I'm just not buying the right games, but the ones I've gotten so far are so bad that I don't want to buy any more.
I think the iPhone has a ways to go before it surpasses the DS in terms of game quality. I find the stylus on the DS is actually helpful in playing games since it takes most of my hand off the screen. And, I find the tilt controls on the iPhone too twitchy to be really fun. Using onscreen D-pad is kind of goofy.
What really gets me is that I find the Sudoku in Brain Age easier to use than a couple different Sudoku titles I've tried on the iPhone. Handwriting recognition works pretty well when all you want to recognize are numbers.

[davidagalvan]

Well, let me present myself as an example of the market that iphone gaming will exploit, market that the DS and PSP likely won't reach.
I played plenty of video games growing up, and the occasional computer game in college (starcraft, for example), but I'm definitely not a "gamer" in the sense that I spend much of my free time playing games. In the past ten years, I've probably played through one console game a year (I'm partial to the zelda titles).
Buying a handheld gaming system like the DS or the PSP makes zero sense for me, as i wouldn't play them enough to justify the hassle of carrying them around, even though I ride the bus from work every day. HOWEVER: I always have my cell phone with me, so games on the iPhone has re-awakened my interest in games. I'll play them on the bus or while I'm waiting in line for something, and they are super easy to start and stop quickly on the phone.
Thus, I figure that you'll see a lot more people playing games on their iphones then people playing games on their DS's within a couple of years, though the iphone gamers will likely be less hardcore than the DS gamers.
As for the quality of iphone games, I can't compare to DS or PSP as I don't own those, but I will say I have been very impressed with the games that are now available on the iphone. When you realize that this is a CELL PHONE, and you're able to play a full version of Sim City 3000 on it, for instance, the possibilities seem limitless.
Darren provided a great list of games. I'll add another favorite:
"Chess with Friends"
http://itunes.apple....=295436227&mt=8
Is an excellent correspondence chess game that lets you play chess against real live opponents over Wifi, 3G or EDGE. You can have multiple games going at the same time, and it's non-intrusive in that you just check your game, make a move, than close the app and go on about your day. The next time you have a spare 30 seconds, you check again and make another move. Perfect. I always have at least 3 games going at a time.

[Natrino]

I think both Sony and Nintendo need to remember they have huge back catalogs of titles that they can take advantage of. Sony needs to kick out a lot more PS1 games that can run on PSP and PS3. Nintendo should allow Virtual Console games to sync to the DSi, or insert an SD card with said games and play them on the go.
Nintendo also needs to take advantage of their HUGE selection of Gameboy and Gameboy Advance games, and re-release them as downloads in a store that can be accessed directly from the DSi.
The iPhone can easily survive along side both systems.

[spacest]

the only help nintendo needs is with counting its money... powebook g5 will come out before apple can teach them anything

[nikyambao]

whoa there, pump the bakes. the quality of the games for the iPhone/iPod touch aren't quite up to par with the PSP or maybe the DS......YET. When I say quality I'm meaning the object of the game, graphics, user interface, the fun factor, replay value, sophistication, and multiplayer functions. If you are into games like the kind davidagalvan(above) is describing, then the iPhone/iPod touch would be a very suitable device for your gaming needs. But for games like Grand theft auto, Call of duty, Mario games, any sports games,metal gear,etc....a player would benefit from the hardware and U.I. the PSP or DS offer. Multi-Touch is not a very good input method (for now) for a more sophisticated and fast pace game such as Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, or NBA 2K9. The thumb stick, D-pad, a/b buttons are tried and trued forms of U.I. for games and are still relevant even in the 21st century. Multi-Touch and Accelerometers being used for games, still has some kinks to work out if it wants to go beyond Super Monkey Ball and The Sims. But I will say, the game, Brothers In Arms for the iPhone/iPod touch is great and pushes the iPhone/iPod touch platform in the right direction. As far as price for a game goes, having a $0.99-$10.00 price range is somewhat irrelevant (for now) , people are willing to pay upwards of $50 bucks for a game if its good and entertains them.
What I think it really boils down to is that there is two different gaming markets, the casual gaming market (like your Spore, Tris, Poker, Super Monkey Ball) and the more dedicated gaming market (like your Call of duty, Final Fanasty, Zelda, Need for Speed, Splinter cell). The iPhone/iPod touch has made a really big splash in the casual gaming market and is really becoming the premiere device for that category, but i think the iPhone/iPod touch needs to evolve a bit more if it really wants break into dedicated gaming side of things. As of right now, iPhone/iPod touch as a gaming device is headed down the right path. I don't think it is a real threat to the PSP/DS.....for now, but that can totally change in a few years.....but for now, "What can Nintendo and Sony teach Apple?"
I just hope Apple doesn't pull a Microsoft on us and loose sight of what the iPhone is.....a phone/mini Mac. I much rather have the iPhone evolve as a communication device Mac than a toy.

PS. the app store is filled with games.........but where is the killer app?...where is the app that solves the some of the iPhones short comings?
Why Steve!!? The app store can be really bad a , it can be as revolutionary as the iPhone it self, it can totally change the way people get software for the Mac/Pc. But No, Apple throws all these restrictions on the developers, and they end up with an app that crashes....still..... at iPhone 2.2 Steve Jobs, let me run the company for a week. Ok i'll shut up now. I'm gonna go have a wrestling match with my iPhone 3G, iPod touch, and PSP.

[Rhywun]

I find the accelerometer and touch screen just as overblown as the Wii-mote as an input device for games. They're fun for awhile, until you realize that the old tried-and-true buttons were better. And the iPhone doesn't have buttons.

[trader]

Here is my point of view, as a consumer. I have 3 kids, ages 6, 8, and 10. None of us are serious gamers. We have a wii, and 18 months later, we still play it more than I expected by now. I wanted to get them each a handheld game system too. Looked at what was available. Asked friends who have each. The consistent answer I got was "DS is THE ONE for gaming". I didn't fall for it though. Even though my friends are sharp folks, I felt they didn't see it like I do. The price of ipod touch games are so low, and the quality and addictiveness, are everything we could want. Even if I had to pay $300 each for the touch's, I would have (got them free when buying 3 mac's). The licensing apple has in place is ideal (up to 5 devices for each purchase). Plus the price is higher per game on psp/ds. Instead, I have lots of free and cheap games that we all love. I've paid for some of the $10 games. Some great, some just okay. But had I paid $30+, I'd be mad about it. I just saw the touch as our best option overall, and none of us has been disappointed. For road trips, I load a few new games on them, and they have movies, tv shows, music, etc. Makes an 8 hour trip very pleasant. :)

[Schneb]

What Nintendo could teach Apple.
Apple should have been the first with what today is called the Wii.

[Schneb]

I agree with you trader. The iPod Touch is great for keeping the attention of my 9 and 14 year-old. If the games do not do it, the widescreen movies will.