iPhone: Where are the buttons for games, Steve?

Jeff Bakalar | Sep 10, 2009

But how do you plan to accurately deke? (Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET)

First, let's get a few things straight. In terms of casual gaming, you cannot beat what Apple has to offer. There are countless quick and easy games that fit well on the Apple platform. No one is booting up a PSP game for the 15 minutes you'd sit in a waiting room or the time standing in line at the deli counter. So while that section of the gaming market seems sealed up, the same cannot be said for the more hardcore action/adventure and shooter games.

The way it currently stands, controlling such games on the iPhone or iPod touch is a frustrating mess. Players must navigate using a virtual D-Pad which isn't able to provide the accuracy or physical feeling an actual control pad offers on the PSP and DS.

We're delighted to see franchises like Madden and Assassin's Creed head to the platform, we just wish there was a better way to control these titles. Until that day comes, iPod touch and iPhone games will be stuck under a glass ceiling of shake, tilt, and tapping games.

There's no denying that Apple has the upper hand here. No one wants to carry around three devices when one can handle everything. As we've written before, Apple can easily take over the portable gaming market with just a few moves. The first step towards that goal--whether it be an add-on or hardware change--is to add buttons.

Via Crave CNET

Filed under: Games and Gear, Mobile Phones, Music & Play
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Devlin

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Devlin says...
Or Sony could add a capacitive touchscreen to the PSP Go. Now there's an idea! That would at least broaden the appeal of the PSP Minis that are meant to take on the dollar games of the Apple App Store.

Sep 10, 2009 16:32

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vin8tan

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vin8tan says...
Oh, devlin, very true. Sony has the ability to take control of that sector of the gaming market if they can sit down and combine forces and not try kill each other (internally) SE and PS have the hardware and software to come up with a winning product. Take the Aino, further by allowing. People buy games easily of the psp network over the air.

Sep 11, 2009 00:20

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