Classic/Casual Gaming Coming To iPod
For those of you that don’t pay attention to all the Mac happenings in the tech world, Apple had a flurry of entertainment-related announcements today. In addition to updated iPods, a new version of iTunes, and a sneak peek at a video set-top box (my personal favorite), Apple also annouced its entry into the portable gaming market.
As of today, Apple is starting out with a small handful of old school games that are able to be played on the current iPods and iPod Nanos. Titles include retro gaming favorites like Pac-Man and Tetris in addition to puzzlers like Bejweled and Vortex.
Pricing is at a very reasonable $5 which makes it an interesting alternative to a $30 Nintendo DS or Sony PSP game.
I’m curious how the games control with the limited dial of the iPod. From the video clips on Apple’s Games page, the quality looks top notch, but I don’t know how intuitive they will be to play.
Personally, I only have the screenless iPod shuffle, so I can’t give these a try. If you have an color-screened iPod and have $5 to spare, try one of them out and let us know what you think
6 Comments:
Yawn. More toys for rich kids. I love that price point: $5 for the game, $500 for the “system.”
I don’t think anybody is going to buy an iPod just for the games. It’s just a handy bonus.
Besides, an Nano starts at $150 and the full iPods for for $250-$350, not $500
Just a note. Those games are for fifth-generation Big iPods only. It says so at the end of the Games page. And if you check out each iPod’s page you’ll notice that the games are advertised only on the Big iPod.
I wonder if a more elaborate iPod could be in the works (with better game controls?)…
That’s right. These games are not for the Nano.
Speaking as a past iPod Mini owner, (Before the DS was for sale) it was fun to occasionally break out the iPod to play a game of “brick” or “Solitaire”. These games are just a natural extension of that functionality.
And don’t listen to Mr. “I hate iPods”. The only thing that engenders more fanboy-ism (pro and con) than video games, is Apple.
So they make you buy an iPod, then show off a smaller one. You sell the old one to get the new one and hen they update the old one? Bastards.
There’s a cute spoof of the Ipod Shuffle news at:
AmericanInventorSpot.com
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