Comments on: Will iPhone Gaming Ever Really Compete in the Mobile Gaming Market?

By: SkateNY

SkateNY — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:08:54 +0000

And it’s so much more than games:

Retronyms Recorder Exceeds 200,000 Sales in iPhone App Store

Last update: 2:10 p.m. EST Nov. 6, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 06, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The Retronyms announced today that their iPhone App, Recorder, crossed the 200,000 sales milestone. This announcement comes right on the heels of Apple’s announcement that the App store as a whole, including both paid and free Apps, reached 200,000,000 downloads on October 22.

Zach Saul, a co-founder of the Retronyms, said, “We’re excited to be able to announce this milestone, because as far as we know, we’re the first paid app to get this many sales. For all of the people out there on the Internet trying to guess what the free/paid split is in the App Store, this gives you an idea.”
Dan Walton, another co-founder of the Retronyms, said, “We designed Recorder to be as versatile as possible. However, musicians have specific recording needs. Because of this we worked with Sonoma Wire Works to build a portable four-track for the iPhone and 2nd generation iPod Touch. A four-track recorder allows you to record one track at a time while listening to the other three. The idea is that musicians can capture their music no matter where inspiration hits.”

Recorder is an iPhone App that allows iPhone and iPod touch 2G users to record and play back audio, email it from their phone and copy it via wifi to any computer. It was the first recording app to support email and wifi sync. Further information, including a demo video, is available at Recorder’s website, http://recordertheapp.com. Recorder is available in the App Store.

FourTrack is an iPhone App that allows musicians to create multi-layered songs on their iPhone. It provides the ability to individually fade and pan each track, and it includes the standard Retronyms wifi-sync module, letting musicians copy the individual tracks to their computer for editing in a DAW. Further information about FourTrack is available at http://www.sonomawireworks.com/iphone/. FourTrack is available in the App Store.

By: SkateNY

SkateNY — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:38:45 +0000

Uhm…has no one here noticed that the iPhone/iPod is already a huge player in the portable gaming arena?

Your opinions and mine mean little when the groundswell of consumers has already spoken.

By: BoyWONDER

BoyWONDER — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 04:45:42 +0000

Yes, it would be your preference based on what type of gaming experience you’d be going after. The overall point is that gaming (especially handheld devices) is still not that universal. The iPhone/ipod touch experience is still pretty blah when compared to the psp or ds. it’s just the app store that makes it so amazing, or “better” as according to some people.

By: metree

metree — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 02:02:42 +0000

umm…so you say “If you want one kind of gaming, you get the PSP, another kind, you get the DS, and for casual gaming while on the toilet, you get the iPhone or iPod touch.” Wouldnt that still be your preference?

By: BoyWONDER

BoyWONDER — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:11:42 +0000

Wait, would that screen be all touch screen? Or would it have an actual directional pad? Or PSP like controls?

By: BoyWONDER

BoyWONDER — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:10:56 +0000

I don’t think it’s a matter of preference like u say in the article. There is no preference. If you want one kind of gaming, you get the PSP, another kind, you get the DS, and for casual gaming while on the toilet, you get the iPhone or iPod touch.

let me explain though, the iphone and ipod touch have the app store, which sets them apart. so, the above sentence is strictly for gaming. there’s just so many angle to this argument, it’s ridiculous. every time i want to make a statement i need to make a disclaimer on the other side of the argument in order to protect myself from the blood sniffing commenters.

By: Tedious

Tedious — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:04:11 +0000

The iPhone will never be a gamer’s first pick. A Gamer wants a machine that was designed for games FIRST. That said: The iPhone will wipe the floor with the DS and the PSP. Why? There are more non-gamers who will buy a game for a non-gaming phone than there are gamers who will buy a “better gaming machine”.

To a gamer, the iPhone is subpar, but for all those non-gamers out there, it’s a darned fun machine.

By: Chad

Chad — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:43:03 +0000

I agree that a 5″-6″ screen to take this market head on would be a great idea, but I wouldn’t expect something along these lines any time soon. All I know is, if it happens, I’d be the first in line to buy one.

By: Alfiejr

Alfiejr — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:15:54 +0000

well, it’s pretty obvious more demanding games that need a larger screen and button controls (even if on a touch screen) will not do well on the iPhone. but a slew of casual games do great. i know hard core gamers hate to admit it, but there are just as many of us casual gamers out there too. the iPhone is going to run away with that portable market, just like the Wii is wiping out the PS3 and XBox in the family game market.

And if Apple is really smart, they will add a larger version of the iPod Touch to the lineup, say with a 5″ or 6″ screen. that would directly take on the PSP and DS for all types of gaming, and computer netbooks too for light duty computing. well see …

By: James Katt

James Katt — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:43:24 +0000

If the revenue for games on the iPhone rivals the revenue of games for the PSP, THEN the iPhone is competing in the Mobile Gaming Market.

It’s not about the quality so much as the PROFIT for developers that makes the iPhone competitive.

For casual gaming, with so many games in the $2 to $10 price range, the iPhone can’t be beat.
For impulse buying of games, the iPhone can’t be beat.

Again, for developers, it is THE PROFIT which will make the difference.

To this end, the iPhone (with already 1700 games) is JUST GETTING STARTED when it comes to competing in the mobile gaming market. As a competitor, it is the 600 pound gorilla standing in the room, with Sony and Nintendo.

But then, THERE IS ROOM FOR EVERYONE.

But then, nearly everyone who owns one will be carrying the iPhone in their pocket, ready to buy a game at any time. Whereas, those with a PSP will keep it elsewhere, and not readily available.