Apple's SDK for the iPhone has developers flocking in droves to develop for the iPhone. Among the many software titles being developed for the iPhone are games - lots and lots of them.
So, naturally, since the iPhone is in reality nothing more, nothing less, than a pocket-sized Mac, running OS X, many people are understandably beginning to ask if any of these hordes of upcoming OS X iPhone games will be finding their way to the Mac desktop?
Will iPhone games increase the gaming count on the Mac?
Macworld recently ask that very question, and stated:
"Developing for the iPhone requires both a Mac and a working knowledge of Cocoa, the Application Programming Interface (API) that Apple uses for Mac OS X, and a Macintosh to develop on. So intuitively, it seems to make sense that developers creating iPhone games might eventually make Mac games too."
Considering how many games could be coming to the iPhone, it would only take a few percentage of them to make a difference on the Mac. But how many games designed for such a small device could actually be translated into Mac games? At this point that is hard to say, but I'm convinced that many of them can and will be.
Spanish game developer, Digital Legends, Unai Landa Bonilla says:
“The problem I see is the size of the content,” Bonilla explained. Most developers creating a game for the iPhone will be generating a limited amount of content—smaller graphics and fewer gameplay levels than many Mac gamers may be expecting."
Yes, it is true that there are differences between developing for the parameters of the iPhone compared to that of the Mac, but in many cases, with just a little tweak here and a little teak here, I'm sure that any size difference in graphics, etc., can be overcome.
Personally, I'm not sure if it is easier to transport a Mac game, such as recently demonstrated with Cro Mag Rally to the iPhone, or if its the other way around? However, I do feel that if desktop games can be scaled downward, then surely to goodness they can also be scaled upward too?
Regarding iPhone games being transported to the Mac, Glenda Adams, Aspyr Media's director of development says:
“That might be what happens....... It’s possible that iPhone games might lead to a new crop of little games for the Mac.”
Personally I think it will not only might happen, but that it will definitely happen! The iPhone SDK is probably the best thing to ever happen in bringing more developers over to the Mac. Like the iPod before it, the iPhone, and its legends of new developers, will accelerate the market share gains of the Mac to even greater heights.
Macworld recently ask that very question, and stated:
"Developing for the iPhone requires both a Mac and a working knowledge of Cocoa, the Application Programming Interface (API) that Apple uses for Mac OS X, and a Macintosh to develop on. So intuitively, it seems to make sense that developers creating iPhone games might eventually make Mac games too."
Considering how many games could be coming to the iPhone, it would only take a few percentage of them to make a difference on the Mac. But how many games designed for such a small device could actually be translated into Mac games? At this point that is hard to say, but I'm convinced that many of them can and will be.
Spanish game developer, Digital Legends, Unai Landa Bonilla says:
“The problem I see is the size of the content,” Bonilla explained. Most developers creating a game for the iPhone will be generating a limited amount of content—smaller graphics and fewer gameplay levels than many Mac gamers may be expecting."
Yes, it is true that there are differences between developing for the parameters of the iPhone compared to that of the Mac, but in many cases, with just a little tweak here and a little teak here, I'm sure that any size difference in graphics, etc., can be overcome.
Personally, I'm not sure if it is easier to transport a Mac game, such as recently demonstrated with Cro Mag Rally to the iPhone, or if its the other way around? However, I do feel that if desktop games can be scaled downward, then surely to goodness they can also be scaled upward too?
Regarding iPhone games being transported to the Mac, Glenda Adams, Aspyr Media's director of development says:
“That might be what happens....... It’s possible that iPhone games might lead to a new crop of little games for the Mac.”
Personally I think it will not only might happen, but that it will definitely happen! The iPhone SDK is probably the best thing to ever happen in bringing more developers over to the Mac. Like the iPod before it, the iPhone, and its legends of new developers, will accelerate the market share gains of the Mac to even greater heights.
Even if the iPhone game developers don't transport iPhone games directly into Mac ones, I'll bet you a 'lick-n-a-stick' that those very same developers will eventually end up trying their hand at developing games specifically for the OS X desktop in addition to their iPhone gaming apps. It's just what developers do. After all, why waste all that knowledge and OS X talent just on the iPhone when you can double your market with just a little extra effort?
As far as I can see, once developers become really versed and comfortable in the in's and out's of OS X development for the iPhone, they, by their very nature as developers, coupled with the Mac's increasingly growing market, will not be able to resist also developing games for the Mac desktop specifically. I think that iPhone games will mean as much, if not more, for the Mac than for the iPhone itself!
So let me state, in conclusion, that in the end, not only will iPhone games result in more games for the Mac desktop, but will result in a steady stream of new Mac games that will become unstoppable!
So, happy gaming, iPhone and Mac users!
As far as I can see, once developers become really versed and comfortable in the in's and out's of OS X development for the iPhone, they, by their very nature as developers, coupled with the Mac's increasingly growing market, will not be able to resist also developing games for the Mac desktop specifically. I think that iPhone games will mean as much, if not more, for the Mac than for the iPhone itself!
So let me state, in conclusion, that in the end, not only will iPhone games result in more games for the Mac desktop, but will result in a steady stream of new Mac games that will become unstoppable!
So, happy gaming, iPhone and Mac users!
And that's my 2 cents 4 this Friday, June 13, 2008.
Image via: TouchArcade
Please vote for this post by clicking the fire button. Thanks!
0 comments:
Post a Comment