I agree with almost everything you said to DDX.

But the main difference between courting developers for iPod/iPhone and a home console…it takes LOAD more money to make those games. It also has a higher sell point to break just even. So that’s what he could mean. Making a profit on mobile devices aren’t that hard. But for a home console game…you’ll have to sell a WHOLE lot.

And what do you mean they don’t have the foundation for console gaming. I just gave you a bunch of examples of how they are, in fact, building a solid foundation for the gaming market.

Lastly, how can you say Apple would have to court every developer? They already have them developing for the iPod and iPhone.

If we look at Apple, they dont have the foundations for console gaming currently. If they made a console, its going to be priced high. Gamers will not pay that price, (see PS3 and how it fared at its exorbitant prices, and how the sales shot thru the roof when its price dropped significantly) and we know Apple isnt going to sell for cheap.

If they did move into the gaming world, they would need to court every developer that is on almost every on console to come to them (sans first party GD)on an unproven system. Microsoft did the exact same thing and it cost them BILLIONS to do so, and only now are they starting to see the rewards.

1. Apple hired Richard Teversham from the entertainment division of Microsoft. The 15-year Microsoft vet most recently headed strategy for the Xbox group in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

2. That’s on the heels of hiring Bob Dreblin, the creator of Nintendo’s Game Cube CPU, from AMD, as well as former top IBM chip design manager Mark Papermaster, and former AMD graphics chip CTO Raja Koduri.

This is incredibly out of step for Apple, which has generally looked to getting chips from traditional suppliers. In fact, some years ago I wrote a piece about the iPod design chain, because most of the hardware design was done by others, with Apple using their reference design and adding the industrial engineering and interface. But to hire people at the top of the chip designing game is hardly business as usual. There is something big brewing at Apple.

1. a. Patent applications. First up, application 20080076495, titled “Allowing Media and Gaming Environments to Effectively Interact and/or Affect Each Other.” It’s about having gaming and media environments really interacting. b. Then there is the February 2008 patent application 20080052704, “Media Management System for Management of Games Acquired from a Media Server.” This is all about incorporating downloadable games into a super iTunes system. c. In January 2008, Apple also submitted patent application 20080018616, “Techniques for Interactive Input to Portable Electronic Devices” – a little dry sounding unless you start reading the contents. d. In December 2007, there was also application 20070279394, “Techniques for Interactive Input to Portable Electronic Devices,” which also discussed more intuitive ways of interactive with a game using a touchscreen.

Long winded, I know, sorry. But all of this is not consistent with Apple merely creating games for the app store.

Perhaps they’re looking at their new iPad Tablet and think that it needs some games to go along with iTunes and Magazine/Newspaper subscriptions. Plus, I wouldn’t be shocked if they come out with a bluetooth controller for it as well, which could be re-purposed for the iPhone, AppleTV and the Mac, since accelerometer-based games would not work as well on a Tablet with a 10″+ screen.

See, we’re total opposites, lmao. I only love iMacs. But everything else is a ‘meh’. With a TOTAL hate for iPods (iPhone gets my nod…just personally, I hate the “have to jailbreak” mentality for basic customization or sideloading of apps).

But the App Store on mobile devices and gaming consoles are two different things. I just don’t think you can introduce a gaming system then say “Well we’re only going to let certain games on…and only those games. And they won’t be anywhere else”.

Gaming just doesn’t work like that when you’re talking full fledged home consoles.

But we shall see, things might change. I mean…as I said, if they pull it off and make a fantastic gaming console. Then kudos, I’ll be in line for it as long as it has the games I like.

But for right now I just can’t see it.

For the iPod/iPhone end…I still don’t see them being a major threat to Sony/Nintendo…because until they can offer at LEAST an attachment of sorts for hardware buttons (those shoulder buttons are very useful for most action/fighting games) it just won’t be more than a “hobby”.

As SaggyBalls has stated…if they are indeed making a console, I just don’t see it at all for them. Simply for the reason that gaming consoles doesn’t fit Apple. It wouldn’t go well. Apple likes to keep tight control and lock out things.

Gaming consoles, unless they’re exclusives, are very cross platform. Have an even larger dedicated/brand alliance to them. It just doesn’t seem like a market the Jobs-ster would like or thrive in.

It seems like Jobs would go for a gaming platform with all exclusive content. And in the gaming industry, where exclusives are dwindling down each day…it just doesn’t go.

If they did make a system, and adhered to the normal route of gaming system, but put a twist on it like the Wii did…then hey. I’d actually be in line to buy it…