Apple looks to hire AAA game developer for in-house iPhone team
Apple is looking to hire a game and media software engineer for its iPhone and iPod touch team, perhaps signaling that the company intends to expand its first-party software offerings.
The listing posted this week is noteworthy because Apple has only released four applications on its iPhone App Store since it first launched, and only one of them -- Texas Hold'em -- is a game. The $4.99 virtual card game was released in 2008.
The advertisement seeks a full-time employee to work at the company's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. Apple is looking for a "passionate gamer" with 3 to 4 years of video game development experience. The person would help design and implement "interactive multimedia experiences" on the iPhone and iPod touch. Only candidates who have shipped "at least one AAA title" are asked to apply.
"The position also requires a creative thinker who can contribute and comment on the design process as well as being flexible enough to aid in all aspects of production such as asset management and able to work to a deadline," the listing reads.
Since the debut of the App Store, games have become a popular component of the experience on the iPhone and iPod touch. Big game publishers like Electronic Arts, id Software and Konami have been flocking to the platform, bringing their own established franchises with them like Madden football and The Sims.
Nintendo, a pioneer of the handheld video game industry, has acknowledged that it must differentiate dedicated gaming devices like the Nintendo DS from all-purpose handhelds like the iPhone if they wish to survive. Games on the App Store tend to run under $10, while most games for the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP cost between $25 and $40.
When it debuted the new 64GB iPod touch with a faster processor in September, Apple again portrayed the hardware as a fun device meant for media and games. The company highlighted a number of high-profile releases including Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed 2 and Gameloft's Nova.
But John Carmack, creator of the classic PC game Doom, recently said he believes that Apple is uncomfortable with the growing popularity of games on the iPhone and iPod touch. He said he believes Apple executives would prefer the hardware to be taken more seriously.
"At the highest level of Apple, in their heart of hearts," Carmack said, "they're not proud of the iPhone being a game machine, they wish it was something else."
But the new job listing from Apple would seem to contradict Carmack's assumption, as Apple appears to be interested in creating more interactive content in-house for the iPhone and iPod touch.
The listing posted this week is noteworthy because Apple has only released four applications on its iPhone App Store since it first launched, and only one of them -- Texas Hold'em -- is a game. The $4.99 virtual card game was released in 2008.
The advertisement seeks a full-time employee to work at the company's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters. Apple is looking for a "passionate gamer" with 3 to 4 years of video game development experience. The person would help design and implement "interactive multimedia experiences" on the iPhone and iPod touch. Only candidates who have shipped "at least one AAA title" are asked to apply.
"The position also requires a creative thinker who can contribute and comment on the design process as well as being flexible enough to aid in all aspects of production such as asset management and able to work to a deadline," the listing reads.
Since the debut of the App Store, games have become a popular component of the experience on the iPhone and iPod touch. Big game publishers like Electronic Arts, id Software and Konami have been flocking to the platform, bringing their own established franchises with them like Madden football and The Sims.
Nintendo, a pioneer of the handheld video game industry, has acknowledged that it must differentiate dedicated gaming devices like the Nintendo DS from all-purpose handhelds like the iPhone if they wish to survive. Games on the App Store tend to run under $10, while most games for the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP cost between $25 and $40.
When it debuted the new 64GB iPod touch with a faster processor in September, Apple again portrayed the hardware as a fun device meant for media and games. The company highlighted a number of high-profile releases including Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed 2 and Gameloft's Nova.
But John Carmack, creator of the classic PC game Doom, recently said he believes that Apple is uncomfortable with the growing popularity of games on the iPhone and iPod touch. He said he believes Apple executives would prefer the hardware to be taken more seriously.
"At the highest level of Apple, in their heart of hearts," Carmack said, "they're not proud of the iPhone being a game machine, they wish it was something else."
But the new job listing from Apple would seem to contradict Carmack's assumption, as Apple appears to be interested in creating more interactive content in-house for the iPhone and iPod touch.
Comments
EDIT: Found this link:
http://www.gameproducer.net/2009/10/...ed-definition/
Seems like it used to mean high quality, now it just means big budget.
What is a AAA title?
Top of the line stuff - games like Call of Duty, Halo, Guitar Hero maybe?
The main criticisms of the iPhone's gaming library is to do with a lack of big titles. Seems Apple will make their own. Will it be in the mould of traditional titles or something totally new? I suspect the latter.
What is a AAA title?
I don't know, but I bet it is not this.
What is a AAA title?
Next step above AA.
http://www.i-mockery.com/blabber/pic...ransformer.jpg
Next step above AA.
That made me smile.
After all, Apple is not exactly the best, most transparent communicators so when you combine that with the low torrent of unhappy developers grumbling about approval process, etc., you run risk of muddying the platform play at same time Android is starting to find its legs.
For what it's worth, I blogged on this exact same scenario when the SDK was rolling out last year. Excerpt: Check out the full post, if interested:
The Scorpion, the Frog and the iPhone SDK
http://bit.ly/1IV1Np
Cheers,
Mark
But the Doom creator said Apple is embarrassed about gaming....
Apple likes to be taken seriously, but also sell well in the consumer space. The two aren't always compatible.
BlackBerry was considered a serious tool for business, but had difficulty selling to anyone else. Now RIM is working to make the BB more "fun" and modern to increase sales without chasing away the corporate suits who made them successful in the first place.
Apple nailed "fun" right away, but are still longing for respect as a serious tool. However, they're not stupid and will milk "fun" for all its worth even if iPhone never achieves the serious reputation they originally hoped it would.
But the Doom creator said Apple is embarrassed about gaming....
The doom creator is a serial moron
gotta love it.
Obviously, no actual data on what Apple is really intending, but the clear risk for Apple ...
I know you think you are some kind of big-time "authority" on Apple but you're just making this stuff up wholesale here. Apple does not "(have) a legacy of co-opting third-party developer innovations" that I've ever noticed or heard about and I've been following them from the beginning.
Like most big companies Apple has done some things that are bad for developers, but developers have screwed over Apple over the years as well. The facts would suggest more that the developers don't generally treat Apple very well, more than the other way around IMO.
I'm also getting tired of you posting here with some spammy link to your opinion site. Be a grown up and pay for your own advertising instead of trying to bootstrap yourself into "pundit" status by posting your ads here for free why don't you?
I find there are many more insightful posters on this forum than you, and they have the advantage of just being regular techies, not someone trying to make a career out of opinionating.
Always amazes me how some people knee jerk to the personal.
I know you think you are some kind of big-time "authority" on Apple but you're just making this stuff up wholesale here. Apple does not "(have) a legacy of co-opting third-party developer innovations" that I've ever noticed or heard about and I've been following them from the beginning.
Like most big companies Apple has done some things that are bad for developers, but developers have screwed over Apple over the years as well. The facts would suggest more that the developers don't generally treat Apple very well, more than the other way around IMO.
I'm also getting tired of you posting here with some spammy link to your opinion site. Be a grown up and pay for your own advertising instead of trying to bootstrap yourself into "pundit" status by posting your ads here for free why don't you?
I find there are many more insightful posters on this forum than you, and they have the advantage of just being regular techies, not someone trying to make a career out of opinionating.