Game developer PopCap eyes Apple's iPhone
Having received a phenomenal response to a Web-based version of its "Bejeweled" game for the iPhone, PopCap now has its sights set on developing additional games that would run natively on the Apple handset, a company representative said this week.
Speaking to Reuters, PopCap's mobile business development director Andrew Stein said over 100,000 people have already tried out the Web-based version of its "Bejeweled" title, which was released as a "proof of concept" game for the iPhone just three weeks ago.
Although that figure pales in comparison to the 10 million copies of the game that have been sold for other devices, it's still pretty good considering that only a few hundred thousand iPhones are believed to have been sold thus far, Reuters reported.
"There are a lot of passionate Mac users here in the company. They looked at the iPhone and thought this would be really cool to do 'Bejeweled' on," Stein said. "We don't typically make announcements about what's in the pipeline, but based on the success of 'Bejeweled', we're looking pretty closely at the iPhone."
PopCap isn't the only game developer reported to be expressing interest in the iPhone. Electronic Arts (EA), which recently renewed a bond with Apple's Mac platform, said it sees the handset as an ideal platform for casual games.
"We're huge believers in the iPhone and believe that's going to be a viable market going forward," said Travis Boatman, vice president of worldwide studios for the mobile division of EA. "It has an amazing interface for games and there are lots of beautiful things you can do with that touch interface."
Boatman, however, acknowledged that Apple's initial priority with the iPhone is to stabilize the platform at its core before branching out into new areas, similar to the way it handle the iPod during its infancy.
"The first few iPods didn't support games but eventually they did," he said.
Reuters' report on the matter arrives just two weeks after the New York Post ran a similar column on the prospect of iPhone games, in which it cited sources who implied Apple was setting itself up for a showdown with Nintendo.
Speaking to Reuters, PopCap's mobile business development director Andrew Stein said over 100,000 people have already tried out the Web-based version of its "Bejeweled" title, which was released as a "proof of concept" game for the iPhone just three weeks ago.
Although that figure pales in comparison to the 10 million copies of the game that have been sold for other devices, it's still pretty good considering that only a few hundred thousand iPhones are believed to have been sold thus far, Reuters reported.
"There are a lot of passionate Mac users here in the company. They looked at the iPhone and thought this would be really cool to do 'Bejeweled' on," Stein said. "We don't typically make announcements about what's in the pipeline, but based on the success of 'Bejeweled', we're looking pretty closely at the iPhone."
PopCap isn't the only game developer reported to be expressing interest in the iPhone. Electronic Arts (EA), which recently renewed a bond with Apple's Mac platform, said it sees the handset as an ideal platform for casual games.
"We're huge believers in the iPhone and believe that's going to be a viable market going forward," said Travis Boatman, vice president of worldwide studios for the mobile division of EA. "It has an amazing interface for games and there are lots of beautiful things you can do with that touch interface."
Boatman, however, acknowledged that Apple's initial priority with the iPhone is to stabilize the platform at its core before branching out into new areas, similar to the way it handle the iPod during its infancy.
"The first few iPods didn't support games but eventually they did," he said.
Reuters' report on the matter arrives just two weeks after the New York Post ran a similar column on the prospect of iPhone games, in which it cited sources who implied Apple was setting itself up for a showdown with Nintendo.
Comments
That would kick ass.
-Clive
The program installer also just developed works very well, and is fairly easy to install. Before too long it will have a GUI added, so that the few, simple Terminal steps needed won't be a turnoff.
I don't know if Apple can, or will, attempt to stop all of this, or whether they are allowing it, to use as a marketing tool to judge interest.
The could also be using it as an excuse to allow these programs that they said they wouldn't, and then blame the unauthorized programs if the system becomes unstable.
If they can't, or won't, stop it, then shortly we will see the third party developer industry grow up around the iPhone, just as we all want it to.
The independent SDK being developed, and that has already resulted in at least one GUI based program, despite its infancy, would tend to indicate that companies won't have to wait for Apple if Apple refuses to get involved with their own SDK.
The program installer also just developed works very well, and is fairly easy to install. Before too long it will have a GUI added, so that the few, simple Terminal steps needed won't be a turnoff.
I don't know if Apple can, or will, attempt to stop all of this, or whether they are allowing it, to use as a marketing tool to judge interest.
The could also be using it as an excuse to allow these programs that they said they wouldn't, and then blame the unauthorized programs if the system becomes unstable.
If they can't, or won't, stop it, then shortly we will see the third party developer industry grow up around the iPhone, just as we all want it to.
they can port the megatouch games to the iphone.
http://www.meritgames.com/
Can't wait to get a native version of Bejeweled. ZZZZzzzzz,,,,.....
Let's talk to Nintendo about creating a version of Elite Beat Agents... that's fun.
Bejeweled??? Let's just get solitaire while we're at it.
they can port the megatouch games to the iphone.
http://www.meritgames.com/
Sure! Why not.
Pretty slow day in Appleville.
Can't wait to get a native version of Bejeweled. ZZZZzzzzz,,,,.....
Let's talk to Nintendo about creating a version of Elite Beat Agents... that's fun.
Bejeweled??? Let's just get solitaire while we're at it.
Hey! I LIKE Bejeweled!
Boatman, however, acknowledged that Apple's initial priority with the iPhone is to stabilize the platform at its core before branching out into new areas, similar to the way it handle the iPod during its infancy.
"The first few iPods didn't support games but eventually they did," he said.
Reuters' report on the matter arrives just two weeks after the New York Post ran a similar column on the prospect of iPhone games, in which it cited sources who implied Apple was setting itself up for a showdown with Nintendo.
I think it's safe to assume that Apple wants to stabilize the platform first. As a matter of fact Steve J kind of said it himself a while ago. And he also implied that it was in software that the iPhone would eventually revolutionize. Apple will start selling or giving away software first and later games.
As for Nintendo... I guess the iPhone is somewhat as capable as the Nintendo DS, I don't know if it's got dual processors like the DS, but the iPhone relies on a touch screen only input which limits the kind of gameplay possible. They can't really compete on the same ground. I'm convinced the iPhone would make a great gaming device though. Especially games with a low entrance level, for people that aren't used to play games with a lot of buttons etc.