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Is the Apple TV the secret Trojan horse in console gaming?

M

MRORANGE

Member
Is the Apple TV the secret Trojan horse in console gaming?


O0ksU.jpg


Apple TV has been around for a while, mostly used as a media centre for your TV, until Apple decided to extend its functionality with Airplay. At first you could only stream music & video from your iOS but until recently you can now stream iOS games using wifi.

Example of a ipad game running at HD with AirPlay on a tv

Y3n8D.png


It begs the question: would the general consumer get a console if they had a ipad/Apple TV combo ? People would be up for a singular device which they can use as a handheld/home games console in one using a Apple TV to breach the gap into the living room.

The only problem the uptake of the Apple TV is far less than other apple products, but it’s a major threat to console game as was the iphone/ipod to handheld gaming. People didn’t want to carry two devices around with them. The iPhone was the perfect balance for most people, being a mobile phone as well as a handheld console. Compare that to handhelds and only Sony has tried to branch out with the Playstation branded shop for mobile phones.

It’s one of the reasons why Sony & Microsoft had tried to make there devices more media centric they know games just can’t cut it anymore for a games console - we saw the massive revamp of the Xbox GUI and how it puts more on a focus on Bing/Media as well as Gabe Newell’s Steambox project to stop Apple dominating the living room.

You can argue that that console developers would still make games for console, but considering there’s already plans for the iPad to get physical controls it’s not long before the tide changes direction - add to the fact that there are thousands of games (or varying quality) already on the app store there’s very little reason why console games cannot come to the ipad/iphone.


0eZpu.jpg


So right now I can see three things happening for apple to promote the Apple TV to the living room:

- Apple creating a TV which integrates the Apple TV functionality and airplay
- Or considering how damn cheap the Apple TV is that Apple might bundle it with the iPad/iPhone.
- Apple certifying TV manufacturers as Air Play devices
 
C

ClovingWestbrook

Banned
Yes. Been saying this for quite some time. Console manufacturers should be fearful because when this puppy is enabled to connect to the App store, it's going to be a #gamechanger.
 
C

Cheebo

Banned
ClovingSteam said:
Yes. Been saying this for quite some time. Console manufacturers should be fearful because when this puppy is enabled to connect to the App store, it's going to be a #gamechanger.
Click to expand...

The new Apple TV OS is basically screaming that it is going to have apps soon. The OS is now formated for lots of Apps on the home screen.
 
O

Orayn

Member
It honestly might be. If we see a standard controller that's directly compatible with the AppleTV, it could start competing on more traditional fronts in addition to connecting with the existing iOS ecosystem.
 
Alexios

Alexios

Cores, shaders and BIOS oh my!
Is it even remotely as popular as their other devices?

Seems to me it's more likely they'll ditch it and embed the functionality in their iPads and other stuff they have.

Why should I need a separate thingie beyond just a cable or similar just to connect another multi purpose device on a TV?

And it's not even really a "platform" if all it does is show games from your other devices, which are the platform.

And if they were to make it "stand alone" so that you don't need an iPad or whatever to access the games then it'd cost more.
 
B

Busty

Banned
I feel Reverend Lovejoy said it best when he said....

"Short answer, no with an if. Long answer, yes, with a but."
 
W

Wario64

works for Gamestop (lol)
AppleTV has been out for a while and hasn't really done anything for gaming except for Airplay. I'd say the revolution is coming with Apple's "TV"
 
D

Dragon

Banned
Cheebo said:
The new Apple TV OS is basically screaming that it is going to have apps soon. The OS is now formated for lots of Apps on the home screen.
Click to expand...

It has no dedicated hard drive space right? It has a severe dearth of apps. Boxee Box destroys it in all media streaming capabilities. It's just gimped period. I don't know why people think it's a great product honestly.
 
Haunted

Haunted

Member
How does the tech work? Does it transmit all the data via WLAN? No way in hell that would work with my internet connection.
 
O

Orayn

Member
Haunted said:
How does the tech work? Does it transmit all the data via WLAN?


No way in hell that would work with my mid-range internet lol.
Click to expand...

AirPlay works over the local wireless network, so your external internet connection isn't really a factor.
 
Interfectum

Interfectum

Member
Wario64 said:
AppleTV has been out for a while and hasn't really done anything for gaming except for Airplay. I'd say the revolution is coming with Apple's "TV"
Click to expand...

If they beef up the specs a bit on the AppleTV and open it up to the app store I'd say you'd see a lot more shit going on there. For now it seems Apple is still only playing with it.
 
M

MRORANGE

Member
AzureNightmare said:
The creepy Apple cult of GAF sure is swarming on this thread.
Click to expand...

Funny thing is that I'm a PC gamer. I find the Apple TV a mysterious oddball of a device with amazing potential to do things right - compare that to the steps the big 3 have made and you can see which path the way gaming world is heading.

As I've stated at the bottom of my post the potential ways of the device becoming more popular, the most prevalent is that it becomes an "actual TV"
 
C

ClovingWestbrook

Banned
Wario64 said:
AppleTV has been out for a while and hasn't really done anything for gaming except for Airplay. I'd say the revolution is coming with Apple's "TV"
Click to expand...

I have to disagree. The TV will be much more expensive than any console currently available as well as released in the near future. If Apple truly wants to compete with the console manufacturers they need to use a cheap device that can access the app store and the puck is a perfect candidate.
 
A

AzureNightmare

Banned
Interfectum said:
If they beef up the specs a bit on the AppleTV and open it up to the app store I'd say you'd see a lot more shit going on there. For now it seems Apple is still only playing with it.
Click to expand...

And just what makes you think your average Joe consumer's gonna march right out there and buy another AppleTV? Its not the same situation as the iPhone or iPad. The AppleTV is not a new concept.
 
H

Hoo-doo

Banned
It has potential, but I wouldn't really classify it as a "real" gaming console. It'll end up doing far more than just games.

Just plonk an appstore on there, with 1080p TV-oriented apps priced at 99 cents, and they will probably strike gold.
And with the millions and millions of iPads/iPhones already out there, it could very well become a decent platform for casual gaming.
 
O

Orayn

Member
AzureNightmare said:
And just what makes you think your average Joe consumer's gonna march right out there and buy another AppleTV? Its not the same situation as the iPhone or iPad. The AppleTV is not a new concept.
Click to expand...

As it stands, you're probably right. However, if/when we see an "Apple TV" consisting of the same feature set, new media connectivity features, and Siri, all built into a high end LCD? That could shake things up. I'd never buy one, but I'm not going to deny that it would be a big deal.
 
9

90sRobots

Member
Now I can play mobile gaming's countless variations of "drag object around the screen" in stunning HD! CONSOLES ARE DOOMED
 
The Elite

The Elite

BOSS
The streaming to the Apple TV needs to be a standard feature of iOS apps. I'm surprised that hasn't happened yet.
 
JonathanPower

JonathanPower

Member
No. Apple TV it's not the secret trojan horse in console gaming. Apple is not interested in console gaming. You can play great games on apple hardware, but they are not planning to enter in the console war, even if people wish they had this plan.
 
R

Raistlin

Post Count: 9999
Initially I'd say no, but given http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=468791 ... yeah, might be.


Or at least Airplay just might be. Hopefully the next iteration (or the one after that) of iPad/TV will support 1080p wireless video. Once that happens, it's not only an entrant into casual gaming ... but could make HTPC's and other set top boxes moot. If I can wirelessly play full bitrate BD's from my plex server either on my iPad or push it to a TV ... it's hard to fathom why I'd go any other route.






commish said:
No buttons.
Click to expand...
Yeah ... about that ...
 
A

AzureNightmare

Banned
Orayn said:
As it stands, you're probably right. However, if/when we see an "Apple TV" consisting of the same feature set, new media connectivity features, and Siri, all built into a high end LCD? That could shake things up. I'd never buy one, but I'm not going to deny that it would be a big deal.
Click to expand...

What you're describing right there would most likely retail for around $5000 - $8000, knowing Apple's "Apple Tax" upcharge on otherwise relatively inexpensive technology. That is well outside the "impulse buy" comfort zone of those who already have iPads and iPhones.
 
M

MRORANGE

Member
AzureNightmare said:
What you're describing right there would most likely retail for around $5000 - $8000, knowing Apple's "Apple Tax" upcharge on otherwise relatively inexpensive technology. That is well outside the "impulse buy" comfort zone of those who already have iPads and iPhones.
Click to expand...

Hence why the puck will still exist, think of it as the cheaper ipod touch of the ios family.
 
N

nyong

Banned
Nintendo sees it coming...the Wii U provides more or less the exact same functionality as an iPad/Apple TV. Makes me wonder whether the Apple Bluetooth controller is going to be a standalone product, or something you stick the iPad into, ala Wii-U style.
 
D

Derrick01

Banned
None of that is going to take off until they can get bigger and better games in ios. People are nuts if they're going to buy all of that to play some $1 score game, or some 10 year old PC/PS2 port.

But it could easily take off if they do get bigger games.
 
M

Monty Mole

Member
For it to be a trojan horse it'd have to already be successfully breaking in to living rooms across the world. The reality is, so far it's only been moderately successful, at best. And the fact that the vast majority of new TVs have 'smart' functionality built in to them anyway, makes the existing Apple TV seem a little redundant.

The 360 is the most successful connected media-streamer/media-player on the planet right now, and many people don't seem to realise. It was Microsoft that used the games console as a trojan horse.
 
V

Visualante2

Member
Monty Mole said:
For it to be a trojan horse it'd have to already be successfully breaking in to living rooms across the world. The reality is, so far it's only been moderately successful, at best. And the fact that the vast majority of new TVs have 'smart' functionality built in to them anyway, makes the existing Apple TV seem a little redundant.
Click to expand...
I set up my 'rents top of the line Samsung and it's a piece of shit. It doesn't even come with a keyboard. The UI is so fucking slow because it's based of an IR remote which I assume has pause breaks for input. The firmware is up to date and all Samsung can suggest is reinstalling the OS.

Apple and Google both have a huge opportunity to seize the market with good user experiences and reasons to do something other than watch TV. Heaven knows the hardware is capable. It's more about giving people a reason to use it also, the current apps on Samsung are garbage.
 
H

Hoo-doo

Banned
Monty Mole said:
For it to be a trojan horse it'd have to already be successfully breaking in to living rooms across the world. The reality is, so far it's only been moderately successful, at best. And the fact that the vast majority of new TVs have 'smart' functionality built in to them anyway, makes the existing Apple TV seem a little redundant.

The 360 is the most successful connected media-streamer/media-player on the planet right now, and many people don't seem to realise. It was Microsoft that used the games console as a trojan horse.
Click to expand...

The shitty software that comes with modern TV's is incomparable to a AppleTV or any console. Ever tried using it?
 
A

Arklite

Member
Monty Mole said:
The 360 is the most successful connected media-streamer/media-player on the planet right now, and many people don't seem to realise. It was Microsoft that used the games console as a trojan horse.
Click to expand...

I'd agree with this. Sony has always pushed it's consoles as living room multimedia devices, but MSoft ended up making the bigger impact with the 360. The words "apple" and "living room" don't sound synonymous as either MSoft or Sony do with the living room.
 
F

famousmortimer

Banned
Are we supposed to be excited about a dude tilting an ipad to play a crappy racer on a tv? Is this really a threat to *ANYTHING*??


I love my ipad. LOVE IT. But this is not what i want to be doing with it.
 
E

enzo_gt

tagged by Blackace
Monty Mole said:
For it to be a trojan horse it'd have to already be successfully breaking in to living rooms across the world. The reality is, so far it's only been moderately successful, at best. And the fact that the vast majority of new TVs have 'smart' functionality built in to them anyway, makes the existing Apple TV seem a little redundant.

The 360 is the most successful connected media-streamer/media-player on the planet right now, and many people don't seem to realise. It was Microsoft that used the games console as a trojan horse.
Click to expand...
Nail on the head here.

Also, I'm still not sure who exactly buys Apple TVs. It's this weird media middleware kind of thing that doesn't beckon BUY ME like other products. I thought these went the way of the Hi-Fi dodo a long time ago. The entire concept of the Apple TV is redundant to me.
 
S

Syril

Member
I've played an iPad game on a TV with one of those. It didn't run at full framerate and the controls lagged.
 
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