I would also believe it will be this.
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Rumor: Apple-related gaming announcement on Friday?
- Thread starter chadskin
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I would also believe it will be this.
SuperPac
Member
I can't recall Apple making a Friday announcement before. My guess is some big game series or thing will be announced as coming to iOS. Store updates on Thursday with the week's new games (generally) and as early as Friday you might have some big publisher announcing something for the following week.
infiniteloop
Member
seems the most likely if its anything. still don't see why that would be announced on a Friday.
Vyse The Legend
Member
Considering Apple didn't send out press invites for an event of any kind, this is likely complete bullshit or just an acquisition.
I think their earnings call is today. If an acquisition announcement is coming, they will hint at it today.
Otherwise, this reeks of a nobody stirring the rumor mill on Twitter for chuckles.
In my perfect world I can play all my games on the Apple ecosystem. Apple could buy Nintendo and Sony and I'd be a happy camper
You know, if you don't like video games there is an OT part to this board...
Baron_Calamity
Member
Maybe they are doing something with game center to make it less annoying?
mugurumakensei
Member
apple to officially adopt windows 10 for all future mac pcs.
infiniteloop
Member
In my perfect world I can play all my games on the Apple ecosystem. Apple could buy Nintendo and Sony and I'd be a happy camper
Apple buying Nintendo would be my dream tech acquisition. I can't see Apple spending that amount of money on anything though and pretty sure nintendo wouldn't let it happen lol
I don't think Apple is interested in buying a software company, to be honest. What they usually do is buy hardware companies to enhance their products which in turn enables others to deliver software making use of these new features.
As VR/AR is of intense interest right now (Facebook bought Oculus, MS has HoloLens, Google has Google Glass, Samsung has GearVR) I could see an acquisition in that business. One possible option for me remains Razer. Like I said earlier, the Razer CEO loves Apple and Razer has just shown off an open-source VR headset at CES:
As a lot of gamers love Razer, them being bought by Apple would certainly ensure a bloodbath.
As VR/AR is of intense interest right now (Facebook bought Oculus, MS has HoloLens, Google has Google Glass, Samsung has GearVR) I could see an acquisition in that business. One possible option for me remains Razer. Like I said earlier, the Razer CEO loves Apple and Razer has just shown off an open-source VR headset at CES:
And it has developed a controller suited for VR, too:
As a lot of gamers love Razer, them being bought by Apple would certainly ensure a bloodbath.
Ghost_Messiah
Member
Your theory actually makes a hell of a lot of sense. You raise some good and interesting points. I agree that Apple's more into hardware than software in terms of outright acquisitions. Razer would also align with the sentiment and hint of the tweet too. Razer is also a far more realistic possibility than something like Nintendo.
Razer acquisition announcement incoming?
Well this is the most reasonable theory in this thread yet.
infiniteloop
Member
yup
gaming_noob
Member
I really hope they didn't buy Playstation or Nintendo.
Apple patents a bunch of snap-on game controllers and keyboards
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...hone-game-controller-and-keyboard-accessories
Seems like such an obvious idea, but about time.
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...hone-game-controller-and-keyboard-accessories
Seems like such an obvious idea, but about time.
infiniteloop
Member
Apple patents a bunch of snap-on game controllers and keyboards
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...hone-game-controller-and-keyboard-accessories
Seems like such an obvious idea, but about time.
you can already buy such a thing (albeit not made by apple)
I'm afraid you've all interpreted his tweet incorrectly. He's referring to cuts at AOL and outlets like Engadget (tech), TUAW (Apple) and Joystiq (games). Hence the "bloodbath" reference.
http://recode.net/2015/01/26/aol-likely-to-shutter-gaming-site-joystiq-in-larger-content-cleanup/
Apple is not going to announce something major on a Friday as part of a press conference that wasn't telegraphed weeks in advance.
http://recode.net/2015/01/26/aol-likely-to-shutter-gaming-site-joystiq-in-larger-content-cleanup/
Apple is not going to announce something major on a Friday as part of a press conference that wasn't telegraphed weeks in advance.
badcrumble
Member
Aaand scene.
Ghost_Messiah
Member
Target: Ghost_Messiah's hype levels. Torpedoes fired. Hype levels destroyed.
Why would he say "mark it on your calendar and you'll see" when it's related to layoffs, though? Kinda odd expression because you usually mark a date on your calendar when you're looking forward to something.
If it didn't make my iPhone look so ugly I would buy one, like the poster above said hopefully Apple buys them and can design something that looks better.Not yet ...
Well there we go.
infiniteloop
Member
lol, oh well. dude works for TUAW.
Ghost_Messiah
Member
Yeah game, set and match. His position of employment would also confirm why he and he alone is privy to such information that no-one else reported on and seemed to know.
These Twitter hype threads always end up in disappointment.
CrossTrigger
Member
My bet is a new Apple TV box complete with app store access and a controller. Yay.... lol
touche
TheMasterGoblin
Member
The only major announcements that Apple makes are early in the week and press invites are almost 2 weeks before the date.
Anything else is at most a hardware refresh, executive hiring/firing, or a buyout of a company.
Set any (or none) expectations accordingly.
Anything else is at most a hardware refresh, executive hiring/firing, or a buyout of a company.
Set any (or none) expectations accordingly.
deltatheta
Member
I don't think that's particularly ugly, but it does look really uncomfortable.
immortal-joe
Member
Any more smoke to this fire? Not very interested with Only USA today making noise. No offense, just don't feel their interests in the industry matches mine.
badcrumble
Member
Guys.
We already know what this is about. Media layoffs.
Thread should probably be closed tbh :-/
We already know what this is about. Media layoffs.
Thread should probably be closed tbh :-/
LyleLanley
Banned
Well this is a depressing conclusion to this thread.
deltatheta
Member
Huh, what a weird turn of events.
LyleLanley
Banned
GankzyMcfly
Member
deltatheta
Member
Sorry, I realized that I missed a few posts and didn't want to leave a pointless post here. You got me.
Ghost_Messiah
Member
All we have are theories guys. There's no hard confirmation yet on anything we're speculating about. The Razer acquisition is still possible as are the media layoffs which at the moment seems to be the most likely scenario. I say we keep this thread active and alive until Friday rolls round and we find out what the news really is. Interestingly all the news outlets that sourced this guy's tweets have speculated at a megaton sized gaming announcement; speculating that Apple is "seriously getting into gaming" and so on.
My guess is the media layoffs still but there's an element of doubt because the news is just so minimal how could that theoretically cause a blood bath?
Just think the guy was hinting at something more substantial by the sound of his tweet. We'll know soon!
My guess is the media layoffs still but there's an element of doubt because the news is just so minimal how could that theoretically cause a blood bath?
Just think the guy was hinting at something more substantial by the sound of his tweet. We'll know soon!
The blood bath isn't the response to the "news," it's the mass layoff of staff at several websites.
TheSlySoul
Member
Oh, I get it now. Apple and gaming fans separately.
That makes sense now.
Yep, nothing...
Like I said above, why is that something you'd mark on your calendar, though? Hardly positive/surprising/exciting news one can look forward to.
Ghost_Messiah
Member
Yeah I think the difficulty is his tweet was so intentionally cryptic it's near impossible to truly decipher and interpret his true meaning. You could take his comment in so many different ways for example. Hope hard confirmation of what this precisely is arrives soon.
Dreams-Visions
Member
I don't expect this to be much more than Apple announcing the number of games sold through the App Store hitting some record landmark, stating iOS is the best place to play mobile games, etc.
Perhaps announcing a few iOS exclusive games as well.
Big numbers they can put on a Keynote presentation, and maybe a game compilation video to remind everyone iOS is the far superior mobile phone gaming platform.
/curtains
Perhaps announcing a few iOS exclusive games as well.
Big numbers they can put on a Keynote presentation, and maybe a game compilation video to remind everyone iOS is the far superior mobile phone gaming platform.
/curtains
This is true. Simple statistics would suggest that this time it is bound to finally be a huge megaton.
Bandai Pippin ATMARK \ @WORLD
In the early 1990s, the price and interest in personal computers was not as it used to be. Many companies were converting their devices into so called video game consoles in order to capitalize on the industry. Apple also fell into this category. They took their second generation Power Macintosh, slimmed it down to a console like device and then began to license out the technology similar to what was being done by a company called 3DO. The first company to license the Apple Pippin technology was Japanese toy and anime publisher Bandai. "Pippin" technology made its debut in Japan in December 1995.
Originally Apple and Bandai had intended the Pippin to be a game system that would support other computer functions. Basically, this machine is a Macintosh computer at heart. With a PowerPC 603 RISC CPU, this machine had the potential to produce some amazing graphics and control that could have rivaled the PlayStation had it been properly supported.
While its true that Apple planned on marketing this system as a game machine, it was also going to support a large variety of educational software. The apparent failure of the 3DO scared Apple into rethinking this strategy. Apple and Bandai switched gears and decided that this system would be sold as an internet device. At this same time, the Internet was really taking off. Anyone who introduced a product without an internet spin on it would be largely ignored. So, Apple and Bandai re-spun the Pippin as an internet appliance that also played games. That decision didn't work either, because, by the time the Pippin was ready to go, PC prices had dropped even more.
The Pippin simply wasn't enough of a price break from a real computer and the public wasn't ready to surf the web from their television sets. In a last ditch effort, almost unnoticed by everyone, the Pippin was marketed as a set-top-box. Basically, an all-in-one system that will get you online, do computing tasks and play games. When this reinvention failed, Bandai ceased support for the system and moved on to another similar project (Sega Netlink).
The unit, produced in white for the Japanese market (Pippin ATMARK) and black for the U.S. market (Pippin @WORLD) made a silent disappearance from shelves. Less than 12,000 units were sold in the U.S., and it is believed that as few as 5,000 units were actually sold to consumers. Of those, only a fraction remain.
This system, due to its obvious rarity, has become a collectors "Holy Grail" of gaming console hardware. Even if you were lucky enough to buy one, the software is even more difficult to find. If you buy a system, it may remain on the shelf, unused for years, until you can locate any games for it. Since Bandai had a stake in the system, many of their character licenses were made into games. These games are obviously the rarest versions of the game available.
FACT: A Norwegian based company called Katz Media released the Pippin in select European markets. The unit retailed from 400 to 550 British pounds.
During the early 1990s, many developers flooded the video game console market with attempts at being home multimedia centers - all-in-one units capable of performing supplementary functions in addition to their primary gaming platform purpose. The consumer was treated, but at most times disappointed, with releases like the Philips CD-i, Memorex VIS, Pioneer LaserActive and the Panasonic 3DO. In 1995, Apple Computer Inc. joined the foray by finishing the development of a system based on a scaled down version of their System 7 OS. Named the Pippin, Apple followed the 3DO Company's lead by licensing this technology to an outside manufacturer - Bandai Digital Entertainment.
The Bandai Pippin ATMARK was released in Japan in 1995 and was marketed as the first modern hybrid console merging the power of a computer with the ease of a gaming station - as well as integrated network capabilities (hence the connotation in the name). The Pippin was released to the public in four different models:
* 1995 - Bandai Pippin ATMARK - Japan (white model)
* 1995 - Bandai Pippin @WORLD - USA (black model)
* 1996 - Bandai Pippin ATMARK - Japan (black model)
* 1997 - Katz Media Player KMP 2000 - Europe
Technologically, there are basically no differences between the three systems that I am aware of. All come equipped with the same features and user interface (buttons/ports/etc.). Since all three are the same machine, the consoles will be referred to as the Pippin in the following paragraphs.
An attractive piece of hardware, the Pippin weighs in at a hefty 8 lbs and is sturdily built. The user-friendly control panel is featured on the top of this slightly curved console. One keyboard and two ADB (Apple Desktop Bus) controller ports are easily accessible on the front of the system. Being a gaming system that was trying to encompass characteristics of a MAC computer, network connectivity was supported right out of the box with the included 14.4k external modem. Further supporting this all-in-one theme, two serial ports (modem/printer), a PCI compatible expansion slot and a keyboard / writing tablet were standard on all units. The surprisingly fast 4x CD-ROM drive performed far better than the its competitors (the Sony PlayStation, released the same year, only had a 2x Max drive).
The hard plastic chassis encompasses a mini-MAC under its hood. The PowerPC 603 RISC microprocessor ran at 66MHz and was supported by 6 MB of RAM memory (shared between the system and video output) and 128 KB of internal NVRAM. Both 8 bit and 16 bit video is supported and graphics are displayed 16.7M colors. Audio is delivered in full 16-bit stereo (44 kHz sampled output). At the time, the Bandai Pippin was technically a very powerful machine compared to the main competition at the time - 3DO, Philips CD-i and the Sony PlayStation. The important question - How was all of this muscle and power put to use in game development? The answer - not very well.
The Bandai Pippin ran games using an abbreviated MAC System 7 OS (operating system), which was actually included on every compatible CD. Small updates to the core system files (stored in the NVRAM) were delivered and included on respective new title releases. Like the Sony PlayStation, there is a boot sequence that performs an authentication process to validate CDs. Small, but efficient banana-styled wired game controllers feature an analog D-pad, 4 color-coded action buttons and a centrally located mouse-like roller. The Bandai Pippin combined Japan/USA library consists of approximately 85 titles - mostly edutainment offerings with a sprinkling of games. The console was packed with usually 6 additional applications, coupled with a web browser application to allow internet website viewing on your television. This was a first for a video game console - WebTV type access and the possibility of online gaming. Unfortunately, very few titles were available at the time of its release and incompatibility with existing MAC software was just one of many nails in the coffin for this system.
The Bandai Pippin, though technologically superior at the time, failed miserably on many levels. The first error was the positioning of this console within the market - a multimedia, mini-MAC, internet ready, gaming machine. Though the ambitious nature of their goals should be commended, the Apple R&D team on a whole should not. The general population was not yet ready to embrace this type of all-in-one unit. The internet at that time was not considered the 'utility' as it is today. As detailed earlier, lack of first\third party software support and compatibility was also an issue. Then there was the initial price tag - $599 USD. This put the Bandai Pippin out of reach for the majority of the buying public. With the price of computers dropping due to rapid advances in technology, this all-in-one unit was quickly an out-dated piece of hardware when it was released. Going against the Sony PlayStation (amongst others) did not help either. Only around 5,000 units were actually sold in the USA, though the system did fare just a bit better in Japan. In fact, more peripheral devices were manufactured (and since sold off for parts) than actual consoles produced.
Overall, the Bandai Pippin was a more powerful and technically capable machine in 1995 compared to the eventual juggernaut Sony PlayStation - if it had competed as a pure gaming console. Poor market strategy and positioning, coupled with an attempt to drive an internet\computer hybrid console to a still technologically adolescent market was the primary downfall. The foundation and inspiration of online gaming and the network\internet realities we now see from the current generation of consoles (Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii) can be attributed in part to the Bandai Pippin.
This console is recommended for console collectors only. Though produced in limited quantities, the Bandai Pippin is available through auction sites and private sellers. The original white Japanese ATMARK (white) is not hard to locate but the black version (unsold @WORLD units from the USA that were modified/rebranded for the Japanese market)) is much more difficult to acquire. The @WORLD system is the most desirable of the standard retail models due to its low production run, but this uniqueness will set you back quite a few greenbacks. I have never seen the Katz Media Player (KMP 2000) actually for sale, but know a person that has acquired one through a private trade. I would hate to even ask what he had to fork over to net that rare bird.
http://www.videogameconsolelibrary.com/pg90-pippin.htm#page=reviews
The only problem with this article is it fails to mention the fact that the Pippin, while very powerful in terms of CPU, completely lacked any hardware 3D capabilities like the PlayStation, Nintendo 64.
The Pippin 2 (which I posted about here yesterday) was meant to rectify the situation, but with the original platform being a failure, the point was moot.
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