Why Are Gamers Scared Of Apple?

MMGN writes: To say the response has been negative as to Harrison's remarks that Apple will 'own' the video game industry would be an understatement: some gamers seem genuinely concerned as to Apple's apparent growth in the industry.

Any such growth should not be ignored, especially considering the pace at which products such as the iPad 2 are selling: as Harrison mentioned, Apple selling a staggering 15 million iPad's is a phenomenal effort.

[rabidpancakeburglar]

I'm scared of Banana.

[CarlosX360]

I'm not scared of Apple.

In fact, it's quite the opposite. Gamers aren't scared of Apple, its just that Apple isn't on the same playing field as Microsoft, and Sony. Dare I say even Nintendo.

[MintBerryCrunch]

nothing to be scared about, but if apple and other devs start pushing mobile games in the videogame industry and say that "this is the future" "gaming like never before", it will only piss a lot of people off

[JsonHenry]

Why? Because they charge you twice as much for less features and less "ownership" of your product when compared to competing hardware.

[Redgehammer]

mango man, mango.. shivers..
I am not a hand held gamer, nor will I ever be. However, I understand it as an option, but just like Kinect and Move, it should remain optional. I don't want to be forced into pad gaming.

[romancer]

It could be that the booming sales of mobile games -- and the current weakening for console games -- are related. So Apple doesn't have to be on the same playing field as Microsoft and Sony to have an effect upon those companies.

There will, of course, be some huge game hits later this year for the consoles but those games will not likely reverse the apparent trend.

Apple could, if it chooses, use the Apple TV or the iPad as a means of playing games that resemble console-game more closely; in fact, a title like L.A. Noire could probably be handled quite well. The entire iPad could become a steering wheel controller for chase scenes. Apple (or a third party) could bring out a controller for when games are played on TVs (both iPad and iPhone will be HDMI capable shortly). So there is much gaming potential in Apple's products -- as well as those who imitate Apple in the cellphone and tablet fields.

[DragonKnight]

"It could be that the booming sales of mobile games -- and the current weakening for console games."

Excuse me what? Weakening for console games? Did you read this article? Here, let me break it down for you.

iPad sold 15 million. Wii is over 70 million, 360 and PS3 over 50 million each.

iPad used 15% of the time for gaming. The consoles are used virtually 100% for gaming.

iPad games can be as cheap as $1 a game and still only sell comparably with $60 console games, possibly even less.

I don't know what you think of as a "weakening" but the console and PC market are not "losing ground" to the mobile market when they can still boast superior sales in both hardware and software. The only thing mobile gaming has going for it is the diversity of mobile products that can play games, and the fact that games are vastly cheaper.

There is no "trend" going on here. A trend suggests a real shift in the market, but people are still buying consoles in impressive numbers, and still want those large games that aren't possible on mobile platforms.

So again I ask, what "weakening?"

[CaptainPunch]

Think about this though, the iPad is $500+ imagine if iPads were priced at $300. It would sell a hell of a lot more.

[DragonKnight]

I don't think it would really. The Apple sheep buy Apple products at any price. I mean, any people who can make an appointment to see someone at the Apple Store has to be a sheep.

[limewax]

even at that price I wouldn't buy, since apple will only want me to buy another 6 months later

[AKissFromDaddy]

The Ipad was released on April 3, 2010.

As of June 6th, 2011...25 million units have been sold.

The Wii was released on November 19, 2006....as of March 31, 2011... according to Nintendo, the Wii has sold 70.93 million units worldwide.

In 1 year and 1 month, Apple sold 25 million Ipads.

In 4 years and 4 months, Nintendo sold 70.93 million.

25/13 months = 1.9 million a month for Apple

70.93/52 months = 1.36 million a month for Nintendo

Additionally, The Wii launched at $249.99 and has been slashing its price.

Anyways, maybe there is a weakening market. I believe a small percentage of video games, in comparison to the rest, take a majority of the profits. But a lot of games are disappointing.

I look at the people around me who have to use their own money to buy video games. I don't know anyone who buys as much as I do in real life. They'll always purchase Madden, NBA, COD, or any other popular franchise that releases annually.

I believe that popular games that release annually don't give a majority of games with 2 to 3 year release dates an opportunity to make new customers or fans. The customers are busy playing the franchises but this is from my own beliefs that I'm sharing.

[romancer]

I didn't spend time on documenting the "trend" of video game sales because as a regular reader here at n4G i thought the figures were well known.

See: CNBC Feb 17, 2011
http://www.cnbc.com/id/4165...

Quote: "2011 isn't looking much better than 2010 or 2009 for retail sales of video games.

"Despite comparing with weak numbers from a year ago, game software sales were down 5 percent last month versus 12 months earlier, coming in at $576 million, according to NPD Group, which tracks the industry. Overall, the industry was down 6 percent, dragged lower by continued weakness in the hardware category." and so on....

A subsequent comment (below) in which you dismiss all purchasers of iphones and iPads as "Apple sheep" reveals a deep prejudicial attitude towards millions of people who buy Apple products for a wide variety of reasons. However, the one thing that is on a steadily rising curve for the App store is video games... indeed business is booming!

Gadgetsteria.com recently reported that over one million downloads of "Angry Birds" (a paid app) still occur every day!

See: http://gadgetsteria.com/201...

[fluffydelusions]

I see more people annoyed by Apple and this crazy idea they will take over the gaming industry than scared. Why does these articles keep popping up here everyday?

[blackburn10]

I'm not sacred of Apple. Who gives a $hit about Apple? Everyone seems to somehow have gotten it through heir heads that Apple is some sort of gaming company that we should be concerned about for some reason.

Apple makes products that do gaming on the side. The big 3 do gaming consoles for gamers. Their is a big difference.If anyone thinks I am buying an Apple product for gaming while they release a new improvement for their phone or Tablet every second then you guys must think I am crazy. Apple has their sheep but i am not one of them.

[romancer]

in case you haven't noticed, a convergence is going on --

XBox is adding Skype to make phone calls...all three consoles offer music and movies... and just because Apple refreshes its products (on average once a year) in order to stay abreast of developments doesn't mean that people are forced to buy the latest upgrade. Would you rather have a console that remains the same for 5 or more years? Well, if so, that's your choice.... but technology will advance nonetheless.

[blackburn10]

Spoken like a true sheep. Technology can advance all it likes. Just don't expect me to pull out my wallet for every upgrade you decide to pull out of their @$$ whenever Apple sees it's piles of money getting smaller. When I buy a game console it is a long term investment not a mere distraction until the next system comes out like Apple's products are. I won't be buying the Apple console only to hear that their is a better version 1-2 years later.

I play my PS3 mostly for games and anticipate them as they come out, not what new feature they can cook up to make me spend money for a whole new device under the guise of 'progress'. Fall for Apple's con game and follow the endless loop all you want but keep it to youself. I am sure you will be jumping to buy the Ipad 3 once they finish making you into buying the Ipad 2.Good luck with that.

[romancer]

i own all 3 consoles but no iPad....

Don't have Move or Kinect.

I buy whatever I want as a gamer, when it strikes me as desirable...but am not an early adopter, nor do I knock other peoples' choices in the gaming field.

fanboy wars are ridiculous.

[RankFTW]

Apple can go spin, no way am I spending £500 for an iphone/ipad that playes crap games with no buttons.

[HacSawJimThugin]

I tried to put a Gamefly app on my iTouch but it wouldn't work because my iTouch is 1st gen and incompatible with any and all software updates...f_c_ APPLE!!

I refuse to fall for the every other week new iWhatever release. Didn't the iPad 2 just come out in February? I hear the iPad 3 will be out this fall...SMDH.

[Nakiro]

You point to me the number of people that bought an iPhone specifically for games and I'll point to you exactly the same number of retards within the group.

[EliteDave93]

I like to eat Apple.

[Moentjers]

I would just say that Apple gets a lot of people to 'game' for the first time.
I know a lot of people who got their first gaming experience with Angry Birds and are now completely sold to games. Same I can say from Facebook-apps (Bejeweled anyone ?)

[maniactadpole]

An apple a day keeps competitors away :P

[LightofDarkness]

All the iPad/Phone really have is Angry Birds and Paper Toss, which have very similar gameplay (flinging stuff at stuff by dragging your finger). This stuff may well fizzle out once people realise there's nowhere to go on this medium, in regards to gaming, without a better interface (ie. button controllers). It does fun little novelty games that hook casual gamers for a short period, then they get bored and stop playing. Meanwhile, a bunch of moron "me-too" companies with their games are left sitting there with a ton of wasted development and investment.

Essentially, the craze will die down once companies realise that there's no money in being the cheap knock-off, as only the original, recognized brands will tend to sell. Thus is the nature of the casual market.

[Tigerfist]

Hmmm I don't know... How about lackluster and over-priced computers that are based all arround hipster design/software and visual applications or peraps that their definition of gaming is playing lame facebook-like casual games on a overpriced portable device.

It's not that one should be scared of the competition, being scared of gaming turning into that vision is what is truly scary.

[stu888]

are we?

[DragonKnight]

I'm not afraid of Apple. The casual market may be a massive one, but it's also a vastly unpredictable and fickle one as well. Console gamers have a dedication to their favorite form of entertainment and are willing to spend the money on a consistent basis for it. Casual gamers can be content with 2 or 3 games for years and not spend a dime on anything new, or they can be impulse buyers and buy crap just to say they did. Either way, when you look at consistency, the console and PC market will always trump the mobile market. True gamers will always spend more than casual ones.

[theycallmejohn]

Apple will mess up gaming as we know it.

[Quagmire]

Casual gamers. Developers would be targeting casual gamers, by making their games easy (or "accessible" as they like to call it.)

Easy games means less challenge, less core mechanics, and less fun for hardcore gamers.

[Darth Stewie]

Because a new ipod/iphone/ipad is released just about every year.

[Fishy Fingers]

If they offered the best value or similar value for a better product than whats avaliable, I'd be all over it. I have no real brand loyalty.

[BabyTownFrolics]

there is not one gamer out there that is scared of apple

[salsabandana]

Ah, this is refreshing.

Now you guys know how PC gamers feel.

[DragonKnight]

Not really. You don't see console devs flocking to Apple iPad's and abandoning console development.

[Der_Kommandant]

Because they will release a new console every month

[EazyC]

Sorry about off-topicness here but:

What game is that in the pic? Asphalt? It looks rather nice, and that looks like a real licensed car (Lambo Gallardo)

[Warshade]

Ipad has no appeal to me as a gaming platform. I prefer traditional controls over a non-responsive touch screen or tilt.

[death2smoochie]

I believe no one has anything to worry about in regards with APPLE RELEASING A CONSOLE TO COMPETE.
Mobile gaming maybe...
But console gaming? Naaa....
Apple would release a console game system that would be the equivalent GDP of a Third World nation with 1999 hardware inside to keep their margins high:
The Apple way of doing business

[looza]

Apple products make the Wii look like an hardcore system. Hate to see it ever lead the gaming industry away from the core games.

[chaos-lockheart]

No one is afraid of Apple only the person who wrote this article, no one was even thinking of this.

[DigitalRaptor]

It's because Apple don't know games outside of third party apps. They don't seem like the company with the drive or passion for video games... yet.

They need to come into video games when it feels natural, not because they have a huge market share. If they come in at this point, it will be casual this, casual that. Let's be honest: we're getting enough of that from the current platform holders already.