780°

Apple Unveils Metal, Brings True Console-Quality Graphics To iOS 8

Apple revealed new graphics technology for iPhone and iPad today called Metal, which makes more efficient use of the processing power of the mobile devices.

Announced during WWDC, Apple showed that EA, Epic Games, Crytek and Unity have been working with Metal, with Epic founder Tim Sweeney showing an Unreal 4 tech demo on stage. The Zen Garden demo will be free when iOS 8 launches.

Christopher3707d ago

True Console-Quality Graphics? They've been doing that since day one. The question is which console are they comparing it to?

3707d ago Replies(14)
Abriael3707d ago

The problem is that it's easy to bring up that kind of graphics in demos.

In actual games? Not a single chance.

jazmac3707d ago (Edited 3707d ago )

@ExPresident let me correct that for you...

Best example is that FPS games absolutely suck on mobile devices and consoles. I don't care who you are. You will never be as good on touch controls/using a controller as a person with a keyboard and mouse. I have an iPad/console and have tried to really get into them and I can't. Its not the same. You need a keyboard and mouse.

@Psyxon

Yes, in fact it does suck. The controls suck for certain types of games. If you enjoy FPS games with touch controls and controllers, then sure, thats fine, you enjoy it, but it doesn't mean the controls don't suck for that game type.

you're welcome = )

HugoDrax3707d ago

Um....Infinity Blade looks damn good! That game looked EPIC for a game on a mobile device. Especially when it released for a phone in 2010, and is now available in arcade format at Dave and Busters.

Funny how people discredit mobile games, yet they seem to be the one games that can land on every gaming device. Angry Birds, Infinity Blade, and Fruit Ninja all launched on the iPhone, then eventually landed in arcades and on consoles..

Ghoul3707d ago

Hugo

although infinity blade looked nice it was a staged rails game, its a very impressive achievement but far away form a full realtime environment, since you were completely limited to certain actions and views

the demo was made focusing on one effect at a time by selecting "demo" areas inside the stage

i dont wanna discredit anything just shed some light on the demo, if they showed a fully freeroam stage with dynmaic lights and shaders i would have been way mroe impressed.

IceKoldKilla3706d ago (Edited 3706d ago )

@jazmac -_- Troll. The reality is any well constructed physical controls (analog and digital) are obviously better since you can controll the slightest move. That includes controllers and keyboard & mouse. Having a finger on a touch screen is totally different and therefor makes it hard to control slight movements for example in FPS or even driving games sometimes. Not to mention your finger is ON the screen meaning in many games you cover up shit you'd want to see. You wanna see the whole screen. Imagine playing a FPS on PC and someone covering a corner or side of your monitor with a hand/finger. I don't like it.

edqe3706d ago

@IceKoldKilla: How about attaching mobile phone to TV and using keyboard + mouse?

Mobile devices has already great games like Baldur's Gate series and King of Dragon Pass.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3706d ago
styferion3707d ago

the real question is are developers willing to make the effort to use it to full potential, seeing the most profitable games on mobile are casual games with simple graphic and heavy microtransactions.

IceKoldKilla3706d ago

Exactly! You can have the most powerful console on earth and for years to come but if devs don't use its full potential then it's basically useless.

3-4-53706d ago

Console Quality finger swiping With cool "new" touch screen MORSE CODE tapping feature...yay wow. /s

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3707d ago
Starbucks_Fan3707d ago

I wonder how many times you've been marked for Bad Language LOL

The_KELRaTH3706d ago

Too many discard the tablets gaming potential based on whats available today.
As has been mentioned there are a number of factors missing that make for a poor gaming format but none of them can't be addressed.
3D GPU API and proper controller, mouse/trackball support would be a big step forward as the tablet could end up as both a games console that connects to the TV etc as well a portable games device like Vita but all in one.

Starbucks_Fan3707d ago

Angry Birds in 1080p with 60 FPS confirmed

ziggurcat3707d ago

no, no... half life 3 confirmed.

IceKoldKilla3706d ago

Flappy Bird in 4K 3D confirmed

Codey473706d ago

Flappy Bird in 4K 3D Pulled from store within a week confirmed.

jazmac3706d ago

I was only making an amusing point in that the difference between touch screen and controller is like the difference between controller and mouse/keyboard. I'm not disputing that the controller is better than a touch screen for FPS.

gamerfan09093707d ago

If there's one company that can pull off what Microsoft did back in the early 2000's and join and succeed in the gaming race it's Apple. They have the money, developer connections, and software and hardware knowledge to be big players. I think if they really wanted to they could make a portable gaming system that could compete with the 3DS and Vita right away.

WeAreLegion3707d ago

I'm not sure. I think Google has a better chance, honestly.

gamerfan09093707d ago

Google doesn't have the dev pull that Apple has. Apple has the ability to get third party devs pronto. Google does not.

ThatOneGuyThere3707d ago

last year, the market on new devices went 80% android, and iOS is being left in the dust.

rocketpanda3706d ago

@gamerfan,

Of course Google can, it is called money and they have a lot of it. They just are not bothering with mobile gaming as much.

Athonline3706d ago

@ThatOneGuyThere

And yet iOS gets exclusivity/ earlier releases of high profile apps.
Devs develop on what they got first and what it will sell more.

As a general rule App developers say: iOS is a pain to develop-on, but the most profitable. Windows Phone is the easiest to develop on (C# and VS :D) but the worst in terms of profits.
Android offers a bit of both, but you have to go with a different business model. That is why iOS apps that are paid-to-get, are free with ads in Android.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3706d ago
elninels3707d ago

They have several, they call them ipod touch, iphone, and iPad. They can also make calls.

chaosx3707d ago

The way technology is moving with Mobile devices , it won't be long before they do have the power to out perform a PS4 or XB1 , connectivity will be wireless to the TV and you will sync a DS4 via bluetooth . When Indie developers realise there games can be ported to the app store and have a 800 million device install base they won't think twice.

kneon3707d ago

By the time we have enough mobile devices that out power the current gen consoles we will be getting the ps5 and xb1.

Any advancements in mobile graphics will also benefit console graphics. But as consoles don't have the same kind of power and heat restrictions you can always get more performance out of a console than a mobile device and at a lower cost.

Some day it won't matter because there will be far more power than they need, but we're decades away from that.

psyxon3707d ago

Hahahahahahahahaha. Oh, my sides!

T23707d ago

Ahahaha! I know they can barely get gta vice city right, let alone a gta5 or even infamous lol... Mobile can have Farmville in 1080p

3707d ago Replies(2)
Show all comments (85)
160°

Meta Is Doing With VR What Apple And Sony Have Struggled To Do

Shaz from GL: "Where Sony is ramping down support for PSVR2, and Apple are reconsidering their future with the Vision Pro, Meta and the Quest 3 continue to shine."

Read Full Story >>
gameluster.com
ApocalypseShadow52d ago (Edited 52d ago )

I'll admit that Facebook is doing more for VR than others. But they also have blown over 50 billion dollars so far and growing in R&D, building the meta verse, buying up exclusives and underpricing their products below build price, to kill competition in the stand alone space. Sony and Valve aren't willing to go into the red at an unheard level to capture the market. We know Sony could build a stand alone device that beats Quest just by the features in PS VR 2 and the new stand alone headset they built. But the new Sony would rather build a device they can profit from day one.

But, Sony so far has profited on hardware and on software. They just don't seem willing to spend the money on marketing, selling under build price or spending millions on making in-house VR exclusives for PS VR 2. Which sucks big time. They're just letting 3rd parties and indies run the show.

Article also doesn't mention that Apple's headset is more a developers product than a mass market item. To say they are looking into making a cheaper one for the next iteration is speaking the obvious. Duh. That was always the case. Build something the public sees as quality not can't afford, then make another that the masses can afford. TVs, cars, cellphones etc all were once expensive. Now, they're cheap to buy with many options to choose from. And Apple isn't even selling VP as a VR headset. I'm well aware that Apple's true intentions is to build a device that pushes AR with VR as an option. Not build a VR device. Because they know eventually that they want to replace the cellphone with AR glasses or an AR headset. If they cared about games, they would have launched as a gaming device.

Lastly, Facebook launched Quest 3 last year. But has not mentioned how many they sold up to this point. Why is that? Besides Quest 2 selling more by being cheap, the market can't move forward until they start selling more Quest 3 headsets than 2. Maybe the new exclusive Batman and Hitman games will help. But we'll see.

Abnor_Mal51d ago

Not dead, but definitely on life support from the third party devs and PC crowd who may just purchase the headset.

Although I saw someone say that the module adapter will no allow haptics and adaptive triggers to work, but I don’t know if any of that is true.

Babadook750d ago (Edited 50d ago )

Nope. Not yet.

It’s tough to say what its future will bring. There is still decent support. It seems to have sold decently too. Sony seems absent in a direct way though.

Jingsing50d ago

The issues Meta have is they are Meta. I'll never buy a Meta product, Every Quest headset they release is always a case of it's not quite there from a hardware perspective and the game content is mostly from indie devs. Selling what should be a AAA experience with C tier games is a non starter.

helicoptergirl51d ago

Meta is also Billions and billions in the hole in regards to VR. If Sony were to do what Meta has done, they'd be bankrupt

ChasterMies51d ago

Meta is losing billions on a business that theh will probably walk away from like they did the Facebook phone. Temper your expectations of your investments in Meta’s hardware.

franwex51d ago (Edited 51d ago )

I do wish Sony would release more for PSVR. It’s a neat product, but they don’t support it much. It may have the same fate as the Vita.

I know it’s two completely separate products as Vita was stand alone, and PSVR is a companion to PS consoles. More 1st party support would really boost it though.

InUrFoxHole51d ago (Edited 51d ago )

They are done supporting it. They're relying on pc to do it for them. Sony even paused production because it's not selling

Abnor_Mal51d ago

They paused production to get rid of inventory, doesn’t mean the headset isn’t selling, it’s just not selling as fast as Sony thought it would. But with their half assed approach to the headset and lack of first party games, it’s not surprising, saddening, but not surprising.

Meta out here buying up all the exclusives, this is the only part of the gaming market where I feel exclusives should not be a thing since the market is “still in its infancy”.

InUrFoxHole51d ago (Edited 51d ago )

That's exactly what it means... you think people are buying a headset with min support for the price of the console? It's done man. Sadly because like the vita the tech is good and deserved better

Chocoburger51d ago

I own PS VR 1, and it is packed with tons of games to pick from in nearly every genre you could think of. While the technology may be rudimentary compared to newer headsets, it still works, and is fun to play, which is what matters most.

Its a shame that PS VR 2 is having such a slow start, because the tech behind it is brilliant. Its currently on sale for $100 USD off, that needs to be a permanent price drop.

We need more first party games on PS VR 2, the fact that Jim Ryan shut down Sony London Studios right before he left was moronic, they should have been upgrading their hit game Blood & Truth for PS VR 2! What a stupid decision.

150°

Apple officially allows retro game emulators on the App Store

Retro gaming console emulator apps are now welcome on the Apple App Store and can even offer downloadable games.

Read Full Story >>
engadget.com
-Foxtrot111d ago

Nintendo is probably preparing their battle stations as we speak.

purple101111d ago (Edited 111d ago )

Yep most probably
Definitely infact

It’s just since apple got official dualsense support a while ago, (ios 14.5, it was 2 years ago now) I thought it useful to post here

fsfsxii110d ago

Lmao imagine thinking nintendo has a chance against Apple

Profchaos110d ago

The beaten quite a few prolific companies the past like universal so it's not unwinable

H9111d ago

Nintendo be like: we were supposed to bully them together

120°

10 Weirdest Game Consoles of All Time

From systems that could keep your beer cool, to oddities trying to get in on the popularity of VHS and laserdisc, you’ve got some very, very weird video game consoles out there.

Read Full Story >>
culturedvultures.com
darthv72113d ago

I had the LaserActive... it was a nice collectors piece but not very practical. Especially when it came to needing recapping. I think i paid all of about $50 for the floor model from an incredible Universe back in the day. I ended up selling it many years later for $300 at the time due to it needing a new laser and the aforementioned recapping.

An honorable mention not on the list would be the VM Labs Nuon. It basically looked like any regular DVD player but it had ports on it for controllers to play specific games. one of which is still exclusive to it with Tempest 3000. It also offered nuon enhanced DVD movies with extra content not accessible by regular players.

_Decadent_Descent113d ago

Wasn't there some KFC console, or am I mistaken?

CoNn3rB112d ago

It was announced but it never actually came out as far as I know