I think a lot of us were expecting the iPad to become a significant gaming platform, offering titles with fuller console like experiences and taking advantage of the large screen with high quality RTS, tower defence and dungeon crawlers not so possible on the iPhone. But we're weeks in now and other than a fairly good launch line up, there's been nothing much to get excited about and nothing much on the horizon. Most major titles are still being announced for the iPhone only. Graphically, I know we were all disappointed to learn that the iPad is only as powerful as the 3GS, but I was still expecting the overall increased power on the device to be used to show off impressive visuals. Maybe some tech demos or even statements of intent to produce big titles from well known developers like id or Capcom or EA. But no, nothing. What gives? The iPad has sold well, why has the gaming buzz died?
Maybe it's because the current ipad is just the first generation model. When the second or third gen model is released then it will take off as a graphical powerhouse.
The main reason is that developers didn't have access to hardware for launch games and even with one million sold, it's not the same as the 70-odd million iPhone and iPod touches out there. There will be good games for iPad, but I don't think developers will really get into their stride until the end of 2010. Still, NOVA, Bruce Lee and Labyrinth 2 HD are pretty good
I was disapointed to find that a lot of ports from the IPHONE were not that smooth as i expected,but infact worse than their iphone versions! But relax a good game takes months to produce so we may be suprised in a couple of monthsPersonally im still waiting for gameloft(generally hoping theyll bring PoP to the ipad too)
It's also disappointing to see that everyone from the tiny indie devs to the big studios so far as just producing the genres that work well on the iPhone - dual stick shooters etc. The size of the iPad makes it a very different input device.. why are we seeing the same old types of games being shoehorned onto it from the iPhone when the screen lends itself to genres not previously suitable for the iPad. Apple talks a lot about innovation but innovation is seriously lacking in App Store gaming if you ask me, it's even worse than the FPS craze on consoles, devs keep churning out dual stick shooter after dual stick shooter, first on the iPhone and now on the iPad where it is doubly disappointing.
It's way too early to be making these complaints. This isn't like the launch of any other handheld gaming system like the DS where developers get a kit over a year prior to work on so the system has a strong early life. Pretty much nobody had an iPad prior to its launch, therefor most devs are still getting their fingers wet with the physical unit itself and how it feels, rather than working with a simulator. I think we'll be seeing some really solid iPad specific titles that truly play to its strength starting more around this fall or winter, rather than one month after release. Also, I'm pretty sure the iPad has stronger hardware over the 3GS, and is a more capable device. Technical specs and speedtests across the net will confirm this. I believe that the iPhone4G will be on par with the same specs as the iPad, packing a nice 1ghz processor.
I think it's waaaaay to early to surmise that console-quality games won't be released for the iPad. It's only been out for a month. I expect that when OS 4.0 is released, there will be a lot more universal apps, which would basically solve the problem.
Thought I would be gaming more with the iPad but I'm not. Maybe a little mini gore or starmaze here and ther but that's it. Good for safari, email, and movies though.
A genre that would really rock on the iPad is the RTS. Or even a Squad-turn based game (a la XCOM). Those games would fit perfectly with the touch interface IMO because of the tactile immediacy. Pinching to zoom in and out of the battle field, point to tell your units where to move etc. Any idea if any good games in these genres are coming out?
Give some time and it will pick up. I don't have iPad yet as it's not released in Australia yet, but everyone I talked to who owns one really likes it. Also from developer point of view it's all numbers game - there is only 1 mil iPads' compared to what 80mil iPhones/iPod Touches out there? I would love to port my game to iPad and add some nice track editor, but sales on iPhone are not very exciting already (even being featured), so what can I expect on iPad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf9csiGVqgs Don't know though if it will be ported to the iPad, but it would fit perfectly.
If they keep upping the power on 2nd, 3rd generation, it's going to continue to be a mess. Buy iPhone 4.0, "oh, they already have more powerful versions for the iPad" and vice-versa. I'm hoping the 4th Generation makes everything balanced, so all games can use the full power of the devices.
I am still of the mindset that with any new technology you have to give it a generation or three before it can actually realize its potential.
Over a long term, perhaps when 2nd-g ipad is out you will get more of the things you like but not for the time being, the adoption rate just don't justify the high budget projects.
I bough my iPad primary to replace my iPhone to for the instant web browsing experience at home. I did buy some iPad games for it but I'm not sure if I would want to buy more in depth console style games for it. I don't want to drain down my iPhone with gaming apps to hard like I did with my 3GS. The device won't be very useful to me if I have to keep my iPad plugged in to get a decent charge 13+ months from now. I'm hoping I'll get a good 2-3 (although that might be pushing it) years out of my device before the battery charge dies out so I can upgrade to newest version out by then.
Actually the iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 3G are the most powerful iDevices out there regarding their graphics performance in relation to the screen resolution If the iPhone 4G (or whatever it is called) has the same chip at the same clock speed as the iPad, but has 4x the pixels from a regular iPhone (instead of 5.5x as on the iPad), it still gives iPhone 3GS & iPod touch 3G the advantage in performance per pixels. As for the topic of the thread, iPad had probably the strongest launch lineup of titles of any gaming device ever. No game console has offered as diverse portfolio of titles at launch. The first wave of games were obviously adaptations of projects that had been planned for the iPhone, and it's unlikely that totally iPad-specific games are going to be coming out from major studios, the market is not ready for it. Still, the iPad is an interesting platform because it's now a viable target for some PC and console games with alternative control schemes - Sam 'n Max for example. Also I wouldn't be surprised to see established PC indie developers to take a look at the iPad as a supported platform.
Hmmm a lil early still I think it is great, and just what I expected so far. More games will come with time. My complaint is that we are still limited on apps that can be displayed, and even tho we might have the memory required, are forced to use the search option. Why would apple set up a console to limit the number of apps? The fact that I own more apps than they allow me to display, requires me to be more picky about purchases.
