One in Five are mobile gamers, will the iPhone change this?

Mike Bantick
Thursday, 03 July 2008 11:49

IT Industry - Market

Meanwhile closer to home, once the iPhone developers SDK was released, the home of Australian games developers at sumea.com.au , posed some iPhone game development related questions to the locals.

Primarily all the developers quizzed develop primarily for you traditional gaming platforms, PC, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii and DS.  When presented with the iPhone SDK most agreed that the potential is there.

Steve Fawkner (CEO, Infinte Interactive): “The iPhone, and indeed the whole crop of multi-touch devices that are on the horizon, are very exciting both from a geek-ish point-of-view (because they just look cool to work with) and from a game design point of view (because for the first time a phone can have an input device that really allows games to be played properly.”

John Passfield (Veteran developer, creator of Brainiversity): “I think the iPhone has a lot of potential. The SDK and development environment looks great, but the most exciting thing is the iTunes distribution model. For indie gamers being able to get your game in front of an audience is half the battle.”

And while no developers interviewed coughed up any information about current projects destined for iPhones or similar, most agreed that they will consider projects for the platform.

Rob Murray (CEO, Firemint): “I can't say too much about what we are doing there, except that we are actively looking at all 'next gen' mobile platforms. I am sure that iPhone will play a key part in our near future.”

Mario Wynards (CEO, Sidhe Interactive): “We have always been openminded about supporting new gaming platforms, and the iPhone is no exception.  We are currently assessing the iPhone in the context of our strategic plan, technology, processes and original IP.”

Personally, despite owning a smart phone, games on the device are not a big criteria for me.  I prefer the battery life component of my phone, and turn to the PSP, or more often than not the Nintendo DS for my mobile gaming.  But if the hype, and more importantly the sales of iPhones and their ilk continue to permeate the populous, undoubtedly even more developer eyes will turn to this relatively new outlet for their wares.  

And of course we can all speculate about Apple bringing out a dedicated portable gaming device of it's own in the near future.  Like most things Steve Jobs related, don't bet against it.