Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 18 March 2009 12:52
Opinion and Analysis
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The iPhone and iPod touch have already established a place as a significant gaming platform. The changes announced by Apple for the iPhone 3.0 software will only boost that position.
While it would be false to say that iPhone OS 3.0 is all about games, it seems clear that game developers will have plenty to be grateful for.
Apple's announcement specifically mentioned games in connection with some of the "1000 APIs and 100 new features".
For example, there's provision for using Bluetooth to enable peer-to-peer games.
But it seems clear that game developers will take advantage of other features. The new support for in-application purchasing from the App Store makes it possible to charge for games on a subscription model (if you don't buy this month's or year's 'ticket,' the game stops working).
It also opens up the possibility of offering additional levels, whether that's in the form of activating the full game after a free trial, or providing expansion packs.
Or there's room for selling game items. Want to buy experience points rather than having to earn them? Or maybe you'd prefer to spend 99c on a chain gun instead of taking it from the body of a defeated enemy.
Please
read on for more new features in iPhone 3.0 that game developers may exploit.
