longcoldstare
12-18-2007, 02:04 PM
OK, I think it is high time that some enterprising company develops a gamer controller accessory for the iPod. I see three distinct possibilities:
1. Controller dock: Essentially, this would be a Gameboy/DS where the iPod serves as the media cartridge and the screen. You would have the D-pad and buttons and all of the traditional buttons.
2. Wired controller: This option would be a traditional controller that connects throught the iPod dock connector. You could even use the USB cable to connect to the controller a la the Apple wall charger.
3. Wireless controller: This option could communicate with the iPod with a remote dock-type system.
This is a potential goldmine for Apple. With a viable controller, Apple could easily expand its game library ten-fold. I imagine companies like Nintendo and Sega would be much easier to work with than, say, NBC Universal, particularly because a service like this for the iPod would provide a whole new revenue stream for back catalogs of games from older consoles. (I know that Nintendo has an online store for these games on the Wii, but the iPod market would be for portable only, with video out disabled for games.)
I bought a Gameboy Advance solely for the purpose of running NES ROMs. However, if Apple were to expand its game offerings to include games like Super Mario, Castlevania, Super Tecmo Bowl, etc., I would gladly buy a game controller and pay $5 per game.
1. Controller dock: Essentially, this would be a Gameboy/DS where the iPod serves as the media cartridge and the screen. You would have the D-pad and buttons and all of the traditional buttons.
2. Wired controller: This option would be a traditional controller that connects throught the iPod dock connector. You could even use the USB cable to connect to the controller a la the Apple wall charger.
3. Wireless controller: This option could communicate with the iPod with a remote dock-type system.
This is a potential goldmine for Apple. With a viable controller, Apple could easily expand its game library ten-fold. I imagine companies like Nintendo and Sega would be much easier to work with than, say, NBC Universal, particularly because a service like this for the iPod would provide a whole new revenue stream for back catalogs of games from older consoles. (I know that Nintendo has an online store for these games on the Wii, but the iPod market would be for portable only, with video out disabled for games.)
I bought a Gameboy Advance solely for the purpose of running NES ROMs. However, if Apple were to expand its game offerings to include games like Super Mario, Castlevania, Super Tecmo Bowl, etc., I would gladly buy a game controller and pay $5 per game.