Gabe Newell: Apple Could "Redefine" Consoles

[mjc0961]

Seems like the solution is for Valve to make a console that isn't a locked up fortress like the iPhone is or any possible Apple console would be. Valve would kick some ass.

 

[Waaghpowa]

I am sorry, Gabe, but I will not be buying Apple's console until it has proven itself.

Plus, there's the whole "Apple" thing. You know, I've bought two iPods in my life, and both of them lasted about twenty days. Twenty days, whereas I just gave a cheap supposedly throwaway piece of shit that I've had for years to a relative of mine.

That is, if Apple is actually releasing a console.

Why are you saying sorry to Gabe? He is concerned about apple trying this, he doesnt support this.

Hell, if anything I hope they try and fail hard core.

Maybe then iSheep will smarten up, its a long shot, but it could happen...

"iSheep" and "smart" are like mixing oil and water. Look up the Pippin, they already tried back in the 90's. It failed hard, but that was a different time when Apple themselves had to be bailed out by Microsoft.

 

[FoolKiller]

"I suspect Apple will launch a living room product that redefines people's expectations really strongly and the notion of a separate console platform will disappear," he [Newell] said.

This is one of the things that annoys me. I don't find convenience to it. I find it annoying that I'm being advertised to on my machine; I find it annoying that I have to deal with facebook, twitter, zune and other useless things on my gaming console. I wish they would let me just enjoy my games and not have to navigate a slew of other things just to enjoy my stuff.

 

[XT inc]

I've grown to like PC gaming, not to the degree of console gaming because I am not as in tune with the ins and outs of drivers and specs and openGL and trying to understand why my machine spanks High end games on Max Settings one day and lagging like a ***** on World of Warcraft on high the next minute.

If there is ever going to be a one console future to kill this all too modern day corperate bullshit diving the gaming comunity over dlc, series, and pricing. The sales market has to be free and have compatition. Seriously We Do not need another console out there, 3 is enough it was less prevalent to me in the old days with all the other consoles at the same time, during the semi games arms race and all the failed systems left in the dust. From your sega cd,cdi,virtualboy(own it),jaguar, saturn,dreamcast,turbographx etc.

 

[teqrevisited]

No, Gabe. Just no.

Why must all developers eventually turn needlessly evil or just spout insane dribble? The last place I want Apple to infect is the video game industry.

 

[GaltarDude1138]

It'd be interesting to see Apple enter the console market again.

However, I have a feeling they'd go after Nintendo on that front, releasing something catering to grandmas and girls and everyone BUT hardcore gamers. Maybe they'd release iSports, a Wii Sports clone or something, which is a dumb name and idea, but you get my point.

 

[Baresark]

"I suspect Apple will launch a living room product that redefines people's expectations really strongly and the notion of a separate console platform will disappear," he [Newell] said.

This is one of the things that annoys me. I don't find convenience to it. I find it annoying that I'm being advertised to on my machine; I find it annoying that I have to deal with facebook, twitter, zune and other useless things on my gaming console. I wish they would let me just enjoy my games and not have to navigate a slew of other things just to enjoy my stuff.

It's strange how people think that social integration in gaming is explicitly good. It's good in so far as I like to easily be able to play with my gaming friends. But beyond that, it's pretty useless. I'm pretty old school though, I don't have online friends who I never meet up with in real life. When I want to hang out with them, I go to their house. Strange concept these days.

OT: I'm with Gabe on this. What could they offer that others aren't doing right now? I mean, some apple exclusive software, but it would have to be pretty substantial to break in. I'm not with a lot of people (apparently) when I say that gamers have a bit more of an expectation out of their consoles than a tiny little difference for the same amount of money you spent 8 months before.

Edit: Also, Gabe is concerned about a closed platform, which is what Apple offers in everything it does. He has good reason to be concerned, but the more closed something is, the less competition there is, the less use people have for such a platform. I mean, every company that does the closed platform thing gets massive amounts of blowback from the customer base, to the point that I don't know a single person who buys their products, or at leas only does so on a rare basis, such as Ubisoft and their DRM for example. And lets not forget the failing indie market on XBLA because of their lousy sales and shitty closed platform market. The iThings do offer a good, but very limited experience.

 

[cookyy2k]

It'd be interesting to see Apple enter the console market again.

However, I have a feeling they'd go after Nintendo on that front, releasing something catering to grandmas and girls and everyone BUT hardcore gamers. Maybe they'd release iSports, a Wii Sports clone or something, which is a dumb name and idea, but you get my point.

If they did that though the casual market would look less appealing to Nintendo and they may be shocked back into making games not fisher price staving off alzheimer's for another week toys. I would love this scenario because I had every Nintendo console right up until the wii. I miss the day I could rely on Nintendo to give me a GAME. I can dream atleast...

 

[C-Mag]

I've always disliked Apple. I can appreciate the convenience of their devices, but their just too closed off and way overpriced. My family owns an iMac (you know, the desktop ones) and sure it's convenient, everybody but me just uses it as a portal to the internet, a place to access their email, and a calendar.

I suspect that for the price of that iMac I could have (if I was old enough and knowledgeable enough) constructed a PC many times more powerful.

With Apple's popularity, I fear that if they did release a console they might gain market dominance. And if that happened we would be saying a fearful 'hello' to thousands upon thousands of overpriced, inane little titles and fewer AAA games. The PC might also fall off as a gaming platform in favor of macs.

Basically, I think Apple gaining a monopoly of the tech industry would be FAR worse than Microsoft or Sony or what-have-you.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

Now introducing the........ iConsole.

And in 6 months, they will introduce the iConsole2. Basically the same exact hing, only with a different package and more problems than the first. This will repeat for about 4 years, until they make the portable iConsole (Basically a repackage iPhone.)

And inbetween iConsole2 and iConsole3 there'll be the iConsole2S...

 

[Baresark]

It'd be interesting to see Apple enter the console market again.

However, I have a feeling they'd go after Nintendo on that front, releasing something catering to grandmas and girls and everyone BUT hardcore gamers. Maybe they'd release iSports, a Wii Sports clone or something, which is a dumb name and idea, but you get my point.

If they did that though the casual market would look less appealing to Nintendo and they may be shocked back into making games not fisher price staving off alzheimer's for another week toys. I would love this scenario because I had every Nintendo console right up until the wii. I miss the day I could rely on Nintendo to give me a GAME. I can dream atleast...

.

I agree with you, only that is what Nintendo is attempting to do with WiiU. They are trying to appeal to the "hardcore" crowd more. Only, the problem is that people who feel burned don't want to hear it (I'm not among them). They whine about how Nintendo only makes games for kids, all the while ignoring the games that aren't made for kids and getting pissed Nintendo is releasing a new platform to do it with. So, I guess my point is that the casual market already looks way less appealing to them, and they are trying to fix it.

 

[Baresark]

I've never seen you before!
OT: Closed platform...platforms are really bad for a consumer, as they can't receive things other peoeple have on open-er platforms.

Like viruses.

LoL, true story. But also, indie developed games, innovative software, new ideas on how to use the technology, etc.

 

[cookyy2k]

It'd be interesting to see Apple enter the console market again.

However, I have a feeling they'd go after Nintendo on that front, releasing something catering to grandmas and girls and everyone BUT hardcore gamers. Maybe they'd release iSports, a Wii Sports clone or something, which is a dumb name and idea, but you get my point.

If they did that though the casual market would look less appealing to Nintendo and they may be shocked back into making games not fisher price staving off alzheimer's for another week toys. I would love this scenario because I had every Nintendo console right up until the wii. I miss the day I could rely on Nintendo to give me a GAME. I can dream atleast...

.

I agree with you, only that is what Nintendo is attempting to do with WiiU. They are trying to appeal to the "hardcore" crowd more. Only, the problem is that people who feel burned don't want to hear it (I'm not among them). They whine about how Nintendo only makes games for kids, all the while ignoring the games that aren't made for kids and getting pissed Nintendo is releasing a new platform to do it with. So, I guess my point is that the casual market already looks way less appealing to them, and they are trying to fix it.

Well whatever they do as long as they make money. I'm sat on a decent amount of Nintendo shares here.

I might have to look into the wiiU here, you're the first person I've heard saying it's anything other than a wii mk2.

 

[Something Amyss]

True, but that eventually ends. They tried that sort of thing before, in 1983.

If Valve enters the home gaming market, I'm pretty sure they're gonna kill it.

In 1983, the iPod likely also would have failed. Same with the iPad.

Suffice to say, it's more than 25 years later and a completely different market. Apple has some serious success in selling a lifestyle in the form of an inferior, disposable product one buys yearly for exorbitant prices.

 

[samsonguy920]

Considering Valve's position on making the Mac more gaming friendly, I am not surprised at this. It does make me wonder, though, at the timing of this. Was Steve Jobs anti-console? I have no doubt that Apple could make a solid console system, but instead emphasized on iPod, iPhone, and iPad gaming applications during Steve's tenure. Steve even touted that this was where gaming is going a number of times(it's a direction, but not the only one).
Gabe Newell is known for his crazy predictions, but this one I think has some potential.

 

[AdamRBi]

The biggest problem with Apple entering the Console race is games and the method of control over said games. Developing a home console requires a brand new external controller and the support of developers to make games for a third, probably more restrictive, media format.

I believe it's much more likely that Apple releases a new version of the iTV; except it's no longer a box it's a full blown, touch screen Television set with access to the App store and it's hundreds of already available, downloadable games. From there they can sync it up with the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch via Wifi and they've got a controller that everyone's already familier with.

Plus a good portion of games like Fruit Ninja will be fully playable on the TV itself; not to mention the potential to sell, rent, and stream music, movies, and shows right to your TV putting a strain on Netflix and Blockbuster.

Plus, I already have the future of console gaming locked away in my head; I just need time, resources, and knowledge on how to build and program it.

Edit: Or apple could go the 3D route and introduce a Kinect like controller for interacting with a 3DTV with hand gestures. Thing would get pretty pricey though (not that that has deterred Apple buyers before).

 

[Baresark]

It'd be interesting to see Apple enter the console market again.

However, I have a feeling they'd go after Nintendo on that front, releasing something catering to grandmas and girls and everyone BUT hardcore gamers. Maybe they'd release iSports, a Wii Sports clone or something, which is a dumb name and idea, but you get my point.

If they did that though the casual market would look less appealing to Nintendo and they may be shocked back into making games not fisher price staving off alzheimer's for another week toys. I would love this scenario because I had every Nintendo console right up until the wii. I miss the day I could rely on Nintendo to give me a GAME. I can dream atleast...

.

I agree with you, only that is what Nintendo is attempting to do with WiiU. They are trying to appeal to the "hardcore" crowd more. Only, the problem is that people who feel burned don't want to hear it (I'm not among them). They whine about how Nintendo only makes games for kids, all the while ignoring the games that aren't made for kids and getting pissed Nintendo is releasing a new platform to do it with. So, I guess my point is that the casual market already looks way less appealing to them, and they are trying to fix it.

Well whatever they do as long as they make money. I'm sat on a decent amount of Nintendo shares here.

I might have to look into the wiiU here, you're the first person I've heard saying it's anything other than a wii mk2.

Haha, truth. I'm not a Nintendo Fanboy or anything, but there is a lot of hatred towards them for what amounts to mostly bad reasoning. I'm not saying it's gonna be a smash hit, but Nintendo made something of a mistake by marketing it like a Wii mk2. But, they have very explicitly stated their intentions of bringing more hard core franchises to the system and concentrating less on casual gaming. For instance, there is an updated version of Dark Souls slated for the WiiU. And it will make fine use of that tablet controller (which is a much better idea than motion controls, it seems more like a logical following to the much vaunted Dreamcast VMU. Only it'll function as more than a digital pet and do more than display a logo on the screen when your playing). I would keep my eye on it.

 

[Legendsmith]

Yes, I can't wait for the day Apple launches it's overpriced console. And then re-release it each year with small upgrades while charging the same amount of money year after year.

Microsoft already does this. How many versions of the Xbox are there?
Lots.

 

[Something Amyss]

And inbetween iConsole2 and iConsole3 there'll be the iConsole2S...

Most likely with features deliberately withheld from the market previously.

 

[minuialear]

I've never seen you before!
OT: Closed platform...platforms are really bad for a consumer, as they can't receive things other peoeple have on open-er platforms.

Like viruses.

There are viruses for Macs; there aren't as many, considering most people have used (and still use) PCs (which obviously makes PCs more popular for virus-creating), and because the average Mac user isn't tech-saavy enough to actually need viruses on his/her computer in order to either send important identity info to others or to mess up his/her computer.