Gabe Newell: Apple Could "Redefine" Consoles

[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.

 

[samsonguy920]

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.

Edit: I suspect a bunch of people will say something about how he is a hypocrite, because his company made Steam. I believe their name will begin with s.

Gabe can say some crazy things but he has yet to be a hypocrite(Check that, name starts with an 's'). And I am confused at your argument that closed platforms are bad for a consumer, as every game console is a closed platform. There was one attempt at making an open platform console based on Linux. The company that tried that didn't survive that failure.

 

[chaosyoshimage]

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

Most likely with features deliberately withheld from the market previously.

"You asked for it, now you can talk to other players WHILE playing the game. Only in iConsole2S!"

 

[Flunk]

Considering the mess that was the Pippin I doubt Apple would release a second console. Add that to the generally low profit margins of game consoles and I see little reason to suspect that Apple will release a videogame console.

 

[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.

And you can get all the good stuff that comes out on an open platform on a closed platform as well.

I didn't say you can't...?

In fact, its a lot easier to carry over an indie game to a closed platform than a virus.

....No? What is your logic for this?

The bad of an open platform is always there, and don't try and pretend "the only reason PC viruses outnumber Mac viruses 1798454201 to 50 is cause "Mac users always screw it up themselves".

I never said this either...? The only thing that came close was my tongue-in-cheek comment after saying that there are more viruses for PCs because PCs are and have historically been more popular than Macs.



It's like you just decided to type words and didn't actually bother to read the post you were responding to.

 

[Konaerix]

Put a giant smiling image of Steve Jobs face on it!

 

[Ghengis John]

He went on to voice his concerns about this interconnected future and about the "closed" platforms used by both Apple and the XBLA. "They build a shiny sparkling thing that attracts users and then they control people's access to those things...I'm worried that the things that traditionally have been the source of a lot of innovation are going," he said.

What he really means is: "I worry about any platform that blocks off access to Steam, because then I cannot set my hooks in them and siphon off their life blood to inflate my ever enlarging carapace."

 

[Bob_Dobb]

Apple should not meddle with which it does not understand. They should stick to making overpriced re releases of the same two things with one feature added or the screen made bigger.

 

[snfonseka]

I am not a fan of apple products because of this "close platform" issue. That's been said, isn't Steam also a close platform?

 

[Tsunimo]

I can already see it!
The first console would be revolutionary, and all of it's successors would be the same thing except thinner and more expensive.