Video of Doom on the iPhone

This video makes a good follow-up to my previous post about precise directional control for gaming on the iPhone. Putting Doom on an iPhone is merely for curiosity sake. You can tell by the awkward two-finger firing controls the game would not be playable, at least in any ejoyable way.

The iPhone as a Gaming Device: Part V

You know how in Super Mario where you have to push the button at the exact right moment in order to get Mario to jump and hit the block? That precise timing is not possible with the iPhone. Don't believe me? Try the web game Manga Snake on your iPhone. It is one of a dozen examples of iPhone web games that will frustrate you with their reliance on precise directional control.

I've made a big deal out of bringing native games to the iPhone, but it's becoming clear that there are big limitations in some areas. Games that don't require precise controls, like word and puzzle games (Bejeweled), can easily translate onto the device. Expect to see those games introduced in bunches after the SDK appears.

The iPhone As a Gaming Device: Part IV

At the Beat Goes On press event, Steve Jobs announced games for the iPod Nano. Some games would even ship with the Nano. This tells me that Apple either is building games internally, or is working closely with contractors to build casual games for their devices. Apple has its priorities right in giving games to the Nano before the iPhone, after all, the Nano is their best-selling device. But if they really want to "get aggressive" with the iPhone for the Holidays, they need to release a free game for the iPhone. Just make it a simple puzzle game, maybe port the Nano's Soduku game, and give it some special eye candy for the iPhone's gorgeous screen. To me, that's the missing piece of the puzzle. That, and maybe another $200 off the price.

The iPhone As a Gaming Device: Part III

As usual, hackers beat the professionals. This time they've won by putting a native game on the iPhone. They're calling it the first native game for the iPhone. I thought the NES emulator was the first? Whatever. The game is called Lights Off, and I'd love to give it a try. I'm getting more and more tempted to crack open my iPhone after seeing all these cool possibilities like custom ringtones and games. That's the iPhone I want.

The iPhone As a Gaming Device: Part II

Somebody has put a very rough version of a Nintendo emulator on the iPhone (see YouTube video below). I love the concept of placing the directional pad and the A and B buttons on the touch screen. It'd be cooler if it played the games in wide screen, with the game in the center, the directional pad on the left side of the screen, and the buttons on the right. Hoepfully someone can get the emulator working. Currently, the reports are that it is very slow and the touch screen buttons don't work.



I don't understand why there isn't already a native game for the iPhone. If Steve Jobs doesn't want third party apps, why don't they contract some game designers and make a game or two themselves. Just put one game on it. That's all we're asking for. One game that isn't a crashing, slow-loading, need-a-wireless-connection Web game. I guess we'll have to settle for the excellent Bejeweled for now.

Games on the iPhone: iChess

Web games designed to fit the iPhone's screen real estate are popping up. I recommend iChess. It's still in beta--so the pieces move pretty slowly after you direct them. But, if you really want to check out the potential of the iPhone as a gaming device, try out this game on the phone. It's the touch screen experience that is very interesting here, even if it is rudimentary.

iChess.

*Tip* The easiest way to add this game to your iPhone is to bookmark it in Safari, and then sync your bookmarks iPhone (iTune should be default synching your bookmarks anyways). Also note that iChess will require a connection to the Internet (Edge or Wifi) to play. Can we get a third-party app chant going?