Following hot on the heels of Apple’s media and analyst event, during which the computer company detailed the features of its upcoming iPhone and iPod touch SDK (software development kit), the California-based titan has now revealed that the popular smartphone is also expanding its videogames reach.
Apple Inc. to bring the likes of Will Wright\'s Spore and SEGA\'s Super Monkey Ball to the iPhone and iPod touch. Credit: Apple.
More pointedly, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has announced that the iPhone is to more actively embrace mobile gaming by granting software developers free access to the required SDK and relevant APIs.
To further bolster the iPhone’s gaming capabilities, it has been confirmed that third-party publisher Electronic Arts is to bring Will Wright’s eagerly anticipated game Spore to the touch-screen handset, while SEGA has also revealed that its popular Super Monkey Ball franchise will be making the iPhone leap.
As has already been outlined during the recent SDK event, all videogame (and other application) offerings will be made available for consumer download via the upcoming App Store website, which will see Apple take some 30 percent of individual sales while handling hosting, distribution and retailing, reports Eurogamer.
Other related Internet chatter would suggest that the prospect of crafting games for the iPhone has pricked the creative ears of other notable members of the industry. For example, reports suggest that noted developer id Software (of Doom and Quake fame) is excited to already have something in the pipeline for Apple’s device.
“Just based on the blurbs, it looks very good,” commented id Software co-founder John Carmack in a Slashdot report, “a simulator plus debugging on the native device is the best of both worlds, and a 70 percent royalty deal for apps over iTunes is quite good.”
Similarly, Worms developer Team 17 has also applauded Apple’s decision to define focus toward videogames, with studio director Martyn Brown enthusing that the iPhone is “a potentially tremendous device for casual games.”
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