11 replies to this topic

[revolutionika]

http://n4g.com/news/clickout/834556


Why dont Apple just make a handheld device with jotsticks. I think Touch screen only gaming is not that great...

[Rex Dart]

revolutionika, on Thu Sep 1, 2011 10:53 AM, said:

Why dont Apple just make a handheld device with jotsticks. I think Touch screen only gaming is not that great...

Because the majority of iPhone owners don't agree with you & are perfectly happy poking their screens in order to fling birds.

[GKC]

Touch screen is okay for what I use it for. I really don't do a lot of gaming on the thing but the occasional gaming that I do do (Risk, Plants vs Zombies) it works just fine. Then again maybe I would use it more for gaming if it had better gaming controls. Such a paradox......

And actually if these things are halfway decent their ability to be removed may be a huge plus over having joysticks that there permanently placed by Apple. There would be nothing worse than breaking a joystick off of a $700 device.

Edited by GKC, Thu Sep 1, 2011 5:27 PM.

[godslabrat]

I really think the iCade should get more support.

[disjaukifa]

Rex Dart, on Thu Sep 1, 2011 11:07 AM, said:

revolutionika, on Thu Sep 1, 2011 10:53 AM, said:

Why dont Apple just make a handheld device with jotsticks. I think Touch screen only gaming is not that great...

Because the majority of iPhone owners don't agree with you & are perfectly happy poking their screens in order to fling birds.

godslabrat, on Fri Sep 2, 2011 9:26 AM, said:

I really think the iCade should get more support.

While I agree with both of the above statements, and I'm included on the flinging multi-colored birds at pork, the reason Apple didn't put a joystick on the iPad or the iPod touch is simple, they weren't designed to be gaming devices, they are designed to be multi-media devices, ie web, books, music, video, email, etc. Yes games fall under the realm of media but its not what the device was designed for.

The last time Apple tried making a video game system it didn't turn out to well for them

[SpiceWare]

revolutionika, on Thu Sep 1, 2011 10:53 AM, said:

Why dont Apple just make a handheld device with jotsticks.

For the same reason the original Mac didn't have cursor keys - to force a paradigm shift.

Quote

The way in which the Macintosh can be used is also strongly guided by physical design. The keyboard ... does not have the numerous function keys or even the cursor keys found on other computer keyboards. The lack of these keys is what Donald Norman calls a forcing device; without them, the user is forced to use the mouse. This was a very intentional strategy used by Jobs to ensure that the Macintosh would be used in the way designed, with a mouse rather than with the then-familiar key commands. This strategy also forced software developers to create applications that take advantage of the mouse-driven graphical interface, rather than reproduce existing software for the new platform.

Only after using the mouse was established did Apple add back cursor keys. As such, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if a future version of the iPad sported a D-Pad.

[remowilliams]

I've had a pair of these for a while (pre Logitech) and they do work really well. Some stuff you just can't use them on because they obscure the games interface bits.

[disjaukifa]

SpiceWare, on Fri Sep 2, 2011 10:24 AM, said:

revolutionika, on Thu Sep 1, 2011 10:53 AM, said:

Why dont Apple just make a handheld device with jotsticks.

For the same reason the original Mac didn't have cursor keys - to force a paradigm shift.

Quote

The way in which the Macintosh can be used is also strongly guided by physical design. The keyboard ... does not have the numerous function keys or even the cursor keys found on other computer keyboards. The lack of these keys is what Donald Norman calls a forcing device; without them, the user is forced to use the mouse. This was a very intentional strategy used by Jobs to ensure that the Macintosh would be used in the way designed, with a mouse rather than with the then-familiar key commands. This strategy also forced software developers to create applications that take advantage of the mouse-driven graphical interface, rather than reproduce existing software for the new platform.

Only after using the mouse was established did Apple add back cursor keys. As such, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if a future version of the iPad sported a D-Pad.

It wouldn't surprise me if you start to see more and more peripherals that are joypads/gamepads in the near future. Touch screen can be used for some games but for others it just doesn't work well.

[Vic George 2K3]

If Apple is going to try drawing consumers away from the game-heavy systems like the 3DS and the upcoming PS Vita, they might as well include thumbsticks on their iPads.

[Rex Dart]

Vic George 2K3, on Fri Sep 2, 2011 3:34 PM, said:

If Apple is going to try drawing consumers away from the game-heavy systems like the 3DS and the upcoming PS Vita, they might as well include thumbsticks on their iPads.

Maybe, but charging $39 less per game seems to be doing the job pretty well for now.

[Lord Helmet]

I think I'd rather just have a bluetooth controller for the iPad than something stuck to the screen.

[Vic George 2K3]

Vic George 2K3, on Fri Sep 2, 2011 3:34 PM, said:

If Apple is going to try drawing consumers away from the game-heavy systems like the 3DS and the upcoming PS Vita, they might as well include thumbsticks on their iPads.

Rex Dart, on Fri Sep 2, 2011 3:35 PM, said:

Maybe, but charging $39 less per game seems to be doing the job pretty well for now.

Only for now, when their games aren't so wanting for a control stick.