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Tons Of Video Games For The Apple iPad

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Remember my post about the Apple iPad being a potential catalyst in the world of mobile gaming? Back then, the iPad was recently launched, and people were already pondering on the implications. A couple of months have passed, and the pondering is quickly changing into anticipation.

Now that people have gotten their hands on the iPad, reviews are mixed – no surprise there, really. What is quite exciting is the fact that almost a thousand video games have already been developed for the iPad! For a mobile computing device, it is saying a lot that video game developers are already jumping to create various products.

If you think about it, the iPad is primarily meant to serve as a cross between a smartphone and a mobile computer. With the amount of attention being given to it by the video game sector, however, it seems that it is being seen more as a mobile gaming machine!

What is in store for the mobile gamer? Reuters reports:

With seven iPad games available at launch, ngmoco is taking advantage of the multi-touch screen by allowing players of games like “Godfinger” and “We Rule” to multitask by literally sliding small game windows aside so they can focus on the bigger playing field and then read the story progression or check out friends’ castles in between.

Johnny Coghlan, head of publishing for Chillingo, which has 14 iPad games available, said the Wi-Fi and 3G capabilities allows for all of its games, including “Super Shock Football HD” and puzzle game “Quantz HD,” to incorporate Crystal integration. This is the company’s social gaming network that enables players to compete against one another and tout high scores.

Then there’s Uno, Flight Control HD, and Tetris. Now who wants to play?

Will The Apple iPad Change Mobile Gaming?

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hardware-ipad-jobsEveryone is talking about Apple’s latest product: the Apple iPad. Never mind the name – it IS kinda lame, I have to admit – but people all over the world are raving about this cute little thing. Having a screen size that’s even smaller than the smallest netbook around and a very light tag price, the iPad is certain to capture many hearts.

The question that concerns me right now, however, is whether or not the iPad will be the next big thing in mobile gaming, as some people are claiming. Peter Moore of Electronic Arts has already showed the world where he stands. He said that “If it’s got a great screen, some buttons, you can turn it on and it connects to the Internet, it’s got the ability to be a games machine.” From what I have seen, it seems to me that the iPad meets all those qualifications. And if you are shaking your head thinking that a gadget has to have more than that, think of the iPhone. Now that is one gadget that has truly changed the face of mobile gaming. Indeed, a lot of people that I know with the iPhone love it best because of the ability to download apps (a LOT of them games).

Now go back to the iPad. It has more computing power than the iPhone but it can download the same kinds of apps. For sure, more apps will be developed in the months to come. Now imagine GAMES galore on the iPad…I’ll leave you to dream of the gaming potential of this little baby.

Unreal Engine 3 For iPhone 3GS

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Looks like the iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch (3rd generation) are seriously jumping into the gaming fray. The news is that the Unreal Engine 3 is available for two of the most popular gadgets in the market today. What people are seeing are just demos, but the reviews are pretty good.

Anand Lal Shimpi shares his experience:

I got together with Mark Rein last week and he showed me an Unreal Engine 3 tech demo running on a 3rd generation iPod Touch. The same Unreal Engine 3 that powers Gears of War 2, running on an iPod Touch. The engine also works on the iPhone 3GS, and Mark tells me that we’ll see it on another mobile platform at CES (hmm…).

The demo is both playable and has a flythrough. It’s using a modified Unreal Tournament level previously shown off at GDC. A virtual thumbstick on the left side of the screen controls your movement, while tracking your thumb in the lower right corner of the screen controls the camera. Just tap the screen to shoot. Mark said this is a tech test bed and they’re experimenting with several different control schemes including ones with tilt.

So what does this mean for us, the users? Simple: BETTER games for these gadgets in the near future! The iPhone and iPod Touch are already being sought after because of the plethora of apps available. With the addition of the Unreal Engine, more serious gamers will take notice and we can enjoy a much better gaming experience on the go.