Apple and Google to Make Video Games?

There have been rumors on Kotaku lately about the prospect of two very big companies getting into the gaming industry: Apple and Google. Both certainly have the capital but, they both lack the connections with developers and neither of them have known in-house game developers.



The juicier story but far more unlikely rumor is that Apple is creating a gaming console. I say unlikely because the gaming market is very saturated right now. Everybody is making money in the industry but consumers, for the most part, are happy with the consoles they currently have. A recent GameFaqs poll said that 73% of gamers do not plan on buying a new console at the end of this year. Not that Gamefaqs is representative of all gamers, but 73% is very high.

The Apple console rumor came via Kotaku, but apparently this Apple rumor has been around for awhile. A similar story was published also in Kotaku in 2006. Two years and no real development from Apple? I think that definitely smashes the rumor.



The rumor about Google getting into the gaming industry is a bit more believable. This rumor spawned out of a Forbes article that looked at the assets of Google in relation to gaming. Google apparently has a gaming-esque program called "Google Lively" that lets people that avatars and interact with other, similar to Second Life. Though not popular, is definitely is a game.

Google's main problem however is that they don't have the big in-house game developers to become a third-party publisher or developer. The only available big-time developers that Google could buy would be Take-two and Valve and both have shown that they do not want to be bought out. Take-two rejected EA's offer and Valve denied any connection with Google.

The rumor stays alive though, because Google has other assets that they could use for gaming. The Forbes article suggests that Google could make an awesome flight simulator using the satellite images from Google Maps as the terrain. Imagine having a virtual dogfight over New York City? Sick. It's a great idea too; the flight simulator genre is untapped for the most part. The only recently successful flight simulator I can think of is Warhawk for the PS3, which came out over a year ago.

So don't be surprised if Google gets in on video games. Be surprised in Apple makes a console though.

Google and Apple
Rumors in video games
Google might do it.


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#1: by will on 09/20/08 @ 12:18AM EST

The argument against is that neither of these companies have any experience, and they wouldn't be able to stand up to these companies with year (or even decades) of experience.

On the other hand, tell that to Microsoft seven years ago. They've done pretty well for themselves, if the two consoles to my left tell me anything.

I love Google, possibly to an excessive degree; you could probably call me a Google fanboy without me putting up much argument. Who knows how they would approach this, but it would probably be in beta for decades.

Apple on the other hand, could do well, but would they? They might dumb it down, but they've done pretty well with iPhone gaming. I'd probably own an iPhone if it wasn't for my extreme disdain for AT&T.

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#2: by richard on 09/20/08 @ 7:56PM EST

Experience isn't everything when becoming a video game developer. Put out a good product and your company can become part of the market (i.e. the developers for N).

The problem lies mostly in having the resources to develop and market a game which Google and Apple can afford to do. Google wouldn't need decades to beta-test either if they decide to do a flight simulator using Google maps. The backdrop for that "game" is already finished.

Apple probably would dumb down their games though. Lol @ your link.

#3: by will on 09/20/08 @ 8:01PM EST

I agree. N+ is great stuff btw.

I was poking fun at Google when I mentioned the beta stuff; for instance Gmail is still technically in beta right now.

I'd definitely support them coming into the software market, but I'd rather them not come into the console market, especially if they do a good job. And when I say "I'd rather", I really mean, "my wallet would rather".

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