Comments on: Is The iPhone The Next Big Handheld Game System? The life of a nerd dad: kids, comics, movies, books, tv, video games, music. Not necessarily in that order... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:56:56 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Andrew http://nerddads.com/is-the-iphone-the-next-big-handheld-game-system/comment-page-1/#comment-958 Andrew Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:50:28 +0000 http://nerddads.com/?p=344#comment-958 Yeah, the old handhelds were flawed -- especially the Coleco head-to-head football that was only 90 yards because the Japanese didn't know the game. The iPhone I would argue is actually an extremely viable gaming platform, but only for specific games. Like you suggest, you'd have a really tough time with anything that required any even minorly complicated interface. However for quick casual games like Bejeweled, which rules, it's pretty awesome. Also I wonder if some clever person will come along and really figure out how to use the platform for something more complicated. It'll be interesting to watch. Yeah, the old handhelds were flawed -- especially the Coleco head-to-head football that was only 90 yards because the Japanese didn't know the game.

The iPhone I would argue is actually an extremely viable gaming platform, but only for specific games. Like you suggest, you'd have a really tough time with anything that required any even minorly complicated interface.

However for quick casual games like Bejeweled, which rules, it's pretty awesome.

Also I wonder if some clever person will come along and really figure out how to use the platform for something more complicated. It'll be interesting to watch.

]]> By: Greg Bulmash http://nerddads.com/is-the-iphone-the-next-big-handheld-game-system/comment-page-1/#comment-956 Greg Bulmash Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:14:47 +0000 http://nerddads.com/?p=344#comment-956 The problem with Mattel Electronic Football was that once you figured out the AI, it was a touchdown every time and that soon got boring. It was like this football game I had on my Mac in the 80s. The "inside charge" defensive formation was a guaranteed loss of 2-3 yards when the AI ran the ball. Once you could figure out when it was going to run the ball, you could force a turnover almost every possession. As for the iPhone, I'm not sold. Aside from its position sensors, it really doesn't have a tactile control interface. When I blast aliens or throw a roundhouse at Blanka, I want to push a button. This comment is what happens when a nerd gets the 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. baby watching shift with his 2-week-old son and starts surfing while the baby sleeps. BTW, found you via a Project Wonderful half-banner ad on the Pinkerton comic strip over at 3rd World Features. The problem with Mattel Electronic Football was that once you figured out the AI, it was a touchdown every time and that soon got boring. It was like this football game I had on my Mac in the 80s.

The "inside charge" defensive formation was a guaranteed loss of 2-3 yards when the AI ran the ball. Once you could figure out when it was going to run the ball, you could force a turnover almost every possession.

As for the iPhone, I'm not sold. Aside from its position sensors, it really doesn't have a tactile control interface. When I blast aliens or throw a roundhouse at Blanka, I want to push a button.

This comment is what happens when a nerd gets the 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. baby watching shift with his 2-week-old son and starts surfing while the baby sleeps.

BTW, found you via a Project Wonderful half-banner ad on the Pinkerton comic strip over at 3rd World Features.

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