Apple is a major competitor to Microsoft and now Google in PC software. Microsoft debuted it's Xbox series in 2001 with Apple and Google having smartphones and tablets play games.
Apple has a lot of great technology software including Mac OS X, Apple TV, and iOS mobile systems. What if these could be merged along with new game console software? What could Apple accomplish in terms of a home console?
Overview here would be Apple having not one but TWO home consoles simultaneously on console markets in order to target both console and PC gamers. The ordinary console would be called iPlay and the PC console would be called iGamac. iPlay would be the smaller, cheaper, and more casual compared to the more powerful, more expensive, and more hardcore iGamac.
iPlay would be roughly the same size as Apple TV, be low in cost like a home console, be a lot like Xbox series, have less hardware technology than iGamac counterpart, run more like iOS and Airplay, and be digital download using Apple stores. iPlay would be long the lines of a traditional home console but be iOS based with new home console software counterpart. iPlay would be made inspired by Xbox 360 and Wii U.
iGamac would be more powerful as a Mac computer, be larger in size like a Mac Book mini, more expensive, run more like a Mac OS X and Airplay, be a lot like Steambox series, and be digital download as well. iGamac is my kind of concept for competing with Valve. iGamac would be a competitor to Valve Steambox series. I say series since I'm talking about reserving iPlay and iGamac for Ninth Generation. IGamac inspiration will come from Mac OS X and Steambox.
Costs come into view as gaming PCs are expensive and the very first PC style console Valve Steambox is going to cost $999-$1750 so I propose Apple in an effort to compete with Valve and keep an ordinary console market like Nintendo, Playstation, and Xbox consoles at the same time release two different consoles simultaneously. I believe Apple can make a PC style console since it made Mac OS X computers and will have lots of experience in doing so while catering to iOS players in making a home console like the iOS but as compact as Apple TV. Mac players could use a Steambox and that's where Apple competes.
Hardware question comes to play with what size and specifications will these two Apple consoles come to. iPlay will be more casual and ordinary in nature only requiring digital downloading the same way you do for apps and run on a new Apple home console version of iOS. Both iPlay and iGamac presumably will be able to install App Store content only as Apple does not allow any non-Apple software to be used for Apple products. iGamac will most likely be larger than the iPlay. iPlay size will resemble Apple TV and iOS wheres iGamac will resemble Mac OS X. Question of memory and graphics for these systems is undecided since I predict they will have to wait until Ninth Generation in 2018 but iGamac will be more powerful as a Mac than iPlay.
Software for both iPlay and iGamac will most likely use Apple Software only as Apple has a near zero tolerance policy of having Apple software only for Apple products. The question of indie games comes to mind as iPlay will most likely be for casual gamers while iGamac will be geared towards hardcore gamers. iPlay will most likely resemble Ouya while iGamac will resemble Steambox. Apple would have to make a new software operating system for game consoles but being inspired by iOS and Mac OS X systems.
Games would be done through digital downloads with iPlay having most games similar to the ones that can be played on Ouya and Wii U with more room for hardcore games. iGamac would have many hardcore games at higher definitions with PC/Mac level performence. Highly rated games such as Need For Speed Most Wanted 2012, Grand theft Auto 5, Bioshock Infinite, Saints Row IV, DriveClub, Infamous Second Son, Assassins Creed IV, Battlefield 4, Call of Duty Black Ops 2, Watch Dogs, Lego City Undercover, and Disney Infinity could easily be made as inspirations for games to be made for late 8th Generation-9th Generation consoles like iGamac while iPlay could be able to do nearly all of these but be the Wii U/Xbox 360/Ouya of the Ninth Generation coming in 2018. iPlay would be more tuned for indie and casual games such as ones that were usually made for the Wii. Some games could be played cross platform while others are ported to just one of the Apple consoles. Cross Platform play would be similar to PS3-PS Vita relationship of games where you could cross platform play certain games having both versions and being certified for such use. Apple could do the same thing for certain certified iPlay/iGamac games. Cross platform play could be made more possible should Apple use cloud based technology in accounts and digital downloads(like Steam and OnLive). Games have already been developed for iOS and Androids so taking iOS, Apple TV, and Mac OS X are a great idea.
Controls could resemble tablets but include button functionalities like the Wikipad has. Airplay can play iOS games on Apple TV with controls working the same way as it would for iOS. You can use certain gamepads for iOS and Android systems which is what should be made. Wikipad not only is a gaming tablet but has a built in controller which is what the design should be based on for iPlay and iGamac controls. Controls for both systems will be the same. What should be accomplished is using motion sensing technology like Microsoft Kinect, Playstation Move, and Wii Remote by making the iPlay/iGamac gamepads a lot like the Wii U Gamepad in terms of touchscreen controls and moving of the gamepad with response. Another twist that most Wii U games don't have is having an active dashboard such as the inside of a car you're racing in a racing game or an aircraft in a fighting game. Not only that but have the opportunity to have some of those functions be touchscreen ones as some Wii U games require.
Making iPlay in between Ouya and Wii U is critical in order to make costs low enough to cater to casual and some hardcore gamers since Ouya can play OnLive games which include many hardcore titles while Wii U is more competitive than the Wii was for hardcore gamers. iGamac will feature more advanced features such as multimedia capabilities. iGamac could function a lot like Apple TV and OS X without compromise. Games have been developed for Mac computers so Apple should have some experience here and make iGamac lot like a Mac computer that is primarily for gaming. Apple will finally make Valve's nightmare come true. Modding could be available for iGamac. who knows. iGamac could transform home consoles to PC quality at lower costs in the future.
Input would most likely be HDMI as analog outputs are becoming obsolete and video display is nearing 720p-1080p.
Overall, this is just overview of what iPlay and iGamac would be like, taking inspirations from Nintendo Wii U, Apple Mac OS X, and Microsoft Xbox 720.
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