Why Apple’s New iPad Won’t Replace Your Games Console
Last week’s iPad announcement snuck in a few swings at the gaming console market. “This new device has more memory and higher screen resolution than an Xbox 360 or PS3,” said Epic Games president Mike Capps. Is the iPad really a threat to the gaming industry as we know it? Not quite. At least, not yet. That being said, let’s look at a few of the arguments from the Apple fan camp, specifically from Matt Peckham’s Techland article on TIME titled “7 Reasons Apple’s New iPad Could Replace Your Games Console.”
- It’s powerful enough. Yes, the iPad’s new A5X processor is definitely stepping up the game for tablets. Still, comparing it to six to seven year old consoles is a bit misleading. It’s clear that both the Xbox 360 and PS3 are towards the end of their life cycle. With a rumored next-gen Xbox in the works for this year’s E3, let’s wait and see how the new iPad stacks against the specs of a 2012 video game console before drawing true comparisons.
- Speaking of, the new iPad one-ups the PS3 and Xbox 360 in onscreen pixels. While the new retina display will be a big point of differentiation for the new iPad, the hype behind it is a bit overblown. Gamers aren’t exactly rioting over the lack of high pixel resolution. In fact, it’s been quite the opposite. Games like Uncharted 3 and Batman: Arkham City have continued to dazzle and impress gamers all around. Sure the iPad display has a higher pixel density, but it’s limited to the 9.7” screen. When gaming at home, it’s the pixels on the TV that count.
A lack of pixels was the last thing I thought of when I saw this game
- Hello instant, massive, multi-demographic games library. The iOS games library, though vast, is still few and far between for the serious gamer. Sure, my parents can stay occupied for hours on Angry Birds and Sudoku, but even the most “hardcore” of games on iOS still have a long way to go to replace the console gaming experience. Console games still outscore their iOS counterparts on Metacritic. While Mass Effect 3 is scoring in the high 90s, Mass Effect Infiltrator currently scores a 67. At best, we’re seeing 16-bit era ports and simplified versions of current console games on the App Store. Rage HD is an on-rails “shooter.” Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies is a spin-off of a side game from the Black Ops franchise. Neither of these games come close to the full games found on consoles. As fancy as the screen may be, the iPad still has a long way to go to recreate the depth, gameplay experience, and longevity that console games offer.
Not quite 1:1 yet
- iOS games cost peanuts next to console game prices. Comparing an iOS game price to a console game price is like comparing a candy bar to a meal at a steakhouse. Sure, there’s plenty of 99 cent games, but most of them last a few hours at best. Even the more expensive “hardcore” games on iOS are extremely simplified or are stripped down versions of the console game. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the Apple app ecosystem has led to terrible freemium models where gameplay is completely stripped away and replaced with money farming and level capping schemes. EA’s new game “The Simpsons: Tapped Out” takes hours and days just to advance one level unless one is willing to spend real money for the extremely hard to come by donut currency. “Fun” is not quite the word I would use to describe the game.
Waiting 8 hours or having to pay is NOT gaming
- You can take it with you. I’m a big fan of the iPad for its portability but to use it as an argument against the PS3 and Xbox 360 is a bit unfair. One was specifically built for portability, the other is meant for home use. However, even when stacked against the 3DS and PlayStation Vita, the iPad still falls short in providing the gameplay experience. iPad games are great when waiting at the doctor’s office or when taking the bus, but I have yet to encounter a game on iOS that has gotten me as engrossed and engaged as Uncharted on the Vita or Resident Evil: Revelations on the 3DS.
Uncharted on the PlayStation Vita
- It’s a lot more than just a game console. Again, the iPad just isn’t there for gaming. It’s like an all-in-one fax-printer-copier. It can do many things including gaming, but when you’re talking about the hardcore gaming audience that wants that true gaming experience, Angry Birds HD just doesn’t cut it. I enjoy the iPad for doing all the things it does, but the overlap between the iPad and gaming consoles isn’t quite there where one replaces the other. In fact, even the overlap is debatable. While both the iPad and gaming consoles can play movies and Netflix, the experience is completely different between the two. While one can certainly attach the iPad to the TV, personally speaking, I’ve seen the iPad movie experience more for when one is on the go or outside the living room. The gaming consoles (set-top box) bring the movie experience to the couch at home.
- It’ll eventually stream video wireless to your TV and support gamepads. The first half of the statement goes to the above point – until we see that wireless stream, the iPad won’t supplant the set-top box. Even if it does gain the ability, if the iPad is indeed replacing the home computer, will users even want to give up iPad functionality (browsing, chatting, etc.) to stream a movie? It seems that one of the iPad’s biggest draws is the ability to multitask while at home. As for gamepads, it would be hard to imagine Apple standing behind such a peripheral when even the stylus has been vilified by the Cupertino company. There are a few peripherals in development, but to see anything of substance, there would have to be a much bigger collaboration between game developers and these manufacturers.
Project Fiona from Razer
While I’m a big fan of the iPad and happily use it every day, it still has a long way to go before it replaces game consoles, at least for the moderate to hardcore gamer. When it comes to more casual games, like those found on the Wii, there’s definitely an argument to be had on whether or not the iPhone/iPad has cut into Nintendo’s market. That being said, Microsoft and Sony should take note. As the industry continues to change, the market five years from now will continue to evolve. As for 2012 and 2013, I’ll stick to my PlayStations and Xboxes for true gaming.
