On paper, Apple with it’s highly successfully line of iDevices (iPod, iPhone, iPad) is a company that arguably has no equal. You can say due to the reemergence of Steve Jobs in 1997, Apple has become the most innovative company in the last ten years. With a library of patents, award winning products and a mastermind at the helm, Apple could likely join any other tech industry and dominate. Lasha Krikheli (of Onefusedlife.com) posted an article that got me thinking, could Apple become a true market rival in the game industry?

If Apple entered the game industry, it wouldn’t be their first attempt at a game console. In 1995, Apple designed the relatively unknown Pipp!n in a joint venture with Bandai. Yet Apple as we know now wasn’t complete without Mr. Jobs steering the company forward. Apple is familiar with producing revolutionary hit after revolutionary hit; however, Apple doesn’t stand a chance in the game industry if you truly think about it. Below are my five reasons why Apple wouldn’t succeed in the game console market.

5.) Apple’s true strength lies in their ability to create markets or cater to markets that are underdeveloped. The game industry as it is, saturated with three console makers, has little to no room for more consoles. Microsoft with the indirect help of Sony and their Playstation 2 was only able to enter the game console market due to the exit of Sega. Apple would face a steep uphill battle in the same vein as in their competition with Microsoft in the PC industry if they joined the console market.

4.) The game industry isn’t the App Store. Game developers and publishers are essential to the success of hardware. Apple would have to compete with Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft in how they interact with third-party developers. In this industry, you pay for exclusive titles, Downloadable Content (DLC) or timed exclusives (something I don't think Apple is willing to do). Apple’s notorious totalitarian policies and terms wouldn’t stand in an industry where you need every title you can get. Apple would have a hard time telling Activision they can’t publish Call of Duty for their console because Activision doesn’t use an official in-game payment system approved by Apple.

3.) The game industry is all about creating the best original I.P’s. Nintendo has Mario, Zelda and more. Sony has Kratos and Gran Turismo whereas Microsoft has Master Chief, Marcus and Dom. Apple has the pig king from Angry Birds? The success of the modern console is more and more dependent on the first-party I.P. and Apple would have to hope they could find a “Bungie” caliber studio.

2.) Apple’s own culture and history of high end device prices is counterproductive to the game industry. Apple creates great products but sells those great products for higher than market prices. You only have to take a look at Sony and the PS3 to know that even if you have enjoyed past success, there is no promise that your devotees will spend $500 plus for your console, never mind the average family.

1.) The game industry has Nintendo. In many ways, Nintendo is the “Apple” of the game industry. Whereas other companies compete on hardware specs, Nintendo is about the user experience and innovation. Apple probably could compete well with both Sony and Microsoft, but the trump card is Nintendo.

While this article is purely speculation, I am sure Apple is appraising different tech markets and if you go by history, another stab at the gaming industry wouldn’t be an impossibility. Apple does have the iPod Touch product line but I do find it hard to believe core gamers would purchase an iPod Touch solely to play games. In the end, the game industry is all about the games and not really about the extras. Apple is an expert of creating software, hardware solutions, but creating a platform that doesn’t alienate publishers and developers while appealing to core and casual gamers is a total different ballgame.

Credit/Source:

This SOMM Soapbox entry was inspired by and is a response to the article Apple + Gaming beyond iOS devices by Lasha Krikheli of Onefusedlife.com.