The Darkness 2's project director Sheldon Carter believes that portable platforms like the iPad will continue to move in on the console market.
"I think there's always going to be a market for high-end, for people who just want to play the most cutting edge. I think there's always going to be a market for, 'I want to flop down on the couch and sit back.'
"I think the home console experience is going to be with us for a long time. Do I think that the iPad will encroach? Absolutely, it has to. You think about how many iPads are out there already, iPads and other mobile devices.
"But I don't think it'll be exclusive, I don't think that just because somebody buys one of those things they wouldn't buy a console."
When we asked whether we could see The Darkness on handhelds in the future, Hill seemed to like the idea of the franchise on Apple devices, although the studio's current focus is on console and PC gaming.
"As a thought experiment yeah I think it'd be pretty awesome," he pondered. "Swiping with the demon arm and grabbing with the demon arm on an iPad, that'd be pretty cool."
Of course, the platform holder that has been compared most directly with Apple recently is Nintendo, thanks to the tablet design of its Wii U controller.
Nintendo insists, however, that its controller was conceived 'years before' the iPad release and that it wasn't built to compete with Apple's slab of tech.
Comments
10 comments so far...
originalbadboy on 5 Jul '11 said:
Yeah thats not going to end in disaster is it ...
You think throwing a Wii Remote against the wall is an expensive 'accident' wait till you smash an IPAD69 doing the same thing
Killermancarro on 5 Jul '11 said:
i could only ever see the ipad type gaming tech to take over times where the misses is watching britains got talent and you've only got one tv and no pc. After the show and she's in a carb coma, you'll ipad down turn to hdmi2 and get your console on.
EvilWaterman on 5 Jul '11 said:
RUBBISH!!
Unless there is a controller involved then i'm not interested in the poncy ipad. Touchpad gaming is crap.
These people talk some s**t!
nicostorm on 5 Jul '11 said:
Dude, just because you or I feel that way, does not mean that is true for everyone. We'd have to be blind to not see that gaming on smart phones/iphones, and ipads/tablets are not becoming more popular, and are (in some way, no matter how small) affect the industry.
Not saying I like it, but I can see it!
toaplan on 5 Jul '11 said:
Maybe it will a little, for those who prefer gaming on the cheap and have only a casual interest in games. But even the ipad2 isn't an alternative for core gamers, it's underpowered and only has those crummy touch controls. Pad3 is going to be released late this year, but will probably not alter the situation radically. Perhaps digital distribution will make console software less expensive in the future, thus enroaching on the ipad's main advantage ie. cheap software prices. At the moment I'm just enjoying Steam summer sales and picking up similarly cheap-priced games that make my lose interest in anything that I have on the Pad...
damoxuk on 5 Jul '11 said:
I have an ipad and it's ok for what it does i.e puzzle games but after playing Dead Space on it I thought nah just does not work. So i'll stick to info apps on it.
Besides playing on a 10" screen or under is no where near playing on a big screen TV with proper controls.
Touchscreen is good but as an alternative/different approach to gaming it's sure as hell ain't competition.
strickers on 5 Jul '11 said:
Touchscreens are only useful for supplemental control.Only puzzle,point and click really work as sole controls.
Just because idiots will buy games with poor control does not mean gamers are not entitled to be upset if it starts to impact on our games.
The 3DS/Vita may sell less because of this misleading acceptance that the iPad/phones are ok for proper games,that will in turn lead to lower software sales,lower budgets,less risk and less games made for decent systems.
Gamers are right to be scared and the fact our own press seem to accept it without challenge,shows the lack of intelligence/foresight in games journalism.
Padua on 5 Jul '11 said:
I think Vita will put some heat on the iPad in terms of quality of all-round gaming experience.
It only loses out on screen-size.
The only way Apple will threaten consoles is if they bring out a tablet with integrated non-touch control method.
Activision take note - this is why there is a market for Vita.
Barca Azul on 5 Jul '11 said:
I still think apple will bring out a media device that will play games and sit under the TV.
Breakout is okay, but its no uncharted.
I remember watching someone playing a racing game at Heathrow, it was fine until he had to turn the screen upside down to take a sharp bend!
liveswired on 7 Jul '11 said:
IPAD SUCKS.