Could Tablets Replace Game Consoles?

[SuperIntendant]

The quad-core graphics processor in the new iPad's A5X system-on-chip may not quite be able to match a PlayStation 3, but some games industry bigwigs believe it's only a matter of time before Apple's tablet catches up to consoles. In comments made to Reuters, Epic Games president and perennial iPad keynote guest Mike Capps had this to say:

 

"Apple is definitely building their devices as if they care a lot about 'triple-A' games. It is quite easy to imagine a world where an iPad is more powerful than a home console, where it wirelessly talks to your TV and wirelessly talks to your controller and becomes your new console."

 

The comments have more weight than they otherwise might, coming from a company which has historically been on the vanguard of cutting-edge video game technology with the Unreal series on PC, Gears of War trilogy on Xbox 360, and most recently Infinity Blade on iOS. The Infinity Blade series has made Epic the poster boy for iOS development, and the company would probably be more likely than any third party to know about Apple's future plans — that said, Capps has been pushing Microsoft and Sony to make their next generation consoles as powerful as possible to maintain the gap with mobile devices. Any theoretical iPad-as-console setup would presumably use the new 1080p-capable Apple TV for output, though that wouldn't solve the thorny issue of control.

 

Frank Gibeau of Electronic Arts agrees that the iPad could replace the traditional console as a gaming hub, saying "When the iPad gets to the processing power that's equal to an Xbox 360 and it connects to a television, that's no big deal to us. We'll put the game through the iPad and have it display through the television." Finally, studio manager Kristoffer Waardahl of Crytek said "As more people come to these platforms, we have to follow our fans," explaining why the studio most known for pushing the highest of the high-end graphics in hardcore games is releasing its first iPad title this spring.

 

Taken from "The Verge"

Author Sam Byford, Posted March 13, 2012

 

So, this is an interesting thought, tablets which cost just as much and even less than some consoles almost have the ability to out do them in hardware and already can do what consoles are just now becoming capable of (YouTube, apps, etc). So why not Video Games?

 

 

What do you guys think? Personally I would welcome the change since it will probably lead to a bigger use of digital distribution (which I'm a huge fan of), cheaper games, and most likely cross console... err tablet multi player. They mentioned in the article being able to connect to Apple TV to be able to watch the game on your TV, I figure that would use Bluetooth systems at least on the iPad given that is how Apple devises tend to communicate with each other, this would allow for pretty great compatibility with things like controllers, and would eliminate all those pesky wires.

 

Before you say, "No! I will never game on a touch screen!", relax it would undoubtedly come with a compatible controller. I really want to hear what you guys have to say because I thought that this was really interesting.

[ZB-85]

No.. the console will always reign. Tablets may have some games on it.. but it won't replace consoles.

[Stealth Pilot]

If it does happen, I want my Xbox 360 controller to be compatable, or something exactly like it. I won't be able to adjust otherwise. I am not a big apple fan, but if this happens im not sure how I will feel about it.

[SuperIntendant]

If it does happen, I want my Xbox 360 controller to be compatable, or something exactly like it. I won't be able to adjust otherwise. I am not a big apple fan, but if this happens im not sure how I will feel about it.

It probably would be, as long as someone made a bluetooth compatible XBox controller than any of the tablets could probably use it.

 

I think the big problem with this would be in digital distribution since the average person in the UK for instance only has a 2mbps download speed, downloading something like Skyrim on that could prove to be problematic.

[Mr. DJ]

I wouldn't buy it... i kind of hate apple.

[SuperIntendant]

I wouldn't buy it... i kind of hate apple.

Well there would be the usual group of competitors who would offer an identical system (for instance Samsung) who you could choose from.

[Azaxx]

No, i dont think so

[Archangel Tyrael]

I rather have my console thanks..

[Lᴜᴋᴇ]

I don't think it will happen. Not in the foreseeable future anyway. People will always like the feel of a controller in their hands, and playing on a TV, etc.

[SuperIntendant]

I don't think it will happen. Not in the foreseeable future anyway. People will always like the feel of a controller in their hands, and playing on a TV, etc.

Well, it would hook up to a controller and TV through Bluetooth, as far as how you use it, it should be the same as a console except with a second screen which could hold the map or scoreboard.

[OfficialHyDeaf]

game consoles will rule the world!

[Mr Biggles]

PC consoles own everything, and always will.

[Zuko 'Zarhamee]

Game consoles will never be replaced by some stupid tablet. Never.

[Twinreaper]

Yeah agreed. Saying tablets will overtake Consoles or even PC's, is like saying that cats and dogs will overtake humanity. Tablets are fad devices with no real horsepower behind them. For what it's worth, lets see some benchmark results from Apple....Oh wait thats right....they conveniently didn't have any on hand and couldn't find anyone who had any. I'm callin horse**** on the whole Apple graphics >Nvidia thing as well. Mobile devices will always suffer. Even when they do have quad-core cpu's inside...the architecture is too small and needs to much voltage to remain at a nominal frequency and threading to operate and produce quality graphics for extended times. Even if they did get games like Halo 4 on them...you'd get like what......20 minutes playtime to a charge?

[BirdieJuice]

i just don't see it

[Mr Biggles]

for starters, how would you be able to update a tablet? you can't add anything because the equipment will probably be specialised, and i doubt they'll start their own tablet thing for improving, cause ti'll cose them laods of money and people will still use PC / xbox anyway.

[Father B]

What I took from the article:

 

The iPad and similar tablet PC's are just mobile devices and will be nothing but mobile devices. When you're at home, you (probably) have a desktop PC to surf the web on. When you want to game, you have better, more powerful systems on which to do so. When you want to watch media, you have a TV you (might have) spent big money on, connected to a home theater system (or close approximation) on which to view movies, television programs, et cetera.

 

The only thing I read in the article that says a mobile device has any real function in your home is the part where it said that they would serve as a hub for connecting multiple separate electronics.

 

So the question is: How long until other businesses make their own, cheaper devices that do the same thing?

 

Mobile devices need to stop trying to be anything but mobile devices. Attempts thus far have glistened with the shine of novelty, but that will wear off with the introduction of better, less expensive replacements.

[Noahsammy99]

I,have a tablet. Its how I was able to write this. Its how I comkunicate with you guys. I have a dell streak 7. There are periodic updates for tablets all for free. Trust me this thing is nowhere near as fun as my 360

[Caboose]

no

 

nuff said

[DaveAtStateFarm]

IMO it would be nice.

But consoles, to me, always will reign ontop.

[Auramyst]

Never! Consoles are the best!!!!