Yesterday there was a whole lot of excitement across the internet about Apple’s announcement of the iPad. That excitement changed to disappointment in some people as they felt like they weren’t getting “the next big thing.” In fact a common trend is that the iPad is just a large iPhone. I’m not here to debate that point however. I am here to discuss how amazing a “large iPhone” just may be for the MMO market. I’ve spent a lot of time talking about how I think MMOs should break into the iPhone market and a larger, more powerful device makes me even more sure that this is the right direction!
The iPhone is a prime candidate for MMO integration. It is virtually always connected to the internet, reasonably powerful and has the app store readily available. Developers can take time creating small programs that integrate into their larger product to ensure that players are engaged even when they’re not playing. Need to tell your raid leader you won’t be there tonight? Log into the new “guild chat app” and tell him! Want to check for a special item in the auction house? Use the “shop from anywhere app” and buy it! Those are just simple examples of what could be done with an iPhone. Why stop there though?
The iPad offers the same benefits of the iPhone. You can purchase a model with a very affordable data plan to ensure constant internet connectivity. It is more powerful than the iPhone, shares a similar development kit and it has access to the app store! More importantly the device has a whole lot more screen real estate. This opens up a lot of opportunities to include far more data than could previously be handled on the iPhone. The increased processing power also gives developers a bit more to work with when it comes to what possibilities are available for programming.
Following another line of thought is the fact that this device might be able to run a full version of an MMO as it stands. There are a few browser based games coming out with light system requirements. Will the iPad be able to run them? I would hope so but without flash support it is hard to say. That, in my eyes, cripples the device until the web moves away from flash and into HTML5. I imagine it could handle World of Warcraft considering the system requirements are two cans, a piece of wire and a TI85 calculator! With the touch pad capability you might end up with a pretty amazing user experience.
Given that the iPad is reasonably affordable and has access to the same resources already available to the iPhone I see developers stepping in pretty quickly to push apps out there. We’ve seen several MMO companies do so already and I hope that more jump on board. I’m still waiting for SOE to open up EQ2 in some way for my phone. I’d like to be able to manage the guild while I’m jetting around the country and can’t pull out my laptop! Will this change our industry? What do you think?
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How are you going to communicate with other people in the game when typing is painfully slow and there’s no voice capability?
You’d basically have to use the bluetooth keyboard to play a “full MMO.” But if you’re just using a guild chat app I’d think the on screen keyboard would be fine. Nothing is too time sensative that way.
Y’know, I wasn’t excited about the iPad until I started thinking about playing WoW on it
I highly doubt it would run but it would be nice…
It wouldn’t but it is fun to dream. The system specs are actually pretty close though. I still love to claim my whole “WoW runs on anything” thing though!
2 words: no flash
It’s a big deal. Apple needs to get Flash on its Ipod and Ipad if they really want to take the next leap with their app store, for games.
Agreed. Same thing with other portable internet-ready devices, like the PSP and DS. The lack of flash is a huge downside.
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