One thing that Apple didn’t get into during its keynote presentation is any possible gaming experiences that might come with its new Apple Watch wearable. Today, however, EA has announced that it’s already prototyping ideas for wearables like Apple Watch. In a blog post from EA’s Mobile gaming head Frank Gibeau, the company announced announced it has a team working on ideas for gaming on wearables including standalone games and second screen experiences for console and mobile games:
I’m also interested to see more about Apple’s new watch – clearly wearables are intriguing as an emerging gaming platform. We have a small group already prototyping ideas right now. We’re thinking about app extensions that could let you dictate gameplay on your phone or console, like accessing the “Team Driver” feature in Real Racing 3 that allows players to make passive progress by having their team driver complete race events when they’re not actively playing the game on their phones.
Gibeau also noted the team is working on standalone gaming experiences for wearables in a brief interview with Cnet. “In fact, we have two teams prototyping wearable experiences that are not only standalone, but also some ideas where you can actually use the fitness component in the watch that can unlock capabilities in the game that might be on your iPhone. Or you could do crafting or some other auction trading on your watch that goes back into your tablet game that you might check out later when you get home.”
In addition, the company announced its next three mobile games today including FIFA 15 Ultimate Team coming later this month and Peggle Blast and SimCity BuildIt in the fall, all with new features for iPhone 6 and iOS 8.
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This could get interesting.
You mean be stupid as hell, because that’s exactly what it is. Apple is stupid as hell for not either allowing a PS4 controller or designing their own controller for gaming. Gaming comes down to control. If you don’t have an ergonomically great, tactile controller, you should only make angry bird type games. Apple NEEDS their own controller or the PS4 controller. Imagine the new Apple TV with gaming, and using that same controller for every other device. Granted you’d have to make an amazing looking clip to attach it to the iPhones/iPods.
No, I meant interesting for EA.
Apple doesn’t have to design a controller, any third part just like iPhone accessories can do that.
You are wise as hell. How about using a joystick? It’s even older than games controllers.
@Besharo So do you think Apple has to design their own phone, or should they leave that to third parties as well? HAHA. Every single third party controller is a piece of trash. I personally own one and it is a piece of complete trash. Apple has to make their own for multiple reasons. The main reason being that it would be of amazing build quality and ergonomics (most important part of gaming controller), and also that developers would actually bother to support it. Third party controller are and always will be a terrible idea. Third party things work when it comes to cases and things like that. NOT CONTROLLERS. 100% different in every way. They require perfection.
Apple Wins!!!! Ea is not doing this for other watches that I know of. Took less than 24 hours for the biggest Software producer to get on board with a product that is months from market. THAT is the power Apple holds!
… that you know of …
How do you know when they started?
I was interested in this kind of ideas! cool!
I’m not sure I’m interested in playing games on such a small screen but hey, perhaps there are compelling experiences to be had. I will say, though, if we’re talking 16 hours of practical battery life then I’m not sure I wanna play games on such a device.
To be clear, I’m referring to standalone experiences. Companion features to iOS games that take advantage of normal communication with the phone I can see.
Bottom line is I think battery life has the potential to be a significant bottleneck in the use of the device and is now my main question mark alongside final pricing.