iTunes update reveals Apple TV game details

We've already had a pretty good indication that the Apple TV would boast some limited gaming capabilities, but it looks like we now have the next best thing to an official announcement, with the latest iTunes update all but confirming the shiny little box's unheralded feature. As AppleInsider dug up, the newly revised software contains no less than two dozen text strings relating to game management, including juicy details about syncing games, alerts about lack of space, and warnings about attempts to transfer unauthorized games to the Apple TV. Of course, there's no details about when those strings may actually be put to use, or what form the seemingly inevitable games will take, although unless Apple's also got some peripherals planned, we can't see them being much more than souped-up iPod titles.

[DannyMac @ Mar 6th 2007 1:17PM]

This is interesting, but wouldn't we need some type of controller besides the Apple remote? I really don't want to play games with the Apple Remote... Perhaps not all the details about the Apple TV have been revealed yet? Maybe they have a controller they have yet to unveil?

[Jermaine Pulliam @ Mar 6th 2007 1:21PM]

I"m pretty sure that this rumor has already been found as just that: a rumor.

[Leonard Nimrod @ Mar 6th 2007 4:22PM]

It's not a rumour if it can be verified. The info in this article is true.

These are the questions we need to be asking:
1) Will Apple open up the AppleTV to play games right away?
2) Are these the sme games used by the 5G iPod?
3) Will Apple offer a different, non-infrared remote, for playing the games?
3a) There is no mention of Bluetooth in the AppleTV so will it be an 802.11b remote?
3b Will this be included or cost extra?

[hyloka @ Mar 6th 2007 1:37PM]

All Apple has to do is start selling a seperate motion based remote accessory and Nintendo might find the casual games market quite a bit more crowded. Don't know the exact specs on the AppleTV, but it can't be much weaker than a Wii. Apple may reach 10M "consoles" in the home before Sony and will bypass retailers taking a cut of their profits on games, since it will all be direct downloads.

[Jim @ Mar 6th 2007 1:42PM]

What I REALLY want to know is if this thing is gonna have a visualizer for music playing other than "Cover Flip". Whoop-dee-doo...

[Tony Bowman @ Mar 6th 2007 1:47PM]

rumor smashed already. check out http://www.macuser.com/hardware/busting_the_apple_tv_games_rum.php

[Matt @ Mar 6th 2007 3:51PM]

That's hardly "smashing the rumor". In fact, as someone stated there, it seems to make it stronger. It seems that iTunes games will be able to be synced with the iPhone and Apple TV. Makes sense, really.

[Dave @ Mar 6th 2007 1:53PM]

I hope it can run more games than their computers.

[Dave @ Mar 6th 2007 1:54PM]

^-Meaning their OS--not the hardware.

[Nima M. @ Mar 6th 2007 2:21PM]

the covetted iWii?

[Nick @ Mar 6th 2007 2:25PM]

But can it run Doom?

[Mathew @ Mar 6th 2007 2:39PM]

Rumor or not it would be stupid for Apple to totally ignore the potential of including gaming capabilities. The perfect device for me would be an Apple TV/Nintendo Wii hybrid with a DVD playback. That would be worth $500 to me and I think a lot of other people.

[Anto @ Mar 6th 2007 3:09PM]

I think the controller for this device will be the iPhone.

[Jennifer @ Mar 6th 2007 3:24PM]

It would be pretty wild if the Apple TV could play the iTunes games. (They are small and simple -- but isn't the Wii doing well because of that same reason?)

It wouldn't be a major reason to buy it, but a nice little extra. Of course -- the main purpose behind the Apple TV is revolutionary enough -- cable-bypass television. In other words, "over the top" - a term explained here:
http://advancedmediacommittee.typepad.com/emmyadvancedmedia/2007/01/over_the_top_fi.html

I plan to get an Apple TV, game or no games. It just sounds pretty cool.

- Jennifer

[michael @ Mar 6th 2007 7:12PM]

It might be probaly full of bugs. It hasn't been out yet, so it's best not to be so optimistic before it comes out. I just don't want you to feel so dissapointed if that happens.

[coprock @ Mar 6th 2007 4:42PM]

Another mediocre application for a mediocre device. How long have media streaming devices been around?

A music visualizer might be one of the device's more exciting features.

[Michael @ Mar 6th 2007 5:02PM]

Apple Remote:

< > + - = dpad

>|| = a

Menu = b

good basic controls.

[Twist @ Mar 6th 2007 5:24PM]

Could be a neat extra feature but I don't think it will have any effect on the console gaming market. The Apple TV's GPU probably makes the Wii's look like a powerhouse after all. Also the remote may be a decent bare-bones remote but just like the iPod's click wheel it doesn't scream gaming controller. Now them if they were to include the drivers for the Xbox 360 Wireless Accessory USB Adapter then it would at least have a first class controller.

[shane4x4 @ Mar 6th 2007 6:14PM]

Games will just add to the value of the Apple TV. I can't wait to get mine!
http://www.applehdtv.net

[mike @ Mar 6th 2007 8:08PM]

"^-Meaning their OS--not the hardware"

Aw shucks.. you submitted the comment, then realized that Macs run every piece of software known to man. Phooey!

[Galley @ Mar 6th 2007 8:19PM]

I would be sporting a tremendous woody if Apple TV supported 720P games. I tend to prefer "casual" arcade and puzzle games anyway.

[Sam @ Mar 6th 2007 8:34PM]

it's the return of the PIPPIN!!!

[Leonard Nimrod @ Mar 6th 2007 10:10PM]

Kev50027 wrote: "The Apple TV just seems like a dumb idea to me. If I wanted extremely proprietary software running on a DVR, I'd be..well...stupid. Tivo runs Linux, you can't get much less proprietary than that. Not sure whether they opened their source code or not, but I DO know that Apple never will."

1) How many people purchase appliances with a desire to run open source software on it? Seriously, I really hope you don't think tinkering with consumer electronic OSes is a common interest.

2) AppleTV is 'not' a DVR. It does not compete with DVRs. It's designed to be a media appliance, an extention of your copumter's media, an iPod for your HDTV. Why exactly would you want that to be open?

3) Since it's an Intel PCU and other commonly known HW it won't be long before enthusists are running Linux on the AppleTV. Beyond the achievement or being first to do it, there is really no reason to do so. If you don't ebelive me, find me an iPod runnign Linux that works as seamlessly as my iPod OS.

4) Under the Linux license, TiVo has to release any changes it's made to the Linux code, so, yes, TiVo's Linux code is open and known to anyone who cares.

[anon @ Mar 6th 2007 11:01PM]

Kev50027 wrote:

"It's not that people want to run open source software on their devices, it's that they want to run ANY software."
==> It's an appliance. I don't wnat to run 3rd-party apps on my DVD player so why would I want to my media extender?

"Take the iPhone for example, it doesn't even run any 3rd party applications from the start, that's like saying "this is a smartphone that isn't smart".
==> Stating that a smart phone can only be defined as such if it's an open platform certainly a lot of FUD.

"The reason the PSP was such a hit (and yes, no matter what the biased Engadget people tell you, it was a hit)was because it runs 3rd party code."
==> Aren't the PS3 and XBOX360 closed platforms? And yet you don't mind having a $600 gaming appliance and a DVR appliance with a subscription for several hundreds dollars more than having a simple AppleTV appliance?

"An iPod for your HDTV eh? Then why doesn't it include any HD cables? Does it even have an HDMI port?"
==> The AppleTV officially only supports HDTVs. It has HDMI, component and optical audio.

If you aren't a gamer (like me), you can use your PC/Mac as a DVR + Media Extender for the cheapest and easiest solution for streaming your media. I've tried the D-Link media Extender and it was a pretty awful experience. If my experience with Apple products is any indication, the AppleTV with its Bonjour networking, 3rd-party USB2.0 DVR connected to my computer, and my auto encoding and importing into iTunes is any indcation of things to come, I'll be very happy with the AppleTV.

[ph @ Mar 7th 2007 1:25AM]

Or get an xbox 360, which is already a media extender, and plays games much better than this ever will.

[Music Interfaces @ Mar 7th 2007 1:23PM]

I'm all made up about the full screen Coverflow, don't care about the Apple TV so much.
musicinterfaces.com

[Michael0o @ Mar 9th 2007 6:15AM]

Apple-Cisco iPhone Deal Positions Firms To Jointly Pursue Wi-Fi And VoIP

source: http://www.appletvconverter.net/news/