Learning Game Design with Arcade Berg

8Apr/100

iPhone Game Achievements

More than once have I complained about my dislike for achievements in games. Most notably in a special earlier post:

http://arcadeberg.com/causerie/achievements/ (24/8/09)

Just a few hours ago Apple announced a "Game Center" with among other things achievement support.

Another major announcement today was Apple's intention to provide a centralized Game Center that offers users a way to track achievements, high scores and offer matchmaking services for online multiplayer. The system sounds similar to Microsoft's Xbox Live service which has been very popular.

http://www.macrumors.com/2010/04/08/apple-introduces-game-center-for-leaderboards-and-achievements/ (8/4/2010)

This is in no way surprising and even though I overall dislike the concepts of achievements to measure the size of ones gaming e-penis, I'm still very fond of this Game Center.

Partly because it shows a strong sense and will to get serious about gaming from Apple's side and partly because with a communication device such as the iPhone, it's obvious that you should try and connect players. And by doing so in a centralized manner is a great thing for developers and consumers alike!

28Jan/102

iPad as a gaming platform

Finally, Apple's tablet is announced; the "iPad".

http://www.apple.com/ipad/#video (27/1/2010)

iPad... I don't like the name.

I'm so very disappointed in so many ways that I won't even go into to it here, because what I want to focus on is gaming.

I think the iPad will be an awesome gaming platform! One could argue that whatever it can do, you can do on an iPhone but I disagree. Size does matter!

I want to play adventure games on this baby! And pretty much every other genre as well. I can see so many great games requiring you to use both your hands for.

For a long time I've had a design for a (great, of course) game without having a fitting platform for it. The way I imagined it, it would be for Wacom-people, but that never felt ultimate; this does! So what I need now is one or several iPad-programmers and an artist, then we're on a roll!

And here's a thought. There's a keyboard dock (thank you!) for it. Does that mean we can do games that require a keyboard? If so, that's great and open up for even more possibilities!

I'm not sure yet whether to buy one or not. There are so many down-sides, and seriously, no flash!? But I so want to develop for it!

Look! It's a really, really, really gimped laptop!

wtb rock, plz!