Loose Threads: Are iPhone games worth getting excited about?

Welcome to our brand new weekly feature, Loose Threads. Or should we say 'your' weekly feature? We jolly well should, actually, because unlike the rest of the site which panders predominantly to the news, views and press releases of game publishers, developers and, well, us, this one's all about what you've had to say.

And before you ask, no, we're not fed up of churning out crafting and honing our own purple prose. It's just that we've noticed an increasing swell of forthright, frank and well informed opinions brewing in our forums (along with a whole host of equally misguided, ill-advised and just plain random ones – life without balance is nothing) and thought it only fair to turn the spotlight around and give credit where it's due.

Our basic plan is that each week we will pluck out a few threads that have been chewed over in the PG forum and expose their half-digested form to a wider audience, in what will hopefully be a cheap and controversial informative and entertaining regular feature that you'll come to fear and mock know and love.

The Burning Issue… iPhone gaming

In this inaugural week we are weighing in on the techie topic du jour: the iPhone and its potential as a gaming machine. Even as a joyless game-free black rectangle that so far serves exclusively as a repository for the probing party hands of tech-loving perverts everywhere, it's still hard to resist the lure of the thing.

There's no doubt that the availability of software development kits (SDKs) is going to prompt some companies to start developing iPhone games, but the whole idea throws up some interesting questions.
Do we need them? Will they be any good? Will they sell? Will they all just be degenerate manure-ware titles about rubbing the rude bits of barely pubescent anime girls?

Cocky cynicism aside, we do think that the iPhone has the grapes to go the gaming mile, it's just a case of whether or not devs will take the platform seriously. And there are other pitfalls to consider, too.

Forum big cat, MattyLion, commented in our iPhone games wishlist thread:

"So much potential I agree, but it seems Apple's iPhone will be the antithesis of the GPX200. Open source vs Fort Knox!"

It's a valid point; sporting the now tried-and-tested touchscreen as an interface method, the device is ripe with potential. But in the absence of firm details about how third-party software will be distributed and Steve Jobs' white knuckled grip on the keys to the unit's chastity belt, it's hard to know how easy it'll be for small developers working on a low budget to get into the iPhone's pants.

There is a chance we'll end up with an iTunes intravenous drip consisting of such exciting titles as Super Duper Tetris Deluxe 7: The Kremlin's Comeback and Match Coloured Blocks to Make Them Disappear 6.

Another forum mainstay, Mandark, chipped in:

"Well if EA can develop for it then all the types of mobile games will end up on the iPhone, ranging from ProStreet to FIFA to card games."

It is known that EA is developing titles for the device and as much as we love franchises like The Need for Speed and FIFA, it would be nice to see some original titles appear on the iPhone.

Our resident forum cuddly toy, BigBear, certainly thinks ports from another direction might be more interesting:

"What about porting DS or PSP titles? Okay there's no dual screen, but with the big touchscreen, decent processor power and sizeable install base, this must be an option for less demanding games at least?"

We're inclined to agree and some of the best DS and PSP games are of the less demanding sort. Surely versions of games like Lumines, Panzer Tactics or maybe even something like Sonic Rush Adventure wouldn't be out of the question?

Our verdict? The iPhone could be great as a gaming machine but it will probably fail to reach that level. Games will no doubt be delivered via iTunes and companies like EA will have a fast track to the device, while smaller devs and original games will have a harder time. Expect hordes of puzzlers and a few big franchise games, then, but not much else. Sexy Sudoko Touch anyone?

In other news…

Aside from the above main issue, what else has been happening in the darkened corners of our comments system?

Glad you ask. One of our newer members, FaithOmitted, is looking for help:

"I used to have this quasi-handheld game system. It had a headband to situate itself at eye level, it had a little flip-down plastic screen where the video game showed up. It was all red LED or LCD (probably the former), and only had a few games. I only remember playing Mortal Kombat on it. A controller was wired to the headset and had, as I recall, quite a few buttons. I had this thing probably about a decade ago, and it was never a huge hit (I bought it in the toy aisle, not an electronics department), but I really want to dig up another one. Does anyone know what this obscure "console" is?"

Any ideas? Us neither, all we know is we want one too so that we can finally live out our Tron/Borg/Universal Soldier fantasies in the office so if anyone can help…

Elsewhere, we couldn't help but notice mobile football games have been getting a damned good kicking with ArthurMorax and Nick Dawson well and truly putting the boot into both Pro Evolution Soccer and Real Football 2007, giving the former 1/10 and the latter 1/10 and 4/10, respectively.

On the subject, meanwhile, Chrisddd remarked:

"I don't think football games are that well suited for mobile phones. The screens are too small and you need too many buttons."

Curiously, however, FIFA 08 was spared the same treatment. Hmm, could it be a smear campaign funded by the gaming giant or did the intrepid commentators just get bored?

Moving on, another new member, SetsFireToPoshHammer, chimed in on our end-of-week opinion piece about the whole DS redesign/successor debacle:

"I think a new DS would share some of the Wii's characteristics but not necessarily the whole motion sensing thing. I think the addition of the Wii's channels and some sort of Virtual Console crossover between the two consoles is much more likely. Just think, you could download a SNES game, play it at home on your Wii, and then when you head out, continue playing it on your DS 2 (or whatever Ninty decide to call it)."

Sounds interesting to us and has in fact prompted us to lay down the gauntlet for next week's topic: Next-gen handhelds – what the hell do we want from them? The forum floor is well and truly open.

Okay, that's it for now. Do let us know what sort of topics you'd like us to cover in Loose Threads and remember this feature is all about you, gorgeous readers, so check out our forum and get chatting!

Oh, and as usual click 'Track It!' to be sure to catch next week's hotchpotch discussion mash-up.