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5 unanswered questions about iPad

How much RAM? Game prices? Can it make you a snack?

5 unanswered questions about iPad
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With less than a week left before the iPad launch, there are still questions about the nature of the device and its probable impact on games.

From simple technical details to move elusive topics regarding price and games quality, these questions are sure to be answered come Saturday April 3rd.

We can confirm today that, contrary to reports, iPad cannot make tasty snacks.

What are the specifications of its graphics processing unit?

For game developers, this is one of the biggest unknowns and a critical piece of information that impacts the game-making process. Apple has publicly released details on the central processing unit (CPU), but insists on keeping quiet on the specifications of the graphics accelerator inside iPad.

We do know that it contains a PowerVR SGX chip, but have no clue if it's the same as employed in iPhone and iPod touch devices or a new version built for iPad.

The vast majority of launch games will have been developed on emulation software - not actual iPad hardware. That means these initial games won't be anywhere near to flexing the device's true muscle.

Instead, it will take some time for developers to learn what sort of graphics processing hardware is inside and then seize that potential in new games.

Once this happens, expect a huge jump in the quality of graphics as developers learn the ins and outs of the hardware.

How much RAM does it have?

Probably of greater importance that knowing what sort of graphics processor the device packs, figuring out how much memory iPad holds is vital in helping developers construct their games. The speed at which games run, how detailed the graphics look, the amount of things going on in the game - all of this is impacted by the amount of available RAM.

Since developers have only been working with emulation software and not physical hardware, they've been essentially in the dark as to what iPad has inside. Apple has not publicly stated the amount of RAM in iPad - it doesn't appear on the device's technical specifications.

We should have a clear picture as to the amount of RAM after Saturday.

Will accelerometer-centric games be a good fit for iPad?

Several games are betting that you're going to love tilting your iPad, yet it's not clear just how well these games will work. Labyrinth 2 and Real Racing HD offer examples of two different games that utilise the accelerometer on iPhone and iPod touch to great effect and hope to do the same on iPad.

The concern relates to the size of iPad and whether its bulk will be comfortably moved with two hands. Weight isn't the concern, rather dimension. Tilting an iPhone or iPod touch is intuitive, but a larger iPad might not feel all that natural.

Added concern over the large screen being so close to your face could result in twitchy games like Real Racing HD triggering sensory overload. It sounds like a stretch, but we'll know on Saturday.

Will there be a consensus on game pricing?

Of all the questions to be asked, this is one which can be answered with a definitive "no." From our early research, game prices are all over the map. $9.99 for Real Racing HD is a far cry from the 59p/99c to be asked by Battle for Wesnoth.

Obviously, quality, and complexity play a huge role in determining the price of any game that looks to be true with iPad launch titles. What's interesting, though, is how iPhone and iPod touch ports are trending higher than the price of the original release.

For example, Flight Control HD is being pegged at $4.99 - a full $4 increase from the 99c iPhone original. Cro-Mag Rally is set for $9.99, which is three times the tag of the iPhone and iPod touch version.

You can read more about the spread of iPad game pricing over on our sister website PocketGamer.biz.

The real question to ask isn't whether there will be consensus on day one, but where prices will go in the weeks and months ahead? Will there be a race to 59p/99c as there has been on iPhone and iPod touch or can iPad games maintain higher prices point?

Will there be enough units to meet day one demand?

While there's no way of knowing ahead of Saturday's launch, it appears that enough devices will be available to meet demand or close to it. It's anticipated that the majority of iPad purchases made on April 3rd will be confirmed pre-orders and not walk-ins. If that's the case, then Apple will likely have enough devices to satisfy demand.

One worrying point, however, is that launch day pre-orders were cut off this week. If you pre-order an iPad now, your unit will be shipped on April 12.

This could be a sign that Apple has run out of its initial allotment: alternatively, if may have capped pre-orders in order to ensure that there are enough units left for walk-in customers on April 3rd. The latter seems most likely.

Tracy Erickson
Tracy Erickson
Manning our editorial outpost in America, Tracy comes with years of expertise at mashing a keyboard. When he's not out painting the town red, he jets across the home of the brave, covering press events under the Pocket Gamer banner.