Apple Nixes Support for New iPod Click Wheel Games?
Joystiq reported earlier this week on the release of Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes - Encore, a new iPhone game available in paid [App Store, $9.99] and lite [App Store, Free] versions from developer Square Enix. Included in the report is mention that the new iPhone games contain touch-enabled versions of both the original Song Summoner that was a popular click wheel iPod game and Song Summoner 2, which was interestingly never released, reportedly because Apple has abandoned the click wheel game format.
While it is certainly no surprise that Apple has focused its energies on App Store applications for the iPhone and iPod touch that offer a significantly more advanced user experience than click wheel-based games, to our knowledge Apple has never officially acknowledged that it has ceased to support new games for its traditional iPods.
Rather than being a simple touchscreen-enabled port of the original click wheel game, the iPhone Song Summoner contains both Song Summoner and Song Summoner 2, which was never released due to Apple ending support for click wheel games.
Apple continues to offer a number of iPod Click Wheel Games via the iTunes Store, but no new games have been released since Cake Mania 3 in February of this year. Apple introduced iPod Click Wheel Games alongside iTunes 7 in September 2006 and released a total of nearly 50 games over the following two and half years.While it is certainly no surprise that Apple has focused its energies on App Store applications for the iPhone and iPod touch that offer a significantly more advanced user experience than click wheel-based games, to our knowledge Apple has never officially acknowledged that it has ceased to support new games for its traditional iPods.
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29 months ago
Not all that surprising - besides, existing games will remain functional on the older iPods.
Progress happens.
Progress happens.
29 months ago
Although I know no one, except myself when I still owned a fourth gen ipod nano ;) , who actually played anything on this ipod, keep it up! ;)
I used to play this music-quizgame, (dunno the actual name) where you have to guess which song is played (which year, band, n) or the blocker clone =)
:cool:
I used to play this music-quizgame, (dunno the actual name) where you have to guess which song is played (which year, band, n) or the blocker clone =)
:cool:
29 months ago
As much as I like the click wheel, I think its days are numbered. Apple is pushing the Touch like crazy, only keeping the Classic around for guys like me who want everything, and I mean EVERYTHING with them at all times. As soon as SSDs drop in price to where they can replace the HDD in a Classic, we'll see the Classic phased out of Apple's lineup. Then, probably a redesigned Nano.
I'd speculate that if Apple isn't forbidding new click-wheel games, they're strongly discouraging the practice.
I'd speculate that if Apple isn't forbidding new click-wheel games, they're strongly discouraging the practice.
29 months ago
I don't find this surprising. Apple always discontinues things without telling the public.
I think Apple is planning to move away from the click wheel iPod completely so there is no need for people to develop for them anymore.
I think Apple is planning to move away from the click wheel iPod completely so there is no need for people to develop for them anymore.
29 months ago
What's worse is Apple is refusing to allow a vendor to provide legacy hardware support when they actually want to.
Why not let them?
Rocketman
Why not let them?
Rocketman
29 months ago
Rocketman and others...
What makes you think Apple has anything to do with it? It is implied, but no specific info says they blocked its release. So no new games have been made for a while. Developers are focusing on the new platform - one that'll continue to grow for years to come.
If you were a developer, which would you put more resources into?
The click-wheel iPod's days are numbered. Devs plan accordingly.
What makes you think Apple has anything to do with it? It is implied, but no specific info says they blocked its release. So no new games have been made for a while. Developers are focusing on the new platform - one that'll continue to grow for years to come.
If you were a developer, which would you put more resources into?
The click-wheel iPod's days are numbered. Devs plan accordingly.
29 months ago
WHOA! ipod nano and ipod video have games?! WTH!?!!!! hahaha
I forgot.......since they put most of their propaganda on the iphone OS;)
I forgot.......since they put most of their propaganda on the iphone OS;)
29 months ago
Dudes this does NOT mean the Clickwheel iPods' days are outnumbered, it only means that Apple wants games to be on the iPod Touch and the iPhone. The App Store is such a big business that they want anyone looking for games to turn to the iPhone and iPod Touch instead of the Nano/Classic.
Considering how much more the iPod Touch costs, it's very unlikely for Apple to discontinue the Clickwheel iPods anytime soon. Plus, consider the size as well: if someone only wants to listen to music and nothing else, they don't need an iPod Touch sized device.
This only means that Apple wants games to be focused on the iPhone/iPod Touch, so that people who want games on their iPod would get one of those.
Considering how much more the iPod Touch costs, it's very unlikely for Apple to discontinue the Clickwheel iPods anytime soon. Plus, consider the size as well: if someone only wants to listen to music and nothing else, they don't need an iPod Touch sized device.
This only means that Apple wants games to be focused on the iPhone/iPod Touch, so that people who want games on their iPod would get one of those.
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