Gaming Industry Invited to Apple Media Event

Several media sources related to gaming, including IGN and Kotaku, have received invitations to Apple's media event scheduled for next week. According to IGN, representatives of several game makers have also been invited to the event. While the invitations suggest that gaming may be at least something of a focus at the event, it remains unclear it might be related to Apple's tablet device or simply iPhone OS 4.0, both of which are rumored to be topics of conversation.

Consider these few additional tantalizing hints about the event, though. Myself and another iPhone games writer received invites for this event today, as did contacts at a handful of iPhone game makers. Why would Apple want us collected at this event if there was not some game-related news on the horizon?

While gaming offerings for the tablet would certainly not be a surprise, the question remains whether Apple could look to position the tablet as a gaming device. Although the device's large screen could offer some distinct advantages over traditional handheld gaming systems and the company's own iPhone and iPod touch as has been demonstrated in the past, its expected relatively high price would likely make it difficult to position the tablet solely for gaming.

On the other hand, if iPhone OS 4.0 is in fact scheduled for an introduction at the event, the presence of gaming industry representatives may be less of a surprise. Gaming has played an important role in the success of the iPhone and iPod touch, and demonstrations from game developers have figured prominently in many of Apple's iPhone OS presentations. So while gaming appears to have garnered a greater importance to Apple when drawing up its guest list this time around, we still must wait until next week to discover whether Apple has some major gaming news up its sleeve or if it is simply acknowledging the important role gaming already plays in the iPhone ecosystem.