Apple TV As a Gaming Console?

Engadget reports that Apple's latest iOS 4.3 Beta actually includes hidden references to gaming on the Apple TV.

Several references have been found pertaining to "ATVGames" and "ATVThunder" that point to a controller of some sort, leaderboards (think Game Center), a way to schedule games (multiplayer?), and a store front (think App Store, iTunes).

Engadget speculates that the Apple TV could be used as a streaming gaming platform, similar to the OnLive service, where games are streamed rather than stored locally. The Apple TV does have some local storage (8GB) which is also used for the OS and video buffering.

The Apple TV relaunched in September with an all new compact design. The new Apple TV uses the same A4 processor as the iPhone and iPad and also shares the same operating system. Many expect the Apple TV to eventually get Apps like the other iOS devices, and it looks like Apple might have games specifically planned for the device.