iPhone is "future of gameplay" - Apple

Apple marketing exec Greg Joswiak has declared that the iPhone and iPod Touch represent "the future of gameplay" - unlike dusty old antiques the DS and PSP.

Joswiak was speaking in an interview with T3. Referring to the 1500 software titles already available for Apple products, he stated, "The gameplay I think has surprised a lot of people, because it’s not just the casual games... There are already so many games and as we look at it, to us it really seems this is the future of gameplay.

"Whereas a lot of these devices [Nintendo DS and Sony PSP] are more in the past," Joswiak continued. "And a big part of that is not just the device itself, which is easier to carry, and has the touch display and accelerometer which is great for gameplay, but it’s the electronic distribution of the apps as well."

According to Joswiak, it helps that "almost all" games for Apple devices cost GBP 5 - compared to around GBP 25 for "apps on other devices". "[Developers] don't have to worry about licensing and manufacturing hardware, they don't have to worry about forecasting, returns..." observed Joswiak.

"At under GBP 5 a game, not only are people saving money, they’re also discovering more because they end up buying more games - because they’re five games for the price of one on another console."

The games developers are working on now for Apple products will "blow everyone away", reckons Joswiak. "Because again the computer power and the 3D graphic power here," he said, referring to the iPod Touch, "Is significantly greater than what you have here," he added, picking up a Nintendo DS.

"So this allows people to do significantly higher quality games. And the Touch is always in your pocket, whereas you can’t always carry some other games consoles."