iPhone…the next, next gen gaming system?

I’ve been thinking about this post for a while and I’ve got some today so thought I would take some time and really look at the iPhone/iPod Touch as a gaming system.

On the surface it doesn’t appear to viable as a gaming system, I mean after all…it’s a freakin’ phone.  If you look a bit closer though and take some time to really surf though the app store gaming section, you will find some of the current hot titles in the gaming world ready for download and play on your iPhone…

Example: Tiger Woods 10…this is one of those epic titles for console gaming that has been strong for years.  I got it for my iPhone about 4 months ago or so and I have to say…the game mechanics and the playability are really good!  Sure the graphics may not be a pretty as on the Xbox or the PS3, but the game only cost me 6 bucks (as opposed to the 60 it costs on Xbox) and I don’t really feel like I’m missing anything as far as the game experience goes…in fact, I had the opportunity to mess around with Tiger Woods 10 on Xbox and after playing it, I have to say that the version on the iPhone is possibly more challenging due to the way you swing your clubs.

Another example that brings me to think of the iPhone as a gaming system is Wolfenstein 3D…you all remember this game from back in the day…basically the granddaddy of all 3D FPS games.  While this is an older game and not nearly as system intensive as say Tiger Woods, it’s still a great game on the iPhone.  The controls do take a bit of getting used to, but once you get the customizable controls in the place that works best for you…it’s an amazing game all over again…and at 2 bucks, you really can’t beat the price! 

So that covers the sports genre and the FPS genre, let’s look at the racing genre on the iPhone…more specifically Asphalt 4 and Need for Speed.  Asphalt 4 has come into it’s own as a mobile gaming app…it’s even one of the games they play in the WCG for the Samsung mobile challenge.  As mentioned before, the game mechanics are quite good with the opting of steering either via touch or by using the iPhone’s accelerometer.  I have tried both methods and I’m really very good at using either, but the game is fun and I’m sure once I spend some real time with the game, it will quickly move into one of my favorite racing games (although I’m pretty sure nothing will ever top the Midnight Club series for me.)  I will admit that I have yet to download Need for Speed for my iPhone but from the reviews I have read and what I have heard about it from other sources, it looks like the Need for Speed developers have really nailed it for an iPhone app…I can’t wait to get my hands on!

There we are…those are but a few of the main reasons why I have found the iPhone/iPod touch to be as good of next gen gaming system as there currently is.  The only real short coming I have been able to find is the graphics…but as more developers build games with the iPhone in mind and as Apple constantly improves the iPhone (and then the release of the rumored iPad) I’m sure the graphics problem will quickly dissipate. 

Anyway, so what are you thoughts?  I’d be curious to hear what you think about this…do you think I’m totally nuts or do you see some reason behind the madness?

~C