That Apple iPhone is pretty popular with just about everyone these days and as it becomes more and more ubiquitous it's also becoming a better and better gaming platform with some real and noteworthy games coming out for it. Like any good, world dominating company Sony wants in on some of that hot, hot action and are thus, as Japan's Nikkei business daily is reporting, starting to develop a "cellphone-game gear hybrid."
Development on the project will begin next month with a specialized team tackling the job. The job in question is to "develop a new product that combines functions of its portable game player and Sony Ericsson's mobile phones." Does this interest anyone or does the fact that Sony is once again about three years behind Apple on this mean Sony has lost yet another market to Apple?
Rumors concerning Sony and a gaming phone have swirled for years, especially since Skype hit the PSP, but the source on this is heavily reliable, so it is almost a sure thing that Sony is at least going to look into the making of a phone/gaming platform.
Also, thanks to Silent Hill, Destructoid now has images ready for any type of phone/gaming rumor that could ever happen.
Matthew Razak is Destructoid's Associate editor and co-founder of film site
Flixist. He began as community member "cowzilla" and was since sequestered to write brainy features material. He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife.
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Contest:
12:00 PM on 06.27.2009
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I <3 Pheonix_Blood.
I totally would.
Playstation Phone.
It's a phone, you can play with, outside.
YEAH MARKETING!
This is news to me. :O I mean yes, I've reviewed a game for the system (and another one no one will read is on the way), but I still can't see the iPhone, at least the previous form, as a gaming system. What sucks is that people are gonna be developing games specifically for the 3GS and that will pretty much leave people with iTouches (like me) out in the cold. Of course, Apple is always the first people to continually beat their previous system (iTouch 1G vs 2G) so you're almost better off buying right before the thing is discontinued so you actually get something that won't be replaced in a year.
/rant
Developing specifically for the 3GS will happen at some point but I don't see that happening too quickly. The previous install base for the other versions of the phone/touch is WAY to big to ignore right now, especially with the old 3G being $99. Developers know this and would want to make stuff to reach the greatest amount of market saturation. Some time that tiping point will be reached but not anytime soon IMO.
While I'm not hyped for a Sony entry into this market, more competition is better for consumers. Sony/Ericsson has been making phones for a while now and they *cough should know what they are doing. If they can make a device similar/better with built in support like Apple has for a competitive price it could be something to look out for. I know some people would love a device like the iPhone with a slide out keyboard and gaming buttons. There is a market here for it but Sony has to pull out all the stops if they really want to compete against the iPhone.
I wonder what the Sony pressure on Apple will do to the App Store, if anything.
j/k ;)