iPii vs. iFun, un mistero

Ieri SGN, società che sviluppa applicazioni per iPhone, come iGolf, ha lanciato un client che sfrutta l'iPhione per emulare la piattaforma di Nintendo Wii. Il software si chiama iFun e permette di giocare sul monitor di un PC tenendo in mano l'iPhone, proprio come il joystick della Wii, anzi meglio, perchè è wireless.

Solo un mese fa, avevo proposto a Robert Chin, sviluppatore di Apple e autore di Wikipanion, un sistema analogo "da suggerire in Azienda!", dandogli l'opportunità di farsi notare, se non altro.

Il nome in codice era iPii.

L'evoluzione, rispetto alla soluzione di SGN, è utilizzare iTunes come client per emulare il gioco. Il vantaggio maggiore sarebbe quello di aprire a migliaia di sviluppatori l'opportunità di produrre giochi compatibili con questo sistema, mettendo iTunes a confronto con la piattaforma di Nintendo nel mercato dei giochi e delle gaming platform.

Il cino-americano avrà vuotato il sacco al nemico?

Ecco un passo del KLOG della corrispondenza con Robert Chin.

This project aims to develop an Apple Game Platform without investing in new hardware devices, but only in software.

You know that Microsoft invested in Xbox, his first great HD investment. Now, someone gossips that Microsoft intends to acquire RIM to enter in to the device smartphone market.

I think Apple has the big opportunity to start on his game platform because Apple has already a great platform: it's the iPhone. What I mean is to use the iPhone to emulate Wii. This is why I label this project with the code name iPii. People can use iPhone's accelerometer to play special games on the computer, such as iGolf, iBowl, and so on, and all new games similar to what Wii can offer.

The idea is to use iPhone such as a wireless joystick, beyond the OS engine of course, so people can play games at home watching a bigger monitor (remember what I tell you about my vision: smartphone will replace notebook and home computer, people will have a great monitor at home and in the office, but not a notebook or a computer… thing about iMac or the new Led Cinema Display, these are what people will ask).

There are several ways to get this target, several architectures, but always without investing in new hardware.

At the beginning I thought to host games on to a web server in order to allow people play online (I remember your first start up, you know what I refer to). iPhone could be connected to the net and send commands to the server, where people may be registered. But I think user could have problems on performances, such as net performances, gaming performances, and so on. And more, people must be forced to use an Internet connection. World is going in this direction but perhaps it too early.

I think the right architecture needs a game client on the user computer. So the second step was to develop a game client to host games on the computer and connect this trough wireless system such as wi-fi or bluetooth. This client must be synch with the iPhone and his game portfolio. This client must emulate iPhone engine and follow commands sent by iPhone accelerometer.

The last step is to think this client as a new iTunes release. The new iTunes can host iPhone engine and emulate games trough wireless connection. So the new game platform requires only a new iTunes release and a new iPhone/iTouch firmware. Perhaps, also a new app, iPii, where parking target games in order to allow and authorize synching.

I think this opportunity will not represent for Apple a new market, of course, but can offer new service to people and increase sales of devices and software. This project, at least, can confirm and increase iTunes market ownership.