What’s next for Apple? In a word, games. Or more precisely video gaming. If there is one thing that most of the digital soothsayers agree upon it is that a key part of the digital future is gaming. That’s why Microsoft has spent billions in capital on developing and supporting its Xbox platform even though it only recently turned a small profit. It is also is why consumer electronics giant Sony is still an important player in the digital future. Despite falling behind in former strongholds like television sets and digital music, its Playstation 2 and new Playstation Portable are still leading the industry.
I believe gaming is one of the areas in Apple’s digital arsenal that has been woefully underexploited. By now there are about 15 million ipods in the hands of, not just Macintosh devotees, but Windows users. I see people sitting on the train or subway happily listening to their ipods all the time. But the games Apple includes for the ipod are limited if not lame. That is why you don’t see too many idle ipod listeners playing Apple’s pre-installed games. Now ipods feature color screens and photographs and before you know it I bet there will be video clips.
According to mac news and rumor web site ThinkSecret, Apple has been actively searching for game developers who can write new games for the same kind of platform found on the iPod. Add to this the fact that the new Mac mini is positioned perfectly to fit on a living room entertainment rack next to that new high definition TV, and you can bet that Steve Jobs will at some future Macworld, unveil an integrated gaming strategy from Apple.
