Perhaps there weren't many surprises during Steve Jobs' WWDC 2010 keynote, but there's certainly a lot to think about, and some features will have significant implications.
So as developers are starting to digest the news about iPhone, as well as the forthcoming release of iOS 4, we've been catching up with key studios to get their views.
Next up is HandyGames' CEO Christopher Kassulke
Pocket Gamer: What do you think will be the impact of iPhone 4?
Apple's impact on the handset market is already huge, but by introducing new features that consumers have been requesting for a long time, I think it's done another awesome job setting new standards for mobile gaming.
I'm really curious to see what comes next and if the other big OEMs will still try to develop an iPhone 4 killer.
Are you worried about fragmentation in terms of the high resolution screen, gyroscope etc?
Come on. Fragmentation isn't an issue for guys like us who grown in the Java world. Fragmentation on the Android platform is already worse than iPhone. HandyGames is porting titles to thousands of different handsets with or without touchscreens or accelerometers, to many languages and hundreds of different partner styles. With our experienced team and tools we already handle all those challenges.
I guess for pure iPhone developers it will be a problem sooner or later but not for established companies in the mobile gaming space who have been dealing with such challenges for a decade.
How will you be dealing with iPhone 4 in terms of new games and will you be doing any retrospective work to already released games?
We can give you a clear answer when we have the iPhone 4 in our hands. But for sure, we will port or upgrade our existing blockbusters like Panzer Panic, Tattoo Mania or infeCCt to the iPhone 4.
Are you planning to use iAd?
HandyGames was the first publisher to try advertising in mobile games a long time ago on Java. Now the iPhone and Android mobile advertising market has jumped to a new level, so of course we will use iAd.
In a world of free games, developers need to make money. Advertisements are a growing revenue stream.
Were you surprised there was no mention of Game Center?
The speech was long enough I think and we will see announcements coming up later this year including the Game Center.
Do you think FaceTime will have any impact in terms of gaming?
For sure it will. Just imagine if you can play poker against your friend. As a father playing with my kids over a far distance, this would also be interesting. It could be a new way to do social gaming.
But first the problem with the networks has to be solved. Being limited to wi-fi makes it more complicated, so perhaps not for now but I see huge potential for FaceTime in the future.
Thanks to Christopher for his time.
Interview
Contributing Editor
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.
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