Mobile Pie's Will Luton isn't alone in his view that iOS 5 will kick start Apple's assault on the home console market.
According to Mike DeLaet, VP of sales and marketing at Glu, the San Francisco-based publisher is preparing to take its content to the big screen sat in your living room whenever Apple gives the green light.
Such a transition, however, won't come with iOS 5. Rather, Apple's ascension from mobile master to a credible rival to the home console market will be delivered as part of a steady evolution of its iOS business, rather than a sudden revolution.
We asked Mike why he thinks Glu has the right DNA to takeover your TV.
PocketGamer: The update to Game Center looks set to import more Xbox Live-style features. How do you think this will increase user engagement?
Mike DeLaet: The Game Center update in iOS 5 adds several new features that will definitely increase user engagement and provide a better overall user experience.
At Glu, we're excited to see the addition of social features such as the ability to add pictures and see what your friends are playing.
How do you think its game recommendations will change the promotional opportunities open to you?
With 500,000 apps on the App Store, having new players discover our games is a challenge. Game recommendations will definitely increase opportunities for new players to find Glu games.
It will also compliment Glu's dedicated network of users who already fuel a viral channel of game recommendations for friends and social networks.
Given AirPlay Mirroring requires Apple TV to function, do you see it playing a major role in releases on iOS 5, or is it a first step towards acclimatizing iOS users to TV-based play?
Yes, AirPlay Mirroring will play a major role in iOS 5 releases going forward and will ultimately facilitate replacing the home console.
We are well prepared to support and leverage Apple's newest technologies and future innovations.
Do you plan to work support for iCloud into past releases, and more generally, how do you think it will impact game?
We do plan to add new iOS functionalities to our games. Currently iCloud will work with all content on the iPhone.
Is there anything missing from iOS 5 from a game development perspective?
We see Apple's next steps focusing on improving and evolving both iPhone and iPad. The increasing power of these devices will lead to graphics capabilities that surpass traditional console games.
Glu is already challenging this paradigm with this week's release of Contract Killer: Zombies. Our strengths in mobile combined with our console DNA will allow us to take mobile gaming to the next level on these devices.
We also see the extension of iOS games into the living room on traditional television displays.
Thanks to Mike for his time.
Interview
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
Feature
May 17th, 2024
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from a battle royale to a console classic remake
Feature
May 16th, 2024
Behind the scenes: How adding sandwich offers to an idle merge game boosted three metrics at once
Events
Digital Dragons | Europe | May 19th |
GamesBeat Summit 2024 | North America | May 20th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Nordic Game Spring 2024 | Nordic | May 21st |
Impact 2024 - Indie Games | May 23rd | |
Morocco Gaming Expo | Africa | May 24th |
MomoCon 2024 | North America | May 24th |
Unreal Fest Gold Coast 2024 | Australasia | May 29th |
Popular Stories
Feature
May 14th, 2024
53 top mobile games in soft launch: Squad Busters, Battle Guys: Royale, Plants vs. Zombies 3, LEGO Hill Climb Adventures, and more
Feature
May 13th, 2024
Hot Five: Dubai's new Gaming Visa, April's mobile game charts, and Xbox studio closures
Interview
May 13th, 2024