Touch to Play

Apple’s iPad could become the next blockbuster games console.

While the jury is still out on the iPad’s impact as an e-reader on the publishing industry, there’s one area where it’s already being touted as a certain game-changer. The videogames industry has welcomed Apple’s self-described ‘magical’ new tablet with open arms.

The iPhone proved to be a terrific gaming device, but its small screen size meant that the range of games that were well suited to it was limited. The iPad, with its faster processor, larger screen and improved accelerometer opens up possibilities for a far wider range of genres.

Sure enough, some genres will work better than others. Former GameSpot editor and celebrity gaming journalist Jeff Gertzmann has already said on Twitter that the iPad sucks for playing action games. Action games need quick, responsive controls—especially in terms of simultaneous directional and instantaneous input, not the kind of control scheme that touch screens are ideal for. Additionally, mucking about with your fingers directly on the screen tends to obscure the action itself, which interferes with the split-second decision making that is so integral to action games.

However, genres such as strategy, roleplaying, adventure and puzzle games stand to benefit greatly from the reduced abstraction levels afforded by direct touch-screen input. A cursory glance at the iPad games library reveals a number of heavy-duty strategy franchises already (The Sims, Civilization Revolution, Command and Conquer, Plants vs Zombies). It’s a great fit—since most such involve constantly clicking on different parts of the screen as the primary user interaction. This works beautifully on the iPad—intuitive, smooth and accessible. Ditto for adventure and puzzle games. In fact, the iPad might just revolutionise standard board games as well. Place it flat on your table and voila!—an instant scrabble, chess, monopoly or parcheesi board.

(The writer is a video games industry consultant)