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Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo comment on iPad launch
The big three are quick to take shots, and praise, the arrival of the Apple iPad
Written by Steven Williamson, 01 February 2010
The three big heavyweights in the video games industry have been quick to step forward to give their opinion on the announcement of the Apple iPad last week.
While a couple of developers, including the likes of Electronic Arts, were keen to support the iPad and believe that it holds some unique possibilities for gaming, others weren't quite so enthusiastic for the tablet computer.
Nintendo were fairly pessimistic about the appeal of the new device. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata watched the unveiling of the iPad but sarcastically commented afterwards: "It was a bigger iPod Touch."
Iwata was even more dismissive when the specs were revealed. "There were no surprises for me," he said.
While Iwata gave the impression that he was practically falling asleep to the announcement, Sony's reaction was the exact opposite. It believes that the arrival of iPad could even boost sales of the PSP.
"Apple's entrance into the portable gaming space has been a net positive for Sony," Sony's John Koller, Director Hardware Marketing, told the Wall Street Journal. "When people want a deeper, richer console, they start playing on a PSP."
Finally, Microsoft, who is apparently gearing up to announce the launch of the Zune phone, found the announcement to be quite humorous. Brandon Watson, Microsoft's director of product management, believes that Apple's app development is 'locked down' and iPhone developers don't make money anyhow.
"It is a humorous world in how Microsoft is much more open than Apple," he said in an interview with Technologizer.
When the iPad launches in March 2010, its success in terms of being a viable casual gaming platform will depend on whether the developers and bedroom coders step forward to back it. The iPhone currently does extremely well in that particular arena, there are over 1500 games currently available in the Apple Store, but only time will tell if the iPad can replicate its success. With a faster processor and better screen, there's no excuse for it not to.
