Forget PSP Level Gaming with iPhone 3Gs
- Scribbled on June 9th, 2009 by Jordan Lund
- Filed in Apple, Industry News, Interviews, Mobile Gaming, Sony PSP
If I were an investor in Fishlabs, I would start questioning the leadership of the organization. Michael Schade, Fishlabs CEO, became all excited over the announcement that the new iPhone 3Gs would support OpenGL 2.0. This, in theory, would enable a new level of graphic detail on the phone which would push it past the current level which is comparable to the Sega Dreamcast or Sony PSP.
Here’s the problem with that: if you write an app that takes advantage of OpenGL 2.0, then it will ONLY work on the new iPhone 3Gs. It will not work on the first or second gen iPhone or iPod touch. Schade correctly states that “It’s definitely not worth it for $0.99 apps.” But then, even if you tried charging $19.99 – the way some online games are priced for the PSP – you still have to code multiple levels of graphical detail. One level for the old model iPhones/iPod Touches and one for the new model. Very quickly, you will reach a point of diminishing return.
Adding support would only be a benefit if iPhone 3Gs owners refuse to buy your app unless it supports features on their new hardware; if they don’t care and would buy the app anyway then going to the cost and trouble of adding that support doesn’t do the developer any good. It only hurts their bottom line.
In the end the new graphical support is nice, but as PC developers have known for years, you code for the lowest common denominator to reach the largest audience. That’s how you make a profitable game.
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