The iPod touch may be more powerful, but it's not being used at it's full potential!

[Paulio]

I was just thinking the other day, why not have a window pop up at the start of a game (or just a general app) asking which device is being used (or have some thing that can check bios or whatever) so that if your using the 2G touch, you can unleash it's full potential?
If you’re using a PC you have the choice to set the settings of a game so that it runs smoothly and fits on your screen etc. So why not just have auto settings (only need be on the more expensive apps/games that really push what the device can do) so you can play games to the highest quality depending on your device?
I have a 2G, and do not believe that my gaming experience should be restricted because others who want to play the game have a less powered device! However I have an old PC which is incapable of playing anything near new games and this annoys me, and I don't want that same annoyance on 1G touch users, so surly being able to choose the level of graphics used would be a win-win for everyone?
Maybe someone in mid development of a game who has the option to try on all devices should give this a go and see how it works?

What do you (especially those with the understandment of this as a possibilty) think about this? If Apple truly wants to compete with the PSP, they need to let the games on their devices push the limits on ALL their devices.

[arn]

I was just thinking the other day, why not have a window pop up at the start of a game (or just a general app) asking which device is being used (or have some thing that can check bios or whatever) so that if your using the 2G touch, you can unleash it's full potential?


Good developers already do this automatically.

arn

[The Game Reaper]

yes.
I have a 2g touch and I would love to use
its full potential!

[NotYou]

yes.
I have a 2g touch and I would love to use
its full potential.
It's time apple pushed the touch as a separate
gaming platform

It's really not that much more powerful. Games made specifically for one device would kill their sales. There's a few good online games out right now that don't seem to do so well because they're meant mainly for the iPhone. Making it so a game could only play on the touch wouldn't go too far.

[Paulio]

Good developers already do this automatically.

arn

Really? I never new! So they access the BIOS and find out what the device is and auto adjust settings? That's cool! I just brought this up cos TouchGrind has become all slow and annoying since the recent update and someone said to me that it's become like that so that it was level with all the devices or something? Can you contact them and explain how to get this to work?

yes.
I have a 2g touch and I would love to use
its full potential.
It's time apple pushed the touch as a separate
gaming platform

NO! You completely side stepped my point! The touch shouldn't and, more importantly, won't become a seperate gaming device *facepalm* .. think about it.. But instead should have games know the device specs so that the graphics etc. will auto adjust to the full potential of the device (like in PC games). Then TG can be played at a reasonable pace, unlike the current "fixed" slow annoying pace..
But you agree, so (Y) :D 2G touch FTW!

[Paulio]

It's really not that much more powerful. Games made specifically for one device would kill their sales. There's a few good online games out right now that don't seem to do so well because they're meant mainly for the iPhone. Making it so a game could only play on the touch wouldn't go too far.

True, but you also missed my point. Or at least started talking about something else in MY thread :P
Point being games should run not on the 1G specs, but on the devices specs
And no one knows how less/more powerful the devices are in coparison in good detail, but play TG on a 2G touch post and pre update and there is a huge difference (which according to a poster is so it's even play on all devices. I just don't think I should put up with the annoying pace if my device and game can be played to higher detail/FPS/speed etc.)

BTW CPU difference alone is pretty significant.. it's along the lines of 412 compared with 523MHz that's pretty much 25% better.

[NotYou]

True, but you also missed my point. Or at least started talking about something else in MY thread :P
Point being games should run not on the 1G specs, but on the devices specs
And no one knows how less/more powerful the devices are in coparison in good detail, but play TG on a 2G touch post and pre update and there is a huge difference (which according to a poster is so it's even play on all devices. I just don't think I should put up with the annoying pace if my device and game can be played to higher detail/FPS/speed etc.)

BTW CPU difference alone is pretty significant.. it's along the lines of 412 compared with 523MHz that's pretty much 25% better.

I got you point. I was just commenting on The Game Reaper's post.
I actually agree with you. It would make things a lot better for everybody, not just the 2G Touch people.

[Paulio]

I got you point. I was just commenting on The Game Reaper's post.
I actually agree with you. It would make things a lot better for everybody, not just the 2G Touch people.

Yeah I thought that must have been what you were talking about, and I also misread some of it; and

Yes and that's what everyone wants :D, I was just talking on a personal behalf.

[The Game Reaper]

No!
I just meant that they should market it
as a direct competitor to the psp and ds.

[Paulio]

No!
I just meant that they should market it
as a direct competitor to the psp and ds.

ah ok. I read it like NotYou did, that you meant make seperate games for it.

I think I should just shut up and stop posting cos I misunderstood what someone was saying >.<

[NotYou]

No!
I just meant that they should market it
as a direct competitor to the psp and ds.

Oh, I see. I agree then.:p
They seem to be headed that way. I bet once a few more good games arrive they'll start doing that.

[Phoenixfury]

Personaly I'd love it if Apple were to automatically unlock the full CPU speed whenever a Touch or iPhone are plugged into an ac outlet. I'd bet Apple would sell a ton of AC power adapters if they allowed the CPU to run full bore in this way.

[The Game Reaper]

I hate playing games with the charger plugged in
It's really annoying because you can't wrap your hand
around the ipod with the ac charger jutting out.

[Frand]

This clock-speed worship is really pointless. Those with 2G iTouch get the benefit that their games load faster and may have somewhat smoother frame rates.

Handheld devices shouldn't change their performance depending on their power supply. That would only discourage people from using them in situations where they are intended to be used.

[The Game Reaper]

This clock-speed worship is really pointless. Those with 2G iTouch get the benefit that their games load faster and have may have somewhat smoother frame rates.

Handheld devices shouldn't change their performance depending on their power supply. That would only discourage people from using them in situations where they are intended to be used.

I agree.
It's meant to be a portable platform!:D

[Phoenixfury]

This clock-speed worship is really pointless. Those with 2G iTouch get the benefit that their games load faster and may have somewhat smoother frame rates.

Handheld devices shouldn't change their performance depending on their power supply. That would only discourage people from using them in situations where they are intended to be used.

I'm not suggesting that the game developers should take advantage of a CPU boost in this way. I'm just saying that when the Touch is plugged in, you should get full CPU speed. This would benifit the ocasional CPU grinder that does get choppy or sluggish when running on the battery. I do understand that playing on the ac adapter isn't for everyone, but I don't have any problem playing games while using mine.

[Phoenixfury]

I agree.
It's meant to be a portable platform!:D

So are portable radios, but at least you can replace their batteries when they run out of juice.

[The Game Reaper]

So are portable radios, but at least you can replace their batteries when they run out of juice.

Point taken.

[Slayer_megadeth]

Well i thought the GPU's of all the devices are the same. So graphically it won't make a difference. The only difference would be in the loading times and the frame rates

[AchillesReborn]

I may be wrong, but isn't the iPhone undercocked? Presumably to improve stability and battery life.
No point getting caught up on CPU speeds. If the rest of the specs are equal, the slight processor increase will have a minimum effect on performance. If you're looking for high end portable gaming performance, pick up a new psp lite or dsi, not an iPod touch.
Personally I'd rather the games available steered away from BIA style games. Let's face it, not only are the graphics and game depth way behind the psp, the controls just aren't suited to this interface. On the other hand, games that utilize the strengths of the iphone/touch devices might not work well on the psp. Especially games that allow multiplayer over 3g. I know that's only the iPhone, but that's one of the main advantages I can see over the psp. Game storage is also much better than carrying around discs, and if utilized correctly the touch screen can make certain types of games better than they could possibly be on the psp.

That was all a bit off topic, but the obsession that some people seem to have over the iPod touch 2g being faster does seem strange. The iPhone/touch can't deliver high performance games. The extra framerate per second on the 2g touches doesn't change that. Developers should focus on the strengths of the device, not trying to squeeze extra framerates out trying to imitate the psp.

[Slayer_megadeth]

I may be wrong, but isn't the iPhone undercocked? Presumably to improve stability and battery life.
No point getting caught up on CPU speeds. If the rest of the specs are equal, the slight processor increase will have a minimum effect on performance. If you're looking for high end portable gaming performance, pick up a new psp lite or dsi, not an iPod touch.
.


DS :eek: Iphone/iTouch Blows the DS in terms of graphics and performance. Sure i also believe that iPhone ain't as good as PSP but i could be wrong since right now we have only the second generation of games coming out. And if the gamepad accessory comes out, it will be comparable to PSP

[The Game Reaper]

I may be wrong, but isn't the iPhone UNDERCOCKED?

Undercocked?
I think you mean underclocked!!
I personally disagree with your views on iPhone games.
I don't know why people are dismissing the iPhone as a platform
so early.
It has only been a few months since the app store was launched
and remember, high quality psp games take 2+ years to develop!!:mad:

[AchillesReborn]

Yeah I suppose the ds is graphically inferior. But play any decent racing/ action game on the psp, and it blows the iPhone/touch away. And while the iPhone games are "still reaching their potetial", psp games haven't necessarily peaked. It's not as though iPhone/touch games are going to continue improving, wheras all availabe cometition will stay static.

[AchillesReborn]

Undercocked?
I think you mean underclocked!!
I personally disagree with your views on iPhone games.
I don't know why people are dismissing the iPhone as a platform
so early.
It has only been a few months since the app store was launched
and remember, high quality psp games take 2+ years to develop!!:mad:
oopS typo! On my iPhone too. Where's that damn auto correct when you need it?

You think the current format of iPhone/touch will last two years? And if it does, you really think it will perform better at action type games than the psp lite? Even if it does, by that time the goalposts will have moved, and a higher standard will exist.
The highly unlikely addition of some sort of attachable gamepad, adding to the size and reducing the convinience
of portable play, still won't level the playing field. The psp was designed with games in mind. You don't cover
the microphone when holding it, it isn't awkward to play with the adapter plugged in. It has a higher perfomance
level.
I much prefer my iPhone to my psp. Much much much. But because I can use the Internet and play games
online anywhere where there is 3g. Which here in japan is everywhere. Also, I carry my cellphone all the time,
so carrying a psp in addition is just annoying. But for games like BIA, it just seems like the device is being
pushed in the wrong direction. Yeah, it can do it. And it's not bad. And it'll get better. But with the current
interface, it'll never match the psp in those genres.
I'm not dismissing the iPhone as a gaming format. It has a lot of potential. But I'd hate to see a slew of below par psp imitations rather than games that utilize the strengths of the device.

[Paulio]

Guys, topic please. I know everyone has all these views on the iDevice as a portable gaming console, but I'm not talking about that k. Fact is, it is. It liscensed and sold as one. But the point is there is more than one type, there's iPod touch 1/2G and iPhone /3G and they all have different specs. My idea is why not have games pick up what device it's being used on and change the settings according to those specs allowing for the smoothest possible gaming on each device. It's not a question of is it better than the PSP or whatever, it's getting the best possible experience out of what everyone here has payed money for.

[Paulio]

Yeah I suppose the ds is graphically inferior. But play any decent racing/ action game on the psp, and it blows the iPhone/touch away. And while the iPhone games are "still reaching their potetial", psp games haven't necessarily peaked. It's not as though iPhone/touch games are going to continue improving, wheras all availabe cometition will stay static.

I'm commenting on this even tho it's topic irrelivant as IMO it's very wrong.

iDevice games will, and are, steadily getting better. it's a brand new device and input concept in gaming, you can't just add ports and adjust to fit, you have to re-construct the game so it will work with what you have. People are yet to really discover this and the only console version that has been warped for iPhone is racing.
You can not compare a dedicated gaming machines games with an iPod game! Why? Because it's like comparing games on a 360 with an N gage. Gees!

[AchillesReborn]

I'm commenting on this even tho it's topic irrelivant as IMO it's very wrong.

iDevice games will, and are, steadily getting better. it's a brand new device and input concept in gaming, you can't just add ports and adjust to fit, you have to re-construct the game so it will work with what you have. People are yet to really discover this and the only console version that has been warped for iPhone is racing.
You can not compare a dedicated gaming machines games with an iPod game! Why? Because it's like comparing games on a 360 with an N gage. Gees!
You still seem to think that while the iPhone is advancing, other formats will remain static. I think that a) psp and even ds launch/early titles (Mario cart, mario bros.) are far better in action/platform/racing genres than iDevices (nice term btw). B) psp game development will continue to improve, other devices will enter the Market etc. How good iDevice games will be in a year or two years is mostly irrelevent.

I'm not really sure what you are saying is 'very wrong'. That psp titles are superior in action/racing genres now?that gaming development in other formats won't remain static? Or just the very idea of comparing them?

And many people/media are commenting the comparison between the psp and idevices.

[nizy]

You still seem to think that while the iPhone is advancing, other formats will remain static. I think that a) psp and even ds launch/early titles (Mario cart, mario bros.) are far better in action/platform/racing genres than iDevices (nice term btw). B) psp game development will continue to improve, other devices will enter the Market etc. How good iDevice games will be in a year or two years is mostly irrelevent.

I'm not really sure what you are saying is 'very wrong'. That psp titles are superior in action/racing genres now?that gaming development in other formats won't remain static? Or just the very idea of comparing them?

And many people/media are commenting the comparison between the psp and idevices.

Paulio was saying that the iDevices are a very new platform, devs have had the SDK for less than 1 year! On top of this, the input methods are quite different from traditional d-pads/analogue sticks + buttons, requiring devs to develop an understanding of how to use them in their games. If you look at early DS games (or any new system for that matter), you see this too. But with all of these, you still have some traditional input. Paulio was simply saying that given time, devs will understand and develop better control schemes and optimize their code further.

[THEDeliriumTrigger]

I would just like to comment to the thread starter, the whole point I had regarding touchgrind was that they made performance equal to the first gen iPod not because they wanted to make both devices equal, but because, with the slower rate, it was much MUCH easier to preform tricks. Just saying. I know you have a valid point, but you missed my point in the other thread :P

[AchillesReborn]

Paulio was saying that the iDevices are a very new platform, devs have had the SDK for less than 1 year! On top of this, the input methods are quite different from traditional d-pads/analogue sticks + buttons, requiring devs to develop an understanding of how to use them in their games. If you look at early DS games (or any new system for that matter), you see this too. But with all of these, you still have some traditional input. Paulio was simply saying that given time, devs will understand and develop better control schemes and optimize their code further.
I see! Well, I`m not disputing that the games on the iphone will improve. Already some games I really love, that wouldn`t or even couldn`t exist on the psp.

P.S Sorry for hijacking your thread!!

[brewstermax]

I'm waiting for a shocker at Macworld.- An independant gaming device, same as ipotch, just have a d-pad, and analog stick. Please Apple, please. I'd pay $500 for that.