In case you haven’t actually heard yet, Sonic is back.
And it seems he’s with Apple these days.
Sonic’s much hyped return to (hopefully) good games will be happening next week for console owners, and people are getting excited. But if you have an iPhone or iPod, you’re one of the lucky few that get to experience Sonic’s return one week early.
Sonic 4 Episode 1 was released on the App Store on Thursday 7th and is already fighting it out in the top most grossing list. The game seems to be living up to the hype and has gained almost unanimous 4 and 5 star ratings, giving those of us who haven’t played it a bit more promise that Sonic might be a respectable franchise again.
Sega didn’t just release the game on the App Store first. The game is priced at £5.99 ($10) on the App Store and will probably be released for consoles at around £10 ($15). That’s a 30-40% saving, which is actually pretty cheap, and worth remembering given most people’s reactions to pricey apps. You’re also getting added content at this lower price, with the game boasting two additional exclusive levels that take advantage of the iPhone and iPod Touch’s accelerometer. Throw in the ability to carry the game around with you anywhere and you’ve got some pretty significant pulling power for iDevice gamers.
With video games slowly but surely drifting over to the downloadable universe, Apple are going to be given greater and greater openings to make some big splashes in the gaming community. Whilst we’re a while away from console games being completely downloadable, both PlayStation Network and Xbox Live are growing a strong selection of downloadable games for £5-£15. As this section of gaming grows, so does Apple’s potential as a gaming force given the popularity of the iPhone and iPod Touch and downloading apps.
Me, personally? I’ll be waiting the extra week and forking over extra cash for less content in the PS3 version. Why? Because I still prefer playing games on a console with a HDTV and a controller than on my phone. Quality games deserve being given the best gaming experience. I still believe that experience is on consoles. Apple’s pull is never going to come from besting consoles, power devices built specifically to game. Additional content, cheaper prices and early release dates are the way to go if they want to compete in the gaming world, and that’s exactly what they’re doing.
Related Articles
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1 now out on iPhone (tuaw.com)
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 blazes onto iPhone, iPod touch (macworld.com)
