Apple Is Stealing Our Children

The next generation of hipsters will be enormous.

Nov 24 2010, 7:19am CST | by Robert Evans

Game Over, everybody. Apple's just won children and, since they apparently are our future, the end of this latest tech industry clash is a foregone conclusion. What in the hell am I ranting about? A recent Nielsen survey shows that the iPad leads all devices in interest among Americans aged 6-12. 31% of tykes want an iPad this Christmas.

Number two is "computer" (there have to be a few Macs in there), tied with the iPod touch for 29%. Those numbers are impressive, but the implications are staggering.

Apple has boiled up from the fringes of the gaming world to become possibly the most important figure in its evolving future. When I was a kid, Apple and Gaming didn't often intersect. Blizzard made games for most platforms, but Mac users usually got their titles months after the PC version was old news. A lot of titles never hit the Mac at all.

But iOS is one of the world's largest gaming platforms. One count gives it nearly three times as many games as the prior 25 years of console and hand-held gaming combined. It supports major titles and has earned the respect of one of the greatest game developers of all time.

And now this news. Kids age 6-12, bread and butter for the likes of Nintendo, want the iPad and the iPod touch more than any other gaming platform available. These devices have the games they want to play, and also deliver the Internet and access to a vast galaxy of apps. Mobile gaming has moved past the point of mere diversion. While the App Store can't currently brag a library as full of deep, quality games as the PS3 or Xbox, they soon will. Games like Rage are proof that it is possible.

Money will do the rest. Game developers, the smart ones at least, will take their skills where they can sell them. The more popular iOS gaming becomes, the more good games will gravitate towards the platform.

In 2008, Apple sold 5% of all portable gaming software. In 2009, they sold 19%. Apple is beating Sony in the portable sphere Right Now. By the end of 2010, Apple will probably be closing in on 30%- most of that at Nintendo's expense.

The company recognizes iOS as a threat but hasn't had great success in fighting back. And they won't. As long as Apple continues to sell more gadgets, iOS will sell more games and draw in more developers.

Don't get me wrong, iOS gaming will never eliminate console or PC gaming. And, eventually, other mobile gaming hubs (Android is getting their act together) will help rein them in. But Apple has a very real chance here to place themselves at the head of an industry very dear to the hearts and minds of millions of young Americans.

Something tells me there will be a lot of Merry Christmases in Cupertino before this all shakes out.

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Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.