The iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPod Touch have proven themselves as capable mobile gaming platforms. With the widespread availability of intuitive motion-controlled games through the iPhone App Store, it’s no wonder that iPhone games are encroaching on gaming console territory.
Freeverse, maker of the iPhone game Moto Chaser, has developed a proof-of-concept demonstration that allows the iPhone to be used as a gaming console of sorts. Using the hidden MPTVOutWindow class that was discovered in the iPhone SDK by Erica Sadun, Freeverse managed to create a version of their Moto Chaser game that can be played on the TV.
The game can be displayed on the TV using a video-out cable, and is controlled using the iPhone’s motion-sensors. In essence, the demonstration turns the iPhone into a highly portable gaming console that doubles as its own game controller.
To be fair, the second generation iPod Touch was only able to maintain 20fps frame-rates with its faster-than-iPhone CPU. So, we’re not likely to see standalone iPhone games that can be played directly through the TV anytime soon. But, it’s not hard to imagine a future where Apple might leverage faster, more powerful processors, possibly in combination with Apple TV, to turn the iPhone platform into a self-contained gaming console.
[Via: ArsTechnica]