Much has been talked about Apple and games and the equation is almost impossible to solve, Apple has been sloooow when it comes to gaming, but the future is brighter for the ipod touch and the iphone with hundred of developers creating the most exciting games for the little platform, but help from Apple is needed.

I have been talking about games and Apple for years and I have experienced the slow introduction of hardcore games to the mac from all the games publishers that in some form the game business is dead on the Apple side, in some part because Apple is doing nothing to promote the mac as a hardcore gaming platform and there is not sense in developing two version of the same game if we can now enjoy all the PC games on our macs running BootCamp.

Apple adoption of the Intel technology gave us this advantage, but at the same time turned Mac as a gaming platform into a non-profitable business, instead of, game developers are now targeting the iPod Touch and the iPhone as the real Mac Gaming Platform and again, there is new about Apple’s plans with its mobile devices and the imminent invasion of hardcore games.

Check numbers from Sony PSP and Nintendo DS units (number in millions) March 2008.

PSP – 21.7% Market Share
Japan – 8.82
US – 12.28
Other – 11.54
Total – 32.65

NDS – 68.1% Market Share
Japan – 22.46
US – 21.90
Other – 25.27
Total – 69.63

Seeing these numbers and the gaming potential of the iPod Touch or the iPhone I can only recommend Apple to rethink its strategy, there is a big business in transforming the iPod Touch into a gaming platform, the iPhone has eclipsed sales of the iPod Touch and this is perfect timing for Apple to relaunch it as a new device, the iPod Touch as a iPod is way too much and it has all the features and processing power to move Apple into the Gaming Business and do a good job.

The PSP is an excellent device, full of features, hardcore design, easy to handle, Apple needs to rival Sony in the Games Publishing business, something where Sony has vast experience, but is not invencible. The iPod Touch has the public appealing, the technology and the price is right, what is really needed is Apple decision…. And believe me, it will be the harder decision.