A game doesn't just work because it's fun - it has to be fully compatible with the "platform" it's been programmed for. It should also be programmed to exploit the full capabilities of such platform. We're not about to pitch the iPod into the next-gen console wars here, as the iPod, the fifth generation one to be exact, can only play songs, TV shows, movies, podcasts, and games. Yeah, games! But only a handful of 'em including Bejeweled, Tetris, Mahjong, Zuma, Pacman, Texas Hold'em, - in short, games that don't need uber-awesome graphics or complex programming.

So, if you were given the chance to tell Apple what games you'd want to play in the iPod, which ones would you pick? There's one condition, though: it has to be compatible with the click wheel interface. It also has to be a single player game (for the time being).

Michael from AppleGazette thought the following games would be cool for the iPod: Myst, Sim City, Tapper, Vegas Casino, Spy Hunter, Pool, Centipede, Space Invaders, Sudoku, and Star Trek Starship Creator.

We thought Space Invaders, Myst, Sudoku, and Sim City would be excellent for the iPod. Some of these are classics and take advantage of the click wheel. Putting them in the iPod game line-up would far improve their playability and navigability; you won't have to worry about having to play the game using the cellphone's bulky controls.

If these games get included in the line-up of some rather dopy games we see in the iPod today, we'd have to ask Apple for another favor: get them online, too! That won't be stretching too much now, would it?

  

Apple's foray into the world of portable media player gave birth to one of the most recognizable electronic products in the world - the iPod.  The iPod has evolved from being a digital music device to a video viewer, podcast player and pocket-sized photo album. And if that wasn't enough, Apple has thrown in the gauntlet and announced their newest plan for this nifty little gadget: iPod games.

To be able to enjoy these games, iPod owners with any fifth-gen (video) player must first download and install the latest iTunes 7 software for Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh computers. After installing, you can now download a total of nine games from the iTunes store for US$ 4.99 per game.

One of the games offered is Namco's classic arcade game from the 80s called Pac-Man. the little yellow guy was able to chomp his way to the iPod. A total of 256 levels can be enjoyed in the iPod version of Pac-Man, with "coffee break" animations that serve as intermissions between  levels. The gameplay is exactly the same as in other version: to guide Pac-Man onto the dots and fruits while evading the colored ghosts. The only difference is that you get to control him by using the click wheel of the iPod: gently tap (not press) one of the four directions of the click wheel to direct Pac-Man to the goal.

Another game being offered is Electronic Arts' Mini Golf. The game features three courses: 18-hole Tommy Totem's Tiki Putt Putt; the Ancient Egypt course; and the Freaky Circus Sideshow course. The last two courses will be unlocked if you are able to shot under par. The game also offers Pass n' Play multiplayer mode where two players can take turns putting off at a hole, and the Practice mode for newbie players. The iPod's click wheel serves as the game controller.

Another downloadable game is PopCap Games' Zuma. Take control of a stone frog in the middle of the screen and eliminate the long string of multicolored balls by firing a colored ball from the stone frog idol's mouth towards a group of two or more of the same colored balls. The control is simple, rotate the frog and use the center Select button t fire the ball. To select the color of the ball in the stone frog' mouth, click fast-forward or rewind button. Other additions of the game include shooting gold coins for extra points, creating combos by chaining successful moves together and power-ups. These are only three of the games offered by iPod. Other titles includes Tetris, Texas Hold'em, Mahjong, Cubis 2, Bejeweled and Vortex.

As expected, the new iTunes was launched today at the San Francisco event. As expected, the new iTunes will new feature a lineup of movies from Walt Disney, Pixar, Touchstone, and Miramax. But surprise! iTunes now stocks on-the-go video games. And even more surprise! There's a hot new Apple Box sighted on the horizon: the (temporarily code-named) iTV.

iTunes will stream movies to customers in near-DVD quality at resolutions up to 640x480 (depending on the video iPod or media player). CUstomers can order the iMove the same day as it comes out on DVD, or they can pre-order and have iTunes deliver it automatically when the movie is released.

The games available from iTunes will work on 5th generation iPods. All the games in today's lineup will be available for $4.99 each, and include:

• Tetris, Mahjong and Mini Golf from Electronic Arts Inc.;
• Pac-Man from Namco Networks America Inc.
• Cubis 2 from FreshGames, LLC;
• Bejeweled and Zuma from PopCap Games, Inc.; and
• Texas HoldÂ?em and Vortex from Apple.

Ah, and now the (temporarily code-named) iTV. As suspected by a New York Times writer, it's the Living Room Mac Box, more or less. The same movies you download into your Macs and iPods may one day stream onto your flat-screen TVs. It will communicate with your Macs wirelessly via 802.11 (it also has a USB and Ethernet connection). It will hook up to the TV via component audio or even HDMI. And it will be available, as they claim, in Q1 2007 - two seasons from now. (Most likely, it would be - Steve Jobs demoed a unit at the San Francisco event).

Ah, but this is only half the battle, so they say. They also unveiled the latest generation of the iPod family. Check that out at our companion article!