MacScoop would have you believe that iTunes 7.1 contains “clear evidence” that the Apple TV will be able to play games. They point towards an internal file in iTunes that contains the strings that appear in dialog boxes and the like.
The string in question reads: “Are you sure you want to sync games? All existing games on the Apple TV “^1” will be replaced with games from this iTunes library.” Smoking gun? Not hardly. If you take a look at the file (/Applications/iTunes.app/Contents/Resources/English.lproj/Localizable.strings), you’ll find that the section of strings that applies to the Apple TV is pretty much identical to the section of strings for the iPod (with, of course, all instances of “iPod” replaced with “Apple TV”).
For instance, the game string MacScoop found has an ID number 4309.161; the subsequent string, 4309.162, reads “Are you sure you do not want to sync games? All existing games on the Apple TV “^1” will be removed.” 4309.163 is “Syncing games on “^1”…” (in all of these cases, ^1 is a placeholder for the name of your Apple TV).
Now if we jump back up to the iPod section, identified by the number 4300, we find the following strings:
“4300.161” = “Are you sure you want to sync games? All existing games on the iPod “^1” will be replaced with games from this iTunes library.”;Furthermore, section 4301, which applies to mobile phones (presumably of the ROKR variety and not the iPhone variety) has the same strings:
“4300.162” = “Are you sure you do not want to sync games? All existing games on the iPod “^1” will be removed.”;
“4300.163” = “Syncing games on “^1”…”;
“4301.161” = “Are you sure you want to sync games? All existing games on the mobile phone “^1” will be replaced with games from this iTunes library.”;Really, the only thing this proves is that the developer in charge of updating the strings knows how to use copy/paste and find/replace. Sure, Apple might decide to bring games to the Apple TV someday, but when that day comes, they’ll be shouting that feature from the rooftops, not hiding it in a text file.
“4301.162” = “Are you sure you do not want to sync games? All existing games on the mobile phone “^1” will be removed.”;
“4301.163” = “Syncing games on “^1”…”;
Ah ha! See? The mobile phone section has them too! Games for the ROKR are just around the corner.
Well have you ever heard of Polymorphism? Using the same code for multiple different instances. Who knows, maybe Apple will come out with a wireless controller that syncs up to the IR on the Apple TV.
This post really doesnt prove anything.
The strings quite clearly say to me that there will be games support in the iPhone and the Apple TV. The fact that EA are on board with iPhone development all but confirms this. The fact that the strings are identical to the iPod game instances add further weight.
What the fuss? iPod games will be accessible on Apple TV, right? The remote will behave the same as the iPod wheel, right?
@Doug: Nope. If you go to the Apple TV page, you'll find a little disclaimer that says "iPod games will not play on Apple TV." So no iPod games on the Apple TV. And some games rely on the scrolling functionality of the Click Wheel, which has no analog on the remote anyway.
Who really wants to play games on the appleTV, anyway? The Apple Remote is no Wiimote replacement. I have a hard enough time controlling the click wheel as it is for my iPod games.