IPod game


An iPod click wheel game or iPod game is a video game playable on the various versions of the Apple portable media player, the iPod. The original iPod had the game Brick included as an easter egg hidden feature; later firmware versions added it as a menu option. Later revisions of the iPod added three more games in addition to Brick: Parachute, Solitaire, and Music Quiz. These games should not be confused with games for the iPod Touch, which require iOS and are only available on Apple's App Store on iTunes.

History

In September 2006, the iTunes Store began to offer nine additional games for purchase with the launch of iTunes 7, compatible with the fifth generation iPod with iPod software 1.2 or later. Those games were: Bejeweled, Cubis 2, Mahjong, Mini Golf, Pac-Man, Tetris, Texas Hold 'Em, Vortex, and Zuma. These games were made available for purchase from the iTunes Store for US$4.99 each. In December 2006, two more games were released by EA Mobile at the same price: Royal Solitaire and Sudoku. In February 2007, Ms. Pac-Man was released, followed in April 2007 by iQuiz. Until this time, all the available games could be purchased in a package, with no discount.
In May 2007 Apple released based on the television show, which is made by Gameloft. In June 2007 "SAT Prep 2008" by Kaplan. This was introduced as 3 separate educational games based on the subjects writing, reading, and mathematics. In December 2007, Apple released a classic Sega game, Sonic the Hedgehog, which was originally packaged with the Sega Genesis system in the early 1990s.
With third parties like Namco, Square Enix, EA, Sega, and Hudson Soft all making games for the iPod, Apple's dedicated MP3 player took great steps towards entering the video game handheld console market. Even video game magazines like GamePro and EGM have reviewed and rated most of their games.
The games are in the form of.ipg files, which are actually.zip archives in disguise. When unzipped, they reveal executable files along with common audio and image files, leading to the possibility of third-party games. Currently, Apple has no publicly available software development kit for iPod-specific development. The iOS SDK covers only iOS on the iPhone and iPod Touch, not traditional iPods.
As of October 2011, Apple has removed all the click wheel–operated games from its store.

Games

This is a list of games that were made available for the newest iPods, excluding the iPod Touch. Each game cost US$4.99 to buy prior to their discontinuation in 2011.
This list contains games on this list. This number is always up to date by this.
TitlePublisherRelease dateGame ID
Texas Hold'EmApple Inc.2006-09-1233333
ZumaPopCap Games2006-09-1244444
Pac-ManNamco2006-09-12AAAAA
TetrisElectronic Arts2006-09-1266666
Mini GolfElectronic Arts2006-09-1288888
Cubis 2Fresh Games2006-09-1299999
SudokuElectronic Arts2006-12-1950513
Ms. Pac-ManNamco2007-02-2714004
SAT Prep 2008 Kaplan2007-06-2211052
SAT Prep 2008 Kaplan2007-06-2211050
SAT Prep 2008 Kaplan2007-06-2211051
The Sims BowlingElectronic Arts2007-07-171500C
The Sims PoolElectronic Arts2007-07-311500E
Musika NanaOn-Sha, Ltd./Sony BMG2007-08-071C300
Brain ChallengeGameloft / Apple Inc.2007-09-05
PhaseHarmonix2007-11-06
Sonic the HedgehogSega2007-12-1818000
PegglePopCap Games2007-12-1812104
BombermanHudson Soft2007-12-1820000
Block Breaker DeluxeGameloft / Apple Inc.2008-01-15
Pole Position RemixNamco2008-01-21
Naval BattleGameloft2008-02-04
Chess & BackgammonGameloft2008-02-04
YahtzeeHasbro2008-02-11
Pirates of the Caribbean: Aegir's FireDisney2008-02-20
Bubble BashGameloft2008-02-25
Scrabble Electronic Arts / Hasbro2008-03-03
BejeweledPopCap Games2008-04-1555555
MahjongElectronic Arts2008-04-2277777
MonopolyElectronic Arts / Hasbro2008-06-0315040
The Sims DJElectronic Arts2008-06-09
'Square Enix2008-07-0824000
UnoGameloft2008-07
Mystery Mansion PinballGameloft2008-08
Chalkboard Sports BaseballD2C2008-08
Spore OriginsElectronic Arts2008-08-2515010
Star TrigonNamco2008-09
'Gameloft2008-09
Tamagotchi: 'Round the WorldNamco2008-11
Gameloft2008-1222020
Tiger Woods PGA TourElectronic Arts2008-12
Real Soccer '09Gameloft2008-12
Slyder AdventuresSandlot Games2008-12
ReversiApple Inc.2008-12
Wonder BlocksGameloft2008-12
Lode RunnerHudson Soft2008-12
Crystal DefendersSquare Enix2008-1224002
Chinese CheckersApple Inc.2008-12
Trivial PursuitElectronic Arts / Hasbro2008-12
Cake Mania 3Sandlot Games2009-02
Ubisoft2007-051B200
VortexApple Inc.2006-09-1212345
iQuizApple Inc.2007-0411002
Royal SolitaireElectronic Arts2006-1250514

Default games

These are the games that originally came with an iPod.
iPod versionTitlesPublishers
iPod 1G, 2GBrick Apple Inc.
iPod 3G, 4G, 5G, and 5.5G; iPod Nano 1G and 2G; iPod MiniBrick, Music Quiz, Parachute, SolitaireApple Inc.
iPod Nano 3G; iPod Classic 6GiQuiz, Klondike, VortexApple Inc.
iPod Nano 4G and 5GMaze, Klondike, Vortex, BrickApple Inc.

Criticism

iTunes had come under much criticism due to the UK price of iPod games, GB£3.99. Many people from the UK had given the games 1-star ratings, stating that Apple was "ripping off" Britain.
A similar situation occurred in Australia, where the price was A$7.49, even though the Australian dollar was worth more than the US dollar.
Developers had criticized Apple for not creating a software development kit for software developers to create new iPod games. This was likely to keep the digital rights management of iPod games closed. Although technically speaking this does not prevent the running of an alternative OS on the iPod such as Linux, whereby for example there are ports of Doom that will run on fifth-generation iPods. Running Linux on an iPod retains the music playing functionality of the device, while adding features such as the ability to create voice memos through the headphones.
When the iPod Classic and iPod Nano third generation were released, games which were bought formerly could not be synced to the new iPods. This made many consumers angry due to losing their investment.
It is also notable that after a download had been made for a game, it couldn't have been downloaded again unless a separate purchase was made for the same item. This is different behavior than applications downloaded on the App Store, which can be downloaded multiple times. This issue was later fixed, making it possible to install any single game on any number of iPods.

Unofficial games

Some older iPod units are capable of using replacement firmware such as iPod Linux and Rockbox. These firmware projects can play many other games, including a native port of Doom; and, via a native port of the Game Boy emulator Gnuboy, many other games, including Super Mario, Tomb Raider, Mega Man, Kirby, Metroid, The Legend of Zelda, Street Fighter, and hundreds more.