Apple Files Dedicated Game Device Trademark

by Chris Faylor, Feb 11, 2008 9:05am PST

Stylish gadget maker Apple may be plotting an expansion into video game hardware, going by a recent application to expand the breadth of the Apple trademark.

Though most of the application could apply to Apple's iPod line, at least one descriptor--"stand alone video game machines"--goes far beyond anything the company has offered thus far. While some consider the 1996 Apple-created Pipin platform to be a game console, the short-lived hardware was licensed to and produced by third parties, not Apple, and marketed as a cheap multimedia computer.

Judging from the rest of the listing, which was uncovered by Trademork, any "stand alone video game machine" covered by the as-yet-unapproved trademark expansion would most likely be a battery-powered portable device that utilizes an LCD screen.

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11 Threads | 54 Comments

#1

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By: spaceless x Show Full Post

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the psp has had enough of a struggle contending with the DS, i wonder what apple has in store that make them think they can compete?

Feb 11, 2008 9:09am PST

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the psp has had enough of a struggle contending with the DS, i wonder what apple has in store that make t... : spaceless
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  The fact they are Apple. : Evil Benius
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    who has SOOOoo much experience with video games. : sabadog
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      who's, at the time of ipod 1st gen, had SOOOoo much experience with portable music players. : yossapw
      
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      What makes this feel unlikely is that rather than not being known for games, Apple are known as being bad... : A Sponge
      
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      I should clarify, gaming on Macs under Apple's OS is still a punchline. : A Sponge
      
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      to a very bad joke. : maldoror
      
      But not as bad of a joke as Mac Gaming. : silverback1138
      
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      The difference is that no company made a successful mp3 device before it so it was easy to penetrate the ... : razlebol
      
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      Probably as difficult as it was for Microsoft to come up with a profitable console in the market where tw... : yossapw
      
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      It took them 5-6 years to make profit out of it and they still don't make much. They have Billions in ban... : razlebol
      
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      Yes, yes, it will be difficult, but I can totally see Apple in the gaming market. They've got a game star... : yossapw
      
      I doubt that the majority of the apple consumers are into gaming or else they wouldn't be Mac users in th... : razlebol
      
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      Different market and like other's have stated, Apple has zero cred in gaming. They already had cred in th... : Fred Garvin
      
      And you just know Apple will be the first to make a gaming system with no buttons. : Jobos
      
      They have 18 billion dollars. They can afford to take some risks. : vigilante
  - That means fuck all in this arena. In fact, most game developers probably have an aversion to Apple by no... : Fred Garvin
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  look the handheld market is really up for grabs right now. Nintendo and sony are milking the proverbial c... : italiano3d
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    Up for grabs? How do you figure that? The DS pretty well owns that market with the PSP following somewher... : Fred Garvin
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      I meant the high end segment of the market. The psp and ds are pretty low end compared to what current te... : italiano3d
      
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      And that's where'd you'd be wrong. I highly doubt that segment even exists and if it does it'll be pretty... : Fred Garvin
      
      Pretty much, I personally think Apple products, though nice, are a bit overrated and overpriced. A $500... : silverback1138
      
      But what they do have is the willingness to give their device mass storage, multiple functions, and to of... : sam eagle

#33

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By: Serpico74 x Show Full Post

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Games always have been and always will be an afterthought for Apple. This is just them covering their bases. Either way, profit margins on games are too thin compared to what they make across the rest of their product line, and again there is no big interest at the heart of Apple. This is probably there to cover them for further iPhone and iPod game development.

Feb 11, 2008 2:35pm PST

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Games always have been and always will be an afterthought for Apple. This is just them covering their bas... : Serpico74
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- I agree to a point. They have had numerous opportunities to enter the gaming market in the past, and have... : sam eagle

#52

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By: ezanga x Show Full Post

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Honestly, I could see the Wii as something Apple might have produced -- inventive, different, and white.

Feb 12, 2008 4:09am PST

Honestly, I could see the Wii as something Apple might have produced -- inventive, different, and white. : ezanga

#22

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By: razlebol x Show Full Post

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I doubt it would work.

1- No experience in the gaming field
2- No known or good first party game developer.
3- American gaming device which will probably be ignored by the Japanese Devs which makes the best portable games.
4- Probably going to be expensive as fuck since it's Apple.

What would be good though
1- Probably a online distribution for games
2- Can play your mp3 or video collection from the ipod
3- Touch screen?

Feb 11, 2008 11:54am PST

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I doubt it would work. 1- No experience in the gaming field 2- No known or good first party game deve... : razlebol
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  Didn't they have no experience in the portable media player market? : crummynz
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    Or phone markets... and considering they sell the iPhone for nearly twice it's worth, they're making a ki... : Jobos
    - big difference here, is that apple would have to get devs onboard which would be near impossible as state... : thewindcriesmary
- http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?id=16223053 If it can do this, I will be first in line to buy it. : Snif DeCrac

#5

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By: NFXFSX x Show Full Post

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Haven't they filed this kind of stuff before? I seem to remember some kind of console rumor floating around a year or two ago.

Feb 11, 2008 9:28am PST

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Haven't they filed this kind of stuff before? I seem to remember some kind of console rumor floating arou... : NFXFSX
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  The rumors have been floating around forever. As far I can recall though, this is the first actual, concr... : Chris Faylor
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    This is an actual, concrete example? : A Sponge
    - Yes, it was poured just yesterday... : .frame
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      It's something official! : Chris Faylor
      
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      Kinda! : Chris Faylor
      
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      Christopher... : A Sponge
      
      pwnt : packav
      
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      Abigal, you are more than welcome to call me out via Shackmessage as well :( : Chris Faylor
      
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      Let the public record show that I am a tactless, unamusing cunt. : A Sponge
      
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      Let the record also show that personal information on Nick Breckon and Chris Faylor will fetch a handsome... : A Sponge
      
      How much are you offering for Breckon info? : Chris Faylor

#2

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By: deathofrats x Show Full Post

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As with any Apple product it's going to be overpriced and overrated, yet millions will proclaim it the second coming of the gameboy.

Feb 11, 2008 9:09am PST

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As with any Apple product it's going to be overpriced and overrated, yet millions will proclaim it the se... : deathofrats
Thread Truncated. Click to see all 6 replies.

#32

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By: shredomatic x Show Full Post

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I bet it will draw from the vast library of games already available for the Mac.

Feb 11, 2008 2:34pm PST

I bet it will draw from the vast library of games already available for the Mac. : shredomatic

#29

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By: Jobos x Show Full Post

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I don't see why this wouldn't work, purely from a design standpoint. People LOVE the design of the iPod, and as long as this device looks gorgeous and sleek, people will want to own it. Apple's done a good job of making 'objects of desire'. Apple products are fashionable to have -- which is an interesting position to be in for an electronics manufacturer, and unequaled.

If they DID make a device like this, it needs a 5" display. Touchscreen of course. And WiFi for surfing the web.

Feb 11, 2008 2:20pm PST

I don't see why this wouldn't work, purely from a design standpoint. People LOVE the design of the iPod,... : Jobos

#6

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By: AMikaboshi x Show Full Post

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nintendo ds > *

Feb 11, 2008 9:56am PST

nintendo ds > * : AMikaboshi

#4

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By: pigvomit x Show Full Post

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Ah Christ. I can just see Jobs pimping this.

Feb 11, 2008 9:16am PST

Ah Christ. I can just see Jobs pimping this. : pigvomit

#3

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By: avatar_58 x Show Full Post

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The new Apple SD. A white sleeker version of the DS (the white DS isn't sleek enough, no apple logo). Theres also a slower CPU, no touchscreen and it costs $599.

Feb 11, 2008 9:10am PST

The new Apple SD. A white sleeker version of the DS (the white DS isn't sleek enough, no apple logo). The... : avatar_58

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