The Apple Apps The Will Be Huge On The iPad: Games, Games, And More Games

Since the inception of Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store more than 140,000 applications have been produced by thousands of developers.  The debut of Apple’s iPad provides a whole new platform for developers to tailor their products to.  Apple has  developed packages for the iPad available for immediate release, and has indicated that applications designed for the device will be approved soon..  A number of applications and games designed for iPhones and iPod Touches will find an even more suitable platform in the iPad.  The iPad screen, which is roughly three times to size of the iPhone’s, will provide a more dynamic and immersive user experience.  The iPad processor, which is two-thirds faster than the iPhone’s, will allow sophisticated games run at their full potential.

The iPad will be able to run any of the over 140,000 applications already available at the App Store.  Certain applications that have been hugely successful on the iPhone platform will not do well  the iPad.  Popular GPS programs like TomTom U.S.A. lose their convenient appeal when they are moved to a device bigger than an iPhone.  Other applications simply do not benefit from having a larger screen.  For instance, the popular game iMobsters by Storm 8 does not have a sophisticated graphic and control interface that would benefit from a larger platform.

But, there is another class of application that will benefit tremendously from the larger screen featured on the iPad.  The following games and applications most likely to be immediate and tremendous successes on the iPad platform and also the most obvious candidates for modification to suit the iPad specifically.

1.  Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Rockstar Games ($9.99)  The Grand Theft Auto series has been the gift that keeps on giving for Rockstar games.  On virtually every platform where the game has debuted it has been a smash hit.  The iPhone platform has been no different.  Since its release at the App Store one week ago it has rocketed to No.1 on the list of top grossing applications and has  received almost completely positive reviews.  The appeal of this family of games has always come, in part, from its immersing game experience.  The bigger screen and more powerful process on the iPad will allow for a gaming experience more akin to the versions of Grand Theft Auto found on more traditional platforms.

2. Need for Speed Shift, Electronic Arts ($6.99)  EA Games (NASDAQ: ERTS) was invited to present at the unveiling of the iPad, and this was the game they chose to test run.  The EA presenter claimed that the increased processing power and screen size of the iPad really shows the full potential of the game.

3. Tap Tap Revenge 3, Tapulous (Free):  This popular game is similar to Guitar Hero and ROCK BAND on the iPhone platform.  You can download the game for free but have to pay to add new songs.  This is a game that could be hit or miss if it were to be played on an iPad without modification.  It may be hard for consumers to use their hands correctly on a screen larger than the iPhones’.  However, this is a game that should be easily modified for the iPad.  Additionally, the larger screen featured on the table opens up the possibility of having two players on the game device, which may further increase the game’s appeal.

4. Madden NFL 10 by EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts ($6.99)  Capitalizing on the consistent success of the Madden football franchise, EA SPORTS has introduced a successful mobile version for the iPhone.  A quick glance will show you how much the game would benefit from the iPad’s larger screen and faster processing power.

5. Command & Conquer – Red Alert, Electronic Arts  ($6.99)   Command & Conquer Red Alert. Developed by Electronic Arts and distributed for $6.99. Released October 16, 2009. EA has brought its hits real-time strategy game to a mobile platform. In this game the Soviets and the Allies duke it out control of the world.  While this game drew a lot of attention when it was first released, it has tapered off some.  The nature of real-time strategy games is such that a screen the size of the iPhone’s is very restricting.  This game should be significantly more playable on the iPad.  Electronic Arts and other developers with real-time strategy games in their stables should also be able make some excellent versions designed specifically for the iPad.

While these games seem to have what it takes to make it on the iPad relative to other applications at the App Store, success in absolute terms will ultimately depend on the iPad itself.  At $499 Apple may have priced the iPad competitively enough to drive mass adoption.  If it proves to be too pricey, application developers might not find programming for the device to be worthwhile..  Either way, it will be a while before iPad market comes anywhere near the 75 million iPhone and iPod Touches that are out there, so the initial revenue potential is very limited.

Garrett W. McIntyre