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EA interested in incorporating gaming experiences into smart watches

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Watch games

Smart watches… they’ve been around for a while now, but it seems that they’re all up in my face since Apple announced their own version. Personally, I’m not sold. I just can’t wrap my head around having a whole new device on my wrist when a simple stretch to a pocket for my phone can provide the same functionality and more. I’m a minority though. Many consumers are interested in them, and companies like EA are interested in utilising them for unique gaming experiences.

Using a smart watch for gaming honestly hadn’t crossed my mind until yesterday. Frank Gibeau, the head of EA’s mobile game efforts, was asked what he thought of the new Apple Watch. He thinks it along with others may well become a gaming platform (via CNET).

“One of the things we’re intrigued with in the mobile division is seeing wearables emerge as a gaming platform. We think we’re in the early stages of that, if you look at Oculus and its relationship with Facebook, and Google Glass. Now with Apple’s big announcement with the watch, there’s a trend here where wearables are going to increase in performance, capability and unique functions over time that we believe will enable gaming experiences”

I just don’t see it, I really don’t… at least not fully fledged titles anyway. I could maybe understand the watch being used as some sort extra to the game, offering additional information much like the tablet controller does for the Wii U. Gibeau says they have people prototyping both possibilities.

“We have two teams prototyping wearable experiences that are not only standalone, but also some ideas where you can actually use the fitness component in the watch that can unlock capabilities in the game that might be on your iPhone. Or you could do crafting or some other auction trading on your watch that goes back into your tablet game that you might check out later when you get home”

Oh EA, what shenanigans are you up to? Will we be seeing fitter FIFA characters if we choose to run a few kilometres each day? Maybe Battlefield: Wrist Operations? Only time will tell.

Am I alone in this whole smart watch hate? I think it might just be because I love me a good, traditional watch which exists to tell the time, and nothing but the time. Do you own a smart watch, or plan on getting one in future?

(Header Source)

Last Updated: September 11, 2014

20 Comments

  1. That last paragraph…HAHA!

    Reply

  2. PERSONA 5!!!! (Umar)

    September 11, 2014 at 13:08

    • Weanerdog

      September 11, 2014 at 13:11

      But remember kids of that time could spend hours trying to get their new stopwatch to stop at exactly 10.00 secs.

      Reply

      • PERSONA 5!!!! (Umar)

        September 11, 2014 at 13:15

        I would do that! So spoiled these days

        Reply

    • hairyknees

      September 11, 2014 at 13:15

      10/10 would totally buy this before a smart watch <3

      Reply

      • PERSONA 5!!!! (Umar)

        September 11, 2014 at 13:17

        If you had this back in the day, all the girls would want you!

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          September 11, 2014 at 13:39

          When they said they wanted to play Dr they meant with the watch, not with you ;P

          Reply

          • PERSONA 5!!!! (Umar)

            September 11, 2014 at 13:49

            HAHAH dammit, no wonder they kept running away from me

  3. Weanerdog

    September 11, 2014 at 13:09

    I always thought tablets were stupid until I spent some time with one, I now think that they are just stupid for me but for the masses they are actually more functional than a computer. So now I think smart watches are stupid but that is me. I do not, however, see how they could become a mainstream gaming device. The might have a few gimmick titles that would work but overall I can’t see it even working for the casual market.

    Reply

  4. Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora

    September 11, 2014 at 13:10

    FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU. Why? Why why why why????

    Smart watches have been around for ages. But oh let Apple announce a smart watch and suddenly NOW it’s a big thing. AGH. It sickens me that the world revolves around 1 or 2 people’s/companies ideas and ignore everything else.

    Secondly, this is a dumb idea. When I am gaming the last thing I want to do is remove my hand from the controller to look at my watch. So there goes that idea of it poviding extra info.

    Lastly: The thing is too small to be a primary device for gaming. What is this? A GAMING PLATFORM FOR ANTS?????

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      September 11, 2014 at 13:18

      Maybe the center needs some form of gaming……….

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora

        September 11, 2014 at 13:28

        hehehehe

        Reply

  5. The Adventures of JJ

    September 11, 2014 at 13:22

    That tag

    Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 11, 2014 at 13:37

    I don’t know what to do. I think smart watches are retarded, but I don’t want to be seen agreeing with Cabbage.

    Reply

    • The Adventures of JJ

      September 11, 2014 at 13:40

      catch 22 right there

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 11, 2014 at 14:11

        I have my internet street cred to consider after all.

        Reply

  7. Sk3tz0

    September 11, 2014 at 13:40

    I was an interesting Post.. Soon you’ll be able to tell very easily if a person is a cocktonsil or not just by looking at his wrist.

    Reply

  8. Sk3tz0

    September 11, 2014 at 13:42

    I hope Samsung sues seven shades of shit out of Apple for stealing their Smart watch Idea 😛 like apple use to sue other people 😛

    Reply

  9. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 11, 2014 at 14:09

    Why are they thinking so inside the box? I want to play games with using my Smart Shorts in conjunction with my Apple Shoes. You can integrate a wireless controller into the pockets that syncs with screens on the top of my shoes, so I can play games that are truly mobile & go everywhere with me. Enter into a partnership with Crocs for the shoes, will give you a massive plastic footwear market.

    Reply

  10. z1n

    September 11, 2014 at 21:17

    Now if only I could get a HD screen 3D printed right onto my thigh then I could play Angry Birds while shitting.

    …still a better idea that a smartwatch.

    Reply

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