Intellectual Property Law

Rumoured Premium App Store Could Help Make iPhone the "Future of Game Play"

By Chris Bennett, Tudor Carsten, Michael R. Coburn, Sarah Dale-Harris, Pablo Guzman, Danielle (Dani) Lemon, Chris Metcalfe and David Spratley

Rumours abound that Apple will launch a premium app store this week, at the same time as it unveils an updated iPhone operating system. The new "upscale" section of the Apple app store will only handle software programs that cost $20 or more. The new section will focus on more complex games and is likely aimed at helping game development companies such as EA and enterprise software companies such as SAP, offer premium applications that are more difficult and therefore more costly to develop. The Apple app store is highly successful, however the number of games available for $1 or less offered by independent developers has led to a cluttered store as well as a significant drop in game prices. If Apple does open the new premium app section as predicted, not only will it be easier for users to find more sophisticated and graphic focused products, but major game developers will also be encouraged to offer their more complex products in the Apple store instead of through competitors such as Blackberry. The launch of a premium app store would help Apple focus on making the iPhone and iPod touch the "future of game play".

Coverage at CasualGaming

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Full post as published by Video Game Law Blog on March 20, 2009 (boomark / email).