Apple is where it is because they see "where the puck is going" and high risk, blockbuster-driven Hollywood is not that. If anything, they should be looking to the far more complementary game industry. Exclusive games would translate directly into iPhone and iPad sales (ie their main profit centers!) in a way that's hard to imagine with movies. An acquisition or exclusivity deal with the increasingly desperate Nintendo would be money well spent.
I'll be surprised if there aren't a round of game company acquisitions to this effect in the next few years for exactly this purpose, as blue chip game makers struggle to compete with increasingly rich $3 smartphone apps, and as games are the main beneficiary of increasing smartphone power. Microsoft understands the value of a well timed acquisition (buying Bungie basically made the XBox an instant success), so I wouldn't be surprise if they initiate.
>An acquisition or exclusivity deal with the increasingly desperate Nintendo would be money well spent.
Please elaborate, in what way is Nintendo "desperate"? I'm not really following the console market anymore, but last I checked was Nintendo being the only of the big three console manufactures pushing innovative new concepts and making a killing with the Wii and DS. I know they are worrying about the mobile market, but is that really true competition for them right now?
I'll be surprised if there aren't a round of game company acquisitions to this effect in the next few years for exactly this purpose, as blue chip game makers struggle to compete with increasingly rich $3 smartphone apps, and as games are the main beneficiary of increasing smartphone power. Microsoft understands the value of a well timed acquisition (buying Bungie basically made the XBox an instant success), so I wouldn't be surprise if they initiate.