Ragan's posterous

Steve calls it a magical and revolutionary device. I call it a means to a more immersive and social way to PC game.

Look Beyond the iPad as a Game Console

Apple's Remote app and Logitech's TouchMouse app only skim the surface… I want game developers to leverage the iPad (and iTouch/iPhone) as a customizable auxiliary input device for games.  For example, while playing EVE or some other space combat simulator, I want to see my shields, energy, weapons, etcetera on that lovely little screen.  Not just that, though, I want to be able to tap on those displays to get more info and really control my ship.  I want to multitouch-and-rotate to turn up and down power to the shields.  I want to slide up and down to change engine power.  I want to tap enemies on my mini-map to target them.  While they're at it, if it can send comm traffic or damage stats to my iPhone, all the better.

The More the Merrier

Oh! Oh! How about this… Space combat sim, where the main computer screen shows something akin to the Enterprise's main viewer (let's throw that up on a nice big LCD TV just for fun).  Me and some "crewmates", friends each equipped with some sort of multitouch controller, act in different roles; weapons, tactical, navigation, (science? communication?).  That would take something like Star Trek Online to a whole new level.

Now, let's extrapolate that out to some other genres:

• RPGs: each member of your party can manage their own inventory and miscellaneous stats, while the party as a whole is controlled from the "main terminal."  Completely digital "tabletop" gaming.
• Strategy games:  The main commander, overseeing production and the main base, sends their lieutenants off with a squad of units, which the lieutenant then monitors and controls via their own window into the game.
• Flight/driving sim: The main player at the controls is piloting the aircraft, additional passengers are operating gun turrets.  Maybe even performing repairs via a just-in-time or puzzle mechanism.

Come on game devs, let's make this happen!