On March 6th Apple CEO Steve Jobs gathered together a group of technology journalists and software developers in a dark room at Apple's California headquarters. The excitement, as with any Apple event, was palpable. They were there to see a software update for the iPhone.

That a software update could be considered exciting is testament to the aura of hype that surrounds the iPhone. A cell phone that some have branded the God Phone.

The software update, due this June, allows for the creation of third party applications for the iPhone: Read 'Games'. Not content with merely announcing the update, Apple had two third-party games to demo. Both had been produced in two weeks, one by EA (electronic arts) and the other by Sega. Both exceeded already high expectations.

Sega had ported its popular 'Super Monkey Ball' to the iPhone, complete with 3D graphics. The two developers where so surprised by the iPhone's capabilities that they had to fly in a digital artist to create better graphics to suit the iPhones impressive display.

Super Monkey Ball is a deeply intellectual and emotive game in which a monkey, the shape of a ball, navigates around an airborne maze trying to eat as many bananas as possible without falling off. The game utilises the iPhone's built in accelerometer which means you can control the monkey simply by tilting and twisting the iPhone. The developer's where clearly impressed by the controls; ""

Rival game company EA had developed an iPhone version of its upcoming evolution based gave, 'Spore'. In their two weeks the developers had managed to get the first stage of the game up and running. In it, the player controls a small primitive critter as it navigates through primordial slime eating other critters and gradually evolving.

While Spore was a 2D game, it had rich colourful graphics and a similar accelerometer based control system. It featured an impressive interface whereby you can customise your organism by adding eyes and tails and teeth and the like. The game even featured a cutscene in which the player's customised character jumped and frolicked in the sea.

These games where developed in just two weeks, imagine what developers will have created by June when the software is released. One can easily imagine the ability to shape your critter by pinching and squeezing the touch-screen display, or even the ability to swap or breed critters with other players over wi-fi.

Users will be able to download applications through iTunes, or directly onto their iPhone or iPod Touch, the same way as they download music. And yes, the software update is available to anyone who already has an iPhone or iPod Touch. While iPhone users will get the update free, iPod touch users may have to pay an upgrade fee (ouch!).

With it's unique user interface and impressive processing power, Apple's multi-touch system is the most exciting new platform for mobile game development.

I can't wait till June.

Learn more about this author, Ben Winsor.
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