iPad+Gaming=???

There's been a decent amount of news from Apple recently, what with the iPad shipping date creeping closer and closer. What does this mean for gamers? Some people have been saying for years that Apple may someday enter the gaming industry. Their fanbase is large enough to support such a venture, and if the iPad sells, it'll certainly prove that they're gullible enough.

According to Michael Pachter of GameTrailers, the iPad will become a "serious gaming platform." Pachter also stated "As I've said before I think the iPad is going to be a gaming device and I think Apple is seeing that this type of software is driving hardware sales. I think it's going to encourage more development to sell more hardware and I think Apple's going to become a serious gaming company."

I wouldn't begin salivating over the possibilities quite yet. Apple Insider reports that a manufacturing bottleneck may reduce the number of iPads to 300,000 come shipping day. Its possible that this bottleneck may cause Apple to push back the release a month until more units are produced.

Should we care yet? Time will tell, and the games that currently exist on the iPhone show that gaming can work on the platform. Then again, we're talking about a company that is just now deciding to introduce HDMI connectivity to its computers. Its good to know that Apple is on the cutting edge of technology.