Can iPad Fulfill Its Gaming Potential?

Has Apple (News - Alert) built up too much excitement over the gaming potential of the iPad, announced just a couple of short months ago?

Most would agree that iPad has lived up to its promise in terms of graphics, usability and uniqueness in the increasingly crowded tablet market. However, experts say, most of the games available in the iPad app store seem to be overpriced, revamped versions of games for the iPhone (News - Alert). Not to mention the games exclusive to the iPad do not generate the wow factor promised by Apple CEO Steve Jobs and his team.

Games such as "Herod's Lost Tomb" (pictured below), "Scrabble" and "Civilization Revolution (News - Alert) for iPad" show that the iPad can house and improve such games just by its larger screen and better graphics, writes Winda Benedetti of MSNBC.com. The main specialty for iPad games seem to be puzzle-based, point and click, and traditional board games.

Nevertheless, there's room for improvement and development for iPad original games that would live up to the device's hype, but considering the iPad was released two months ago, its inability to produce gaming innovations is expected. In order for the iPad to reach its full gaming potential it will take time, research and more platforms sold.

"The primary difficulty is not knowing a ton about the audience yet," Tony Leamer, vice president of marketing at I-play, told Benedetti. "The question is: Who is using the iPad and what does that demographic look like? All we have are early adopter numbers and we have to see how that matures and changes."

Apple could not immediately be reached for comment.

These numbers and audience sizes are expected to with the iPad's release on Friday to Australia, Canada, and many parts of Europe and Asia (with more to come in these next couple of months). This will certainly give a broader oversight of the consumers to help researchers and game developers improve the iPad gaming experience promised by Steve Jobs (News - Alert). The future looks bright for the iPad, and only time will tell when it reaches its full gaming potential.