What impact will the Next Ipod have on gaming?

Well, the first hurdle it would have to overcome is support from countries outside North America. It makes much more business sense, for example, for a Japanese publisher to publish something on the wildly-popular DS than for an untested system from a company heretofore not especially associated with gaming. Yes, Sony got its start in this fashion, but in that case each of its competitors had a fault that made going with the PlayStation platform the more practical choice (pricey cartridges and awkward programming, or so I've heard). iPod competitors at this point would be the DS and PSP, both of which possessing solid technology and a devoted fanbase. Mobile gaming might also could, and ostensibly be a more direct competitor, but not if iPod is serious about being a game machine - as has been mentioned, what could it offer that a cellphone game can't besides awkward ring control?

Not to say Apple should worry about sales. People will buy the newest iPod out of habit and/or devotion, and the bulk of their revenue willcome from people buying singles, not extra versions of Bejewelled. iPod gaming will go nowhere until Apple is serious about making inroads, and that won't happen until the music doesn't bring the big bucks anymore...and that won't happen until shortly after the Earth hurtles into the Sun.

Jam it back in, in the dark.