While Apple has a well-earned reputation as the inventor of new markets, it’s also something of a serial killer.

The company’s advances in digital music players made the Walkman an afterthought. The introduction of iTunes sounded a virtual death knell for many record retailers. The iPad cut the legs out from under the once fast-growing netbook PC market. And the iPhone has put Motorola in a fight for its life.

Now, the company looks to be focusing on the video game industry — and plenty of people are rightfully scared.

The sheer numbers are overwhelming. In 2011 alone, the company says it sold 172 million “post PC” devices, an Apple term encompassing the iPhone, iPad and iPod. To put that into context, that’s nearly 30 million more than the lifetime sales of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita added together.    [Read More...]