Will tablets and smartphones destroy the handheld market?

[dpodblood]

Tablets and smartphones are becoming more and more prevalent, and the quality and depth of games available on these platforms are becoming better and better all the time. Despite the fact that the 3DS and PS Vita are both amazing handhelds technically, I am wondering if they really hold a place in the mobile market any more.

Games on the iTunes market place for instance generally cost between $1-$10. While the average new release DS/3DS game costs $30-$40, and still requires you to physically go to a store and purchase it. The convenience of the online market place, plus the fact that tablets and smartphones do so much more than simply play games makes these devices seem much more desirable than a dedicated handheld.

What do you think? Will tablets and smartphones mean the end of the dedicated handheld market?

 

[darkewaffle]

Destory

:awe:

 

[Beev]

Most, if not all, of the games you can play on a phone/tablet aren't worth the same as a full price game. Then again a lot of full price games are worth it either...

Until they become more powerful, phone/tablet games will be nothing but generic time wasters. You won't see good, DS caliber games on them for a long, long time.

 

[Krakn3Dfx]

Probably. The quality and enjoyment of $1-$5 games on mobile phones are in a lot of cases exceeding anything coming out on dedicated handheld gaming systems, once there's a solid control scheme in place for mobile phones, I think dedicated handheld gaming systems are going to find it very hard to manage a foothold in the market.

 

[dpodblood]

Destory

:awe:

Fixed now.

 

[dpodblood]

While tablets/smartphones may not be on par with the 3DS and PS Vita, I would say they are at least comparable. Plus I really wonder if there is much of a market for full "console like" experiences on the go anymore. Many people are looking for a quick 5-10 minute gaming experience on the go. Plus for those people looking for a more fleshed out experience we are starting to see games like Dead Space, and Splinter Cell conviction on the iPad.

 

[Beev]

I see dedicated handhelds becoming pocket PC's to compensate.

 

[Aikouka]

I think the biggest advantage that phone games have is that you tend to almost always have your phone with you. You can't really say the same about a portable gaming console.

Most, if not all, of the games you can play on a phone/tablet aren't worth the same as a full price game. Then again a lot of full price games are worth it either...

I think it depends on what's brought out. A lot of the games are quick time-killers, but sometimes... that's what games are for. But back on the game quality remark... Square-Enix, for example, brought out a port of Final Fantasy III (DS) for iOS.

 

[Beev]

I think it depends on what's brought out. A lot of the games are quick time-killers, but sometimes... that's what games are for. But back on the game quality remark... Square-Enix, for example, brought out a port of Final Fantasy III (DS) for iOS.

Hmm, I didn't know that. It certainly closes the gap a lot...

 

[dpodblood]

I think the biggest advantage that phone games have is that you tend to almost always have your phone with you. You can't really say the same about a portable gaming console.

That's a good point as well. I have a DS, but I rarely take it with me anywhere. Smartphone's are great because they combine many devices into one. And when traveling I take my netbook with me, which I'm considering replacing with an iPad or other tablet in the future.

 

[purbeast0]

i was just playing Street Fighter IV Volt on my phone while on the subway, and it was the first time i actually gave it a solid try.

it actually wasn't half bad.

the only thing (and its a problem with EVERY "virtual controller" game) is that you lose orientation of where your fingers are on the dpad, and buttons on right side, when you aren't looking at it. it happens regularly. i'm not sure if i will ever get 100% used to it.

that alone makes me think that it will never kill the handheld market, especially tablets. they are way to big and expensive to be the $200 kids toys that handhelds are.

 

[dpodblood]

I agree. Touch based joysticks tend to be terrible, but developers are coming up with more interesting ways to use gestures, and gyroscope controls.

 

[Aikouka]

Hmm, I didn't know that. It certainly closes the gap a lot...

It's also significantly cheaper at $15 vs. $40 (I believe that was the original MSRP of the DS version). But that's what happens when you can cut the physical medium costs. They also made an iOS-only RPG called Chaos Rings (and a "sequel" to it). I've played it through the end, and it has some flaws, but it's a good start.

I think the overall thing to get at is that the portable device OSs will be getting more than just Angry Birds as there are some fairly big budget titles out there. It's especially helpful that both Epic and id have their engines available. Although, I know UE3 is only on iOS, and I'm not sure about id Tech 5 (I have Rage for iOS).

That's a good point as well. I have a DS, but I rarely take it with me anywhere. Smartphone's are great because they combine many devices into one. And when traveling I take my netbook with me, which I'm considering replacing with an iPad or other tablet in the future.

I've found that the best advantage in regard to tablets when compared to laptops is battery life. My iPad 2 can last a pretty good amount of time compared to my Dell M1530 (full laptop) or my ASUS EeePC 4G Surf (netbook). I still prefer the laptop for certain tasks that are just too cumbersome on a tablet... such as typing more than a few words.

I think Sony has the toughest time in regard to the Vita. It has a good chance to become a powerful player in the mobile space as it has good hardware (essentially twice as powerful as an iPad 2) at a nice price-point. The two things they need to make sure they get down pat are (1) other smartphone features being implemented properly (2) good game selection.

I mean if I have a smartphone already, I'm going to look at the Vita and say, "well, can it even do what my phone can do?" Then we see that the phone can play games too, but does the Vita simply have better games?

EDIT:

the only thing (and its a problem with EVERY "virtual controller" game) is that you lose orientation of where your fingers are on the dpad, and buttons on right side, when you aren't looking at it. it happens regularly. i'm not sure if i will ever get 100% used to it.

I use these on my iPad:

http://tenonedesign.com/fling.php

 

[purbeast0]

I use these on my iPad:

http://tenonedesign.com/fling.php

yes i've seen those, those are only good on ipad and i'd think most people don't even know about those. plus it's just 1 more accessory to carry around w/your ipad.

 

[Tom]

as long as Nintendo sells a handheld for close to a $100-150 and keeps the quality 1st person games coming, they'll be fine.

And I expect Apple can keep selling ipod touch's for $150-200.

The kids market for both of these is huge, and isnt likely to be affected by smartphones or tablets.

And they're cheap enough that teens and adults can but them as complements to other platforms without batting an eye.

More expensive handhelds, the 3DS and Vita, I dont see them being successful at $250.

 

[darkewaffle]

While tablets/smartphones may not be on par with the 3DS and PS Vita, I would say they are at least comparable. Plus I really wonder if there is much of a market for full "console like" experiences on the go anymore. Many people are looking for a quick 5-10 minute gaming experience on the go. Plus for those people looking for a more fleshed out experience we are starting to see games like Dead Space, and Splinter Cell conviction on the iPad.

I think that's like saying the Wii is comparable to the 360/PS3, and I'd like to see how far you'd get with that argument here

The real barrier for tablets and some phones is the interface/controls. Purely touch interface is simply not suitable for many games; maybe on a device like the Playbook where control could be handled in the bezel without getting the way of the game, but even then I think an important part of gaming is tactile feedback, either that or you're going to be stuck with a platform really only suitable for strategy/farmville-s and turn based systems as I simply don't think the interface is precise/reliable enough for much else.

 

[Tristicus]

I doubt it. I've got both, and a pre-ordered Vita. (And a PSP)

 

[Schfifty Five]

Not until tablets/smartphones have usable physical controls (like a D-pad or analog stick) and buttons.

And you know tablets will not have those b/c it will ruin the "clean/sleek" look of them.

IMO, you just can't play a game for an extended period of time using on-screen control sticks and buttons.

Onscreen controls are bad for a few reasons:

1. Your hands slip off too frequently
2. Your hands block those parts of the screen
3. Your hands faster than a regular handheld

 

[Aikouka]

On-screen controls work well when they are location independent, which unfortunately does not work for everything anyway. For example, in Infinity Field on the iPad, you can use anywhere on the left side of the screen for the movement joystick and anywhere on the right side for the shoot joystick.

 

[Tristicus]

I'm probably going to end up ordering one of the joysticks that stick on screen for my tablet. Hopefully that works. Waiting for the OnLive application and their hopefully bluetooth controller. Then I'd be worried for mobile gaming devices...

 

[Aikouka]

I'm probably going to end up ordering one of the joysticks that stick on screen for my tablet. Hopefully that works. Waiting for the OnLive application and their hopefully bluetooth controller. Then I'd be worried for mobile gaming devices...

I've had pretty good luck with them so far. I have had the one on the right sometimes slide off a time or two, and I'm not sure why it has more problems staying on than the left one. Although, if I recall... the last time I used it, they both worked fine. If you have an Apple store near you, they sell the one that I linked in the store.

 

[Thraxen]

I think they'll put a huge dent in the dedicated portables, but maybe not completely wipe them out. I think many people view portable games as time wasters. So I think the cheap $1-5 games fit that perfectly. Most are garbage and virtually all are shallow, but if you can pass a few minutes while sitting around waiting somewhere I think that's fine with most people.

I used to scoff at the idea, but I now spend much more gaming time on my own tablet than on my DS... and I have zero interest in the 3DS and currently only a passing interest in the Vita. If I want more serious gaming I go to my consoles or PC.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Probably. News today is 35% of adults have a smartphone. Since it's always with them, why carry a second device for gaming? Especially when current phones have a multi-core CPU and hardware 3D graphics that are more powerful than a PSP or DSi.

A cheap DS (not a $250 model) might survive longer than PSP Vita / 3DS as a babysitter for kids but the writing is on the wall.

 

[ponyo]

yes. Handheld market will lose casual gamers like me. Last gen I bought Nintendo DS and Sony PSP. I have no desire to buy 3DS or the upcoming new Sony handheld. I'm perfectly happy playing occasional game on my smartphone and tablets.

 

[smackababy]

Do most of you understand the all versions of the DS sold 270+ million units in 3 years? The 3DS is selling after than the original DS as of now. Good luck destroying that.