Will tablets and smartphones destroy the handheld market?

[dpodblood]

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.

I'm not suggesting that the hand held market will be immediately wiped out, however it will take more and more of a significant bite out of the hand held market.

 

[purbeast0]

well you all also have to remember, that you all are growing up. the handheld market has and always will be primarily marketed at kids, who aren't really the targets for either tablets or smartphones.

 

[dpodblood]

well you all also have to remember, that you all are growing up.

Navar!!

 

[smartpatrol]

Smartphones/tablets won't destroy the handheld gaming market any time soon, but they will take a large bite out of it IMO.

Smartphone games don't have to equal the quality of dedicated handheld games. They only have to be good enough where people say "I'm not going to buy a portable console, and carry around an extra device/charger/cartridges with me."

Not only that, but smartphones are actually better suited to casual mobile gaming. They're always on, and always with you. Perfect for a 10-minute gaming session.

That said, the market for a sub-$200 handheld for kids is not going to disappear any time soon. But, I don't think we'll ever see successes on the scale of the PSP and DS ever again.

 

[dpodblood]

Smartphones/tablets won't destroy the handheld gaming market any time soon, but they will take a large bite out of it IMO.

Smartphone games don't have to equal the quality of dedicated handheld games. They only have to be good enough where people say "I'm not going to buy a portable console, and carry around an extra device/charger/cartridges with me."

Not only that, but smartphones are actually better suited to casual mobile gaming. They're always on, and always with you. Perfect for a 10-minute gaming session.

That said, the market for a sub-$200 handheld for kids is not going to disappear any time soon. But, I don't think we'll ever see successes on the scale of the PSP and DS ever again.

Scratch the word PSP and I agree 100%.

 

[Macamus Prime]

I've dropped my DS/PSP for an iTouch.

The games are good enough for what I want. Also, with some PSP titles coming to the PS3 and in HD - there isn't much reason or want to own a PSP.

The 3DS has a totally shit library so far. No point in being an early adopter.

Also, on the iTouch, I can easily listen to my music, watch my movies and surf the net. And, it is more portable than the other console system yet much more multifunctional.

 

[Xellos2099]

Never is what I am thinking. There is simply not substitution for real button and d pad..... unless you are one of the farm-ville crated abomination. Then again.... a lot of asshat think ipod is the best sounding mp3 player ever....

 

[smackababy]

Never is what I am thinking. There is simply not substitution for real button and d pad..... unless you are one of the farm-ville crated abomination. Then again.... a lot of asshat think ipod is the best sounding mp3 player ever....

And I'm sure just as many asshats claim they can tell the difference in "high quality" cables from just a copper wire. Spoiler alert: blind studies have proven them wrong.

 

[Dumac]

I haven't seen any good games on a phone, so I would say not (angrybirds does not count as a good game)

 

[ponyo]

well you all also have to remember, that you all are growing up. the handheld market has and always will be primarily marketed at kids, who aren't really the targets for either tablets or smartphones.

I bought 3 or 4 different Nintendo DS for my daughter because she played it so much the poorly designed hinge kept breaking. My sister went through two different DS for her son. Now both kids have not turned on their DS in about a year since getting the iPad and iPod Touch. It's like that with everyone we know with kids and iPad. Kids game on the iPad.

 

[frumply]

Still feel like I'm paying for flash games on the app store. Also not exactly fond of 'excellent apps' that happen to be blatant rips of existing games and selling for 99 cents. That said, the average consumer won't give a damn and apart from hardware-specific originals portable game devices are definitely becoming a hard sell for the casual userbase. Even moreso for the kids, if parents can get away with buying them 5 $2 games instead of a few $40 games. Frugal shoppers can obviously buy games for much cheaper, but I doubt most people frequent the likes of FW/SD/CAG.

What'll probably happen over the long term is that the portables become powerful enough that they take over double duty as portable and home gaming systems.

 

[Tristicus]

I haven't seen any good games on a phone, so I would say not (angrybirds does not count as a good game)

Angry Birds does count as a good game. It is a game. It is good. Therefore, a good game.

Hmm, let's see....

Angry Birds (and its spawns)
Dungeon Defenders
Peggle
NFS Shift
Guns'n'Glory
Trial X
-- I won't list off all of Gameloft's 33 Android games...not counting iOS or iPad ones in that number.
Cut the Rope
Super Dynamite Fishing
ZENONIA
Stair Dismount

And other ones I don't play or have. There are absolutely plenty, saying there aren't is like saying the PS3 had no games when it first released - stupid.

 

[Sureshot324]

Physical buttons are a must. Sony has the right idea with the Xperia play. I'd also like to see a phone shaped like a PSP, with the dpad/buttons on the sides of the screen so there's no need for a slide out gamepad.

Consumers are also going to need to get used to paying more than $5 a game. Otherwise they'll never reach the quality of PSP/DS games.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Until they become more powerful, phone/tablet games will be nothing but generic time wasters.

Mid range phones are significantly more powerful then the 3DS already(actually, most entry level year old phones are). I can understand someone thinking that phones need something to compete better in the hand held gaming market, but it certainly isn't power.

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.

Good games reorient the "d-pad" anytime your finger leaves the screen. It isn't a problem with every virtual controller game, just a lot of them. BTW- XPeria Play removes the controller issue completely.

When I fire up games like Riptide GP and Galaxy on Fire II, I think that handhelds should be worried. Not saying phones will displace them, but release a shockingly huge POS(Nintendo) and you are certainly opening the door to give them a shot.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Also, look at the iCade controller cabinet for the iPad. There will eventually be piles of controller-cases that add buttons and sticks to your phone connecting via bluetooth, just like the PS3 controllers.

Bringing a case / holder along with the phone you already have is going to be easier and cheaper than carrying two different devices.

 

[Duder1no]

not until they improve the game controls

 

[dpodblood]

not until they improve the game controls

I think developers need to focus on more interesting ways of using touchscreen controls. Look at games like Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, and Infinity Blade for instance. While they aren't particularly deep games they at least come up with a unique way to use touch screen controls rather than emulating the traditional analog stick/buttons layout.

 

[Tristicus]

I just ordered some of those Fling joysticks off eBay. $2.28 thanks to eBay bucks. Can't wait to try them out on my Thrive.

 

[Cheesetogo]

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.

Pfff. Numbers and facts have nothing on baseless speculation.

 

[Rage187]

I just ordered some of those Fling joysticks off eBay. $2.28 thanks to eBay bucks. Can't wait to try them out on my Thrive.

You better keep your screen clean as the Fling can scratch the shit out of it if a bit of dirt gets underneath it.

I scratched my screen with just a little bit of dirt under my fingernail. Bullocks.