Handhelds Are Losing Ground.

[retKHAAAN]

I don't think that's just it, if you've met the people who play these mobile games most of the time it's the fact that they like the games rather than a matter of time. It's more a interest than time, it just happens to be convenient and helps, getting someone who is a mobile/casual gamer to play something like MGS is hard and they'll easily think it's boring.

you say that like it a sickness...and like mobile games aren't really games

I think I've met some of "those" people. My wife probably has 50+ hours into Angry Birds. I think that makes her just as hardcore a gamer as anyone on this site. Have you played that game past the first 20 levels?

I enjoy Angry Birds as much as I enjoy any other game. If I have "time" to sit and play a game for a couple hours, I'll turn on my Xbox. If I'm just relaxing I might just bring out my iPod...or read a book. I've had a DS/DSi. I've had a PSP. There's a reason I no longer do. Maybe it's the fact that I'm out of my teens and have responsibilities and that's the market cellphones are going after with their "casual gaming". Or maybe today's handheld games just aren't as fun and you want to think they are

 

[Maedhros]

Oh boy, another "smart phones are gonna kill your handhelds," idiot. They're two separate markets, no matter how hard Apple tries to push their way in. Same goes for that Android stuff from Google. I will never consider them handhelds in the sense that handhelds have come to be known.

When Nvidia has pushed more advanced Tegra chips out the door in the next few years, the PS Vita and 3DS will be eating the dust unfortunately.

Phones are made to talk, they need to be on most of the time. Gaming on phones will never be a priority of people who need phones on most of their time. Gaming in these devices are just for time killing. And the experience they get is limited, because of:
- Cost ($0.99 limit what resources the developers will use for these games, this model is a two-edge knife)
- Input (most of the games are the ones suited for touch controls only. The ones who gets a virtual pad all fucking sucks, for gamers at least).

Even if the next Tegra chips come out next year, it'll still not be on par with handheld devices games, because of the reasons I gave (and because of the middlewares optmized for Vita/3DS platforms, they'll gave resources for the games be even more beautifull in the second generation of releases for both of them).

Smartphones will always be popular for the other things they do, though.

 

[ShakeBunny]

I think this is true. Now that most phones are capable to game-worthy graphics /and/ so many other features, handheld developers are going to need to push the envelope in any way the can to keep people interested.

When the DS Lite came out, I was all over it, but I let the 3DS pass by with a simple, "Meh," because I now own a phone that satisfies all of my on-the-go gaming needs. Moreover, my phone is also an MP3 player, camera, mobile internet browser, and phone.

With only better graphics and 3D being added to the lineup, I can understand why Nintendo's handheld sales are hurting.

 

[Mantis41]

A phone still needs proper controls to make it game worthy. I think it's a fad at the mom that will pass.

 

[BORTZ]

I dont know guys. After some research, it looks like even though this guy has no authority in the mobile/handheld market, phones are starting to cut into the handheld profit.

Listen i dont like what im hearing, but its starting to scare me. I dont think that its gonna be a fad.

I can buy a shitty game for a dollar (or even get it for free with the lite version), where as buying an Imagine game for $40 is much larger of a bad decision. I can get 40 terrible games and feel much better than buying one shovelware title.

 

[machomuu]

I don't think that's just it, if you've met the people who play these mobile games most of the time it's the fact that they like the games rather than a matter of time. It's more a interest than time, it just happens to be convenient and helps, getting someone who is a mobile/casual gamer to play something like MGS is hard and they'll easily think it's boring.

you say that like it a sickness...and like mobile games aren't really games

I think I've met some of "those" people. My wife probably has 50+ hours into Angry Birds. I think that makes her just as hardcore a gamer as anyone on this site. Have you played that game past the first 20 levels?

I enjoy Angry Birds as much as I enjoy any other game. If I have "time" to sit and play a game for a couple hours, I'll turn on my Xbox. If I'm just relaxing I might just bring out my iPod...or read a book. I've had a DS/DSi. I've had a PSP. There's a reason I no longer do. Maybe it's the fact that I'm out of my teens and have responsibilities and that's the market cellphones are going after with their "casual gaming". Or maybe today's handheld games just aren't as fun and you want to think they are

Why do you say "you", don't you mean "I"? I still have my DSiXL, and I'm very happy with it. Besides, you make it sound like handhelds are for kids.

Also, are you saying the hours you put into a game, despite what type of game it is, determines the type of gamer you are?