Are iPhones and Tablets Killing The Portable Gaming Market?

by Antwand Pearman Editor In Chief on January 2, 2012 at 01:00 PM EDT

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So are IPhones and Tablets killing the portable gaming market? After seeing the Japanese sales for the new PlayStation Vita posted by Forbes, they just might. In the Vita’s second week 72,000 units were sold, which is a shocking number to most. Even Nintendo, the king of portable consoles couldn’t sell what was a truly innovative technology in 3D. It seems that without warning portable gaming has been attacked by sleeping giants also referred to as “the practical, the addictive, apps, apps, apps!” Well, it could be that Portable gaming brings in deep and exciting games to its consumers for considerable price. Technological advances in the Iphone, Ipad, Kindle Fire, and Android operating systems offer more, with an unlimited flow of apps. After all the constant battles with King Bowser, and Goombas; I never thought I’d see the day “Mario” was taken out by “Angry Birds”. At this point Nintendo is better off changing their next system from the “Wii U” to the “NintenPad”.

Let’s Break Things down a little:

Nintendo 3DS: Since it’s launch in March 27, 2011, its price has gone down, to $169.99, making it the least expensive portable Device.

PlayStation Vita: $250 for the Wi-fi model and $300 for 3G model, though expensive for a handheld you’d think that packing all those feature’s in it would stack up well when compared against “The tablet/Ipad Market”

Pad & Phone Tech: Excluding the Kindle Fire, other Pad technology starts at a price tag of $499 and up, making it the most expensive device with the least to offer in terms of a true gaming experience.

So, what is it that makes mobile gaming on pad tech popular? Convenience? I ask you this, have you ever gone to work and chose to leave your PSP at home because your Iphone was easier to carry around? Or have you ever forgotten to charge your DS, because you where to busy playing “Bejeweled” on your Ipad? I think the real question is this, is hardcore gaming on a handheld being killed by apps that let you fart? My point is…Why is it that great portable devices such as the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita, do not sell well? There was a time when you bought a Gameboy or Game Gear just to game. Now it seems that your portable gaming system needs a Music Library, BookStore, GPS, App Store, email, 3G, touch screen, motion control, face time, and phone at the very least to make a dent in the market. Don’t believe me? When you see that Apple announces that the iPad 3 will be in 3D without the use of glasses. How long will it be before the marketing guy shows a promo of angry birds coming right at you in 3D!

So my final question is…. Do we need all that to game?

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Tanto

These authors need gaming education.

“Try out a
Dungeon Defenders or GTA III on the latest tablet (or even a
smartphone), and you’ll likely agree that the portable games space has
now grown beyond the need for a dedicated gaming device.”

Nobody would agree with this. Not a single person. Both games mentioned are considered laughing stocks.

gta 3 is considered broken and unplayable, and the worst version of the game.

Oh and the 3ds is 14+ million already and theres still 3 months left in the fiscal year.

3ds sales have surpassed all handheld first year sales.

What does this mean? People arent gaming on there mobile devices.

Why do people own consoles when you have a pc? It can do so much more? GAMING.

TC needs a gaming, history, financial education
Tanto

To re iterate.

The vita has outsold the psp for the first 2 weeks. Outsold it. A system that went on to sell 77+ million. The vita is on pace to do that. What you call shockingly low. Is actually fairly normal when you look at launch drop offs. The psx sold worse than the vita in its second week

The 3ds is the top selling system worldwide every single week. 14+ million units in sales, surpassed every other nintendo portable.

So what exactly isnt selling?
Marty

I believe some kids (13-18) realize they may have few assets to work with when they graduate and move out of mommys house. If i were them, i would get something that is broad based as a tablet or a big screen smart phone. just thinking this my be the last, or only big electronic device i might get off my parents dime. kids acin’t dumb they really know when the parents are broke. the resession shows drop in these market areas because manufacturers arn’t dumb either.