Handheld Gamers Moving From Dedicated Devices to Smartphones

[ZilogZ80]

Videogames are a niche product in which most people are simply not interested. The vast majority of the population do not, and will not ever, regularly play videogames on a dedicated system.

iPhone games have gained the attention of this vast majority mainly due to their convenience and low price. Someone who would never go into a store and purchase a console or game can wirelessly download a simple-to-play game for the cost of a newspaper (or less).

I think dedicated videogames systems reached their peak some time ago in terms of user base. Obviously Wii increased this and perhaps Kinect will have a lesser effect but I cannot see dedicated games systems getting much more popular than they are currently. They will always have their niche but because 'casual' iPhone-type gaming is currently exploding in popularity it makes perfect business sense for companies to focus on this emerging new market.

Certainly as more experienced developers get involved we will see the quality of the top iPhone titles improve to the point where they can be as deep and rewarding as the best DS/PSP games. There will always be a place for dedicated games systems but in my opinion that place is very much going to be in the shadow of the iPhone/iPod/iPad.

 

[Popeye206]

I do realize one thing...

Reading this thread I do realize one VERY IMPORTANT thing.... I need to go buy Angry Birds NOW!

I seem to be missing something cool!

 

[sinsin07]

Videogames are a niche product in which most people are simply not interested. The vast majority of the population do not, and will not ever, regularly play videogames on a dedicated system.

iPhone games have gained the attention of this vast majority mainly due to their convenience and low price. Someone who would never go into a store and purchase a console or game can wirelessly download a simple-to-play game for the cost of a newspaper (or less).

I think dedicated videogames systems reached their peak some time ago in terms of user base. Obviously Wii increased this and perhaps Kinect will have a lesser effect but I cannot see dedicated games systems getting much more popular than they are currently. They will always have their niche but because 'casual' iPhone-type gaming is currently exploding in popularity it makes perfect business sense for companies to focus on this emerging new market.

Certainly as more experienced developers get involved we will see the quality of the top iPhone titles improve to the point where they can be as deep and rewarding as the best DS/PSP games. There will always be a place for dedicated games systems but in my opinion that place is very much going to be in the shadow of the iPhone/iPod/iPad.

It's nice to have an opnion. However your whole post can be summed up by your own words: but I cannot see

 

[zap2]

I can get midnight blue colored DS for $169 from walmart tonight or iPod touch from walmart for $214. So we are talking about a $44 difference.

I think spending $44 more and getting facetime, an ipod, video player, basically a mobile computer is well worth it and makes ipod touch a great value vs DS.

also what are the odds of losing DS games, leaving DS games over a friend's house?

Or you can get a DS lite for 69 at gamestop. I'm just saying. Also for most gamers, its about the games less then the devices. As a pretty avid gamer, I've yet to see "killer apps" on the iPhone being equal to the as the DS/PSP.(I love DoodleJump, buts no LittleBigPlanet)

That said, I do game on my iPhone because its with me all the time, but the DS and PSP games, the ones I buy the system for are more enjoyable(for me). Plus the physical controls are still better for those games like shooters and even racers.

 

[jwhite878]

True

I definitely use my iPod Touch and iPad more than my DS and definitely my PSP. This is probably because the games take too much time and dedication to play on the go (some do at least). I usually enjoy these games best on a home console Also, they are running on 5 year old, obsolete technology. It will be interesting to see how the 3DS and Sony's next handheld affect the market, seeing as the graphics of the 3DS can outperform iDevices. I don't think that old handheld gaming will ever be dead, at least until some major franchises move into the era of iOS and downloadable games.

 

[DreamPod]

Yeah, it's a bit unfair to do this type of study right now, less than 3 months before a new dedicated gaming device is released (Nintendo 3DS), one with potential for huge sales just based on its big gimmick, 3D gaming and movies without the need for 3D glasses. Also, iPhone is now much more powerful than either DS or PSP, but the 3DS (and rumored PSP2) brings them up to modern standards.

Just think, when the first iPhone was released, both the DS and PSP had been out for years. Now that they are at the end of their lifespan, their sales are down...this is normal, part of the game-generation cycle.

Videogames are a niche product in which most people are simply not interested. The vast majority of the population do not, and will not ever, regularly play videogames on a dedicated system.

Do you have any data regarding this? Maybe you still think most gamers are kids? There are over 130 million DS's sold. 130 million users...that's about as far from "niche" as you can get. And there are over 60 million PSP's, in most cases people don't own both systems, so we're almost at 200 million gamers just counting dedicated handheld systems alone.

 

[neoelectronaut]

It's convenience vs. quality.

My iPhone is on me at all times, but the selection and quality of games is spotty at best.

Meanwhile my DS or PSP Go I have to plan ahead to take with me, but the games are much much more engrossing and enjoyable than anything I'd find on the App Store.

Not to mention BUTTONS HOLY **** BUTTONS. If you're a iPhone game and you're not a knockoff of some random flash game you're gonna hard as balls to control.

 

[sinsin07]

Reading this thread I do realize one VERY IMPORTANT thing.... I need to go buy Angry Birds NOW!

I seem to be missing something cool!

It depends. If your a casual gamer, then yes. If you're a gamer, No, your're not.

Game deleted off my iPhone 10 minutes after install, along with Pocket God, We Rule, We Farm We this and We that etc., etc.

 

[sinsin07]

snip...
Do you have any data regarding this? Maybe you still think most gamers are kids? There are over 130 million DS's sold. 130 million users...that's about as far from "niche" as you can get. And there are over 60 million PSP's, in most cases people don't own both systems, so we're almost at 200 million gamers just counting dedicated handheld systems alone.

Don't take the poster too seriously, he is just another poster with an opinion, and by his own admission, he has limited vision.

 

[ZilogZ80]

Do you have any data regarding this? Maybe you still think most gamers are kids? There are over 130 million DS's sold. 130 million users...that's about as far from "niche" as you can get. And there are over 60 million PSP's, in most cases people don't own both systems, so we're almost at 200 million gamers just counting dedicated handheld systems alone.

The population of the US, Europe & Japan (probably the three largest gaming markets) alone is over 1 billion people. I am not saying that videogames (including the DS) are not popular, nor that they are only for children but I am saying that the number of people who are not gamers vastly outnumbers those who are.

I was not trying to be derogatory to gamers by using the word 'niche' but I thought it was an appropriate word to describe a minority. For the record I have been an avid gamer for many years and I own both a DS and an iPhone & iPad. Like a lot of people have mentioned on this thread though my DS has been almost totally sidelined by the latter two devices.

 

[ZilogZ80]

Don't take the poster too seriously, he is just another poster with an opinion, and by his own admission, he has limited vision.

Yes, I am another poster with an opinion - as are you. Obviously you disagree with me but I think my argument has merit. Rather than dismissing my entire post outright I would rather you responded more specifically to the points. This is a discussion forum after all.

 

[Dbrown]

Videogames are a niche product in which most people are simply not interested. The vast majority of the population do not, and will not ever, regularly play videogames on a dedicated system.

The vast majority of people dont watch sports, dont go to the movie theater and dont own any type of apple devices either. What's your point?

 

[inlovewithi]

Back in the mid 90s and earlier, the companies that made the systems also made games that were exclusive to that system, like Nintendo and Sega. They were video game companies. Then came these big non video game companies like Sony and Microsoft, and instead of developing their own games, they just paid out other video game companies for exclusives, that could one day belong to Sony and the other day to Microsoft. What I'm trying to say is that Nintendo has the advantage of a whole lot of Nintendo games that are very popular, that Sony and Microsoft and other companies don't have, so for the not so distant future I see Nintendo still being very popular with handhelds, due to games that are just not going to be available anywhere else.

 

[ZilogZ80]

The vast majority of people dont watch sports, dont go to the movie theater and dont own any type of apple devices either. What's your point?

My point was that the number of people who play games on devices such as smartphones/iPods/iPads will be vastly greater than the number of people who play games on traditional gaming systems. Before too long the vast majority of people in the developed world will have smartphones simply because all mobile phones will be smartphones. These people will all have a 'casual' gaming device in their pocket thus the casual gaming devices will be massively more popular than traditional gaming devices. This is directly related to the thread subject.

 

[sinsin07]

Yes, I am another poster with an opinion - as are you. Obviously you disagree with me but I think my argument has merit. Rather than dismissing my entire post outright I would rather you responded more specifically to the points. This is a discussion forum after all.

OK then, here we go...

The population of the US, Europe & Japan (probably the three largest gaming markets) alone is over 1 billion people. I am not saying that videogames (including the DS) are not popular, nor that they are only for children but I am saying that the number of people who are not gamers vastly outnumbers those who are.

Videogames are a niche product in which most people are simply not interested.

There are many vast numbers of things people are not interested in and are niche products. So what?
The vast majority of the population do not, and will not ever, own a car, a TV, a house, dvd player, an iphone, and ipad. Will that negate their success or failure?

I was not trying to be derogatory to gamers by using the word 'niche' but I thought it was an appropriate word to describe a minority. For the record I have been an avid gamer for many years and I own both a DS and an iPhone & iPad. Like a lot of people have mentioned on this thread though my DS has been almost totally sidelined by the latter two devices.

You have confirmed my suspicions; A DS, iPhone and iPad does not a gamer make. The people you group yourself with who have sidelined their PSP or DS in favor of IOS are casual gamers, not the target audience for a PSP.

 

[sinsin07]

My point was that the number of people who play games on devices such as smartphones/iPods/iPads will be vastly greater than the number of people who play games on traditional gaming systems. Before too long the vast majority of people in the developed world will have smartphones simply because all mobile phones will be smartphones. These people will all have a 'casual' gaming device in their pocket thus the casual gaming devices will be massively more popular than traditional gaming devices. This is directly related to the thread subject.

Again, so what. These vast majority of people who are buying these games on a smartphone, where they ever candidates to buy a PSP/DS, PS3 Wii or Xbox in the first place? If you take a hundred smartphone buyers who purchase a smartphone and games and were never interested in a PSP or DS in the first place, what difference does that make? It was never a PSP loss in the first place.

And now that you are bringing up third world, do you have any facts on how many people in the third world buy PSPs or DS devices? If they never intended to buy the device in the first place, either because of availability or economics what's your point?

Two words: Target Audience

 

[ZilogZ80]

There are many vast numbers of things people are not interested in and are niche products. So what?

I think my original point has become confused or perhaps I did not state it very clearly. I was trying to say that 'traditional' videogaming is a niche industry whereas smartphone 'casual' gaming is becoming much more widespread.

The vast majority of the population do not, and will not ever, own a car, a TV, a house, dvd player, an iphone, and ipad. Will that negate their success or failure?

I am not talking about populations of undeveloped countries such as you mention. As much as I wish differently, they are irrelevant to this particular discussion.

You have confirmed my suspicions; A DS, iPhone and iPad does not a gamer make. The people you group yourself with who have sidelined their PSP or DS in favor of IOS are casual gamers, not the target audience for a PSP.

Yes, you are quite correct. I would definitely have described myself as a 'gamer' in the past but even my 360 barely gets a look in these days.
I am not saying that this is right or wrong nor that anyone else must do likewise but it is the very essence of this thread, i.e. "Handheld Gamers Moving From Dedicated Devices to Smartphones"

 

[Dbrown]

My point was that the number of people who play games on devices such as smartphones/iPods/iPads will be vastly greater than the number of people who play games on traditional gaming systems. Before too long the vast majority of people in the developed world will have smartphones simply because all mobile phones will be smartphones. These people will all have a 'casual' gaming device in their pocket thus the casual gaming devices will be massively more popular than traditional gaming devices. This is directly related to the thread subject.

Again what is your point? You think widespread casual gaming only started with idevices? Practically everyone owns a personal computer and they have been playing casual games for a very long time.

If you really think people are going abandon their PS3 or wii or xbox 360 for crappy touchscreen games you know nothing about gaming.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

In my case it's past tense: moved. Haven't looked back since getting my touch, No cartridges = all the games I want on my system, in my pocket.

 

[jimbobb24]

Only a non-gamer could make such a leap. Substitute whatever PSP/DS game you want, I was not going to list every great PSP/DS game nor was I trying to force a choice.

The GTA IOS and DS versions both stink.

I have to agree with you with a caveat, variety of games on iOS is truly mind-blowing, especially when you consider how much is just fodder, repeats, rehash and just plain dumb. All I can say is if the games on IOS can satisfy your game fix, you are not the target audience for PSP or DS.

Now back to Black Ops on my 73 inch screen.

I am not sure what comments like "no real gamer would...." are supposed to mean other than silly argumentative poses. How would I prove I was a real gamer if the definition of a real gamer is agreeing with you.

My children might be the target for a ds. They don't show any interest since they have the iOS stuff.

As I said I had a psp for 3 years so I cannot imagine how I am not the target. My wife played lumines and patapon to death so I am pretty sure she was in the target. But now she plays tons of games like those (while not quite like patapon....yet) that look as good and are just as innovative and cheaper.

On the go for us the iOS stuff just seems better. Buttons would be nice but most games play well enough with touch.

I think the fact that Sony is porting iOS games to the psp should address doubts about the level of quality. And some genres that suck on the ds and psp do much better on iOS such as adventure games, strategy, and rts games.

Thats the situation for me, obviously it's different for you, but I think we can disagree and both be....real gamers.

 

[ZilogZ80]

Again, so what. These vast majority of people who are buying these games on a smartphone, where they ever candidates to buy a PSP/DS, PS3 Wii or Xbox in the first place? If you take a hundred smartphone buyers who purchase a smartphone and games and were never interested in a PSP or DS in the first place, what difference does that make? It was never a PSP loss in the first place.

Yes this is something I would certainly agree with you on. They are two seperate markets and of course traditional gaming systems are going to have their audience. But I think that smartphone gaming is going to erode some of this audience especially in the portable (DS/PSP) sector.

My main point though was that since the market for smartphone gaming is exploding at the moment I expect all the traditional developers will get on board at some point. As I understand it Sony is trying to right now with the PSP phone. And I think that as these experienced developers start releasing AAA quality games for smartphones this will definitely encourage more 'traditional' gamers to make the switch.

And now that you are bringing up third world, do you have any facts on how many people in the third world buy PSPs or DS devices? If they never intended to buy the device in the first place, either because of availability or economics what's your point?

Two words: Target Audience

As you correctly say, they are not the target audience of any of these devices. I don't think I was the one to originally mention the undeveloped world however.

 

[Stella]

+ Consoles can't complete against the price of smartphone games
+ Games on hand - don't have to carry around game CD / cartridges
+ Always got your phone around

- Games tend to be better on consoles

 

[ZilogZ80]

If you really think people are going abandon their PS3 or wii or xbox 360 for crappy touchscreen games you know nothing about gaming.

Yes I quite agree. However I think that as the market matures and more experienced developers become involved we will see some touchscreen games that are excellent in quality.

 

[sinsin07]

I think my original point has become confused or perhaps I did not state it very clearly. I was trying to say that 'traditional' videogaming is a niche industry whereas smartphone 'casual' gaming is becoming much more widespread.


I am not talking about populations of undeveloped countries such as you mention. As much as I wish differently, they are irrelevant to this particular discussion.


Yes, you are quite correct. I would definitely have described myself as a 'gamer' in the past but even my 360 barely gets a look in these days.
I am not saying that this is right or wrong nor that anyone else must do likewise but it is the very essence of this thread, i.e. "Handheld Gamers Moving From Dedicated Devices to Smartphones"

Gaming is a niche, whether it is on a console, handheld or smartphone. All it appears you are saying is one niche may become bigger than another niche.

I am referring to the three countries you first mentioned Out of the billion you mention, how many own a house, car, ipad, iphone, smartphone, camcorder, TV, DVR, how many have some sort of cable or satellite TV, how many have high speed internet connections, have many even have internet at all, a coffee maker, a stereo system, computer. These are all niche items.

 

[sinsin07]

I am not sure what comments like "no real gamer would...." are supposed to mean other than silly argumentative poses. How would I prove I was a real gamer if the definition of a real gamer is agreeing with you.

My children might be the target for a ds. They don't show any interest since they have the iOS stuff.

As I said I had a psp for 3 years so I cannot imagine how I am not the target. My wife played lumines and patapon to death so I am pretty sure she was in the target. But now she plays tons of games like those (while not quite like patapon....yet) that look as good and are just as innovative and cheaper.

On the go for us the iOS stuff just seems better. Buttons would be nice but most games play well enough with touch.

I think the fact that Sony is porting iOS games to the psp should address doubts about the level of quality. And some genres that suck on the ds and psp do much better on iOS such as adventure games, strategy, and rts games.

Thats the situation for me, obviously it's different for you, but I think we can disagree and both be....real gamers.

If you are happy that is all that matters.

gam-er n. - One who plays a game, especially a role-playing or computer game.

According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, Copyright 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company, Published by Houghton Mifflin Company, All rights reserved; a gamer is in fact a person who plays video games, but is not necessarily restricted to role-playing or computer games.

There are all types of different gamers, from Hardcore to Casual, and each of them differ greatly in the way they play games. One thought that has burned in my mind for a while, gamers are not necessarily nerds, outcasts, or losers. MANY people who play games do other things aside from just playing games. Personally, being a teenager, I go out and do things with friends almost every weekend, and I’m also on the varsity wrestling team for school, so my life doesn’t revolve around games like so many non-gamers seem to think that people who play games do.

Video games, are a form of entertainment. Almost everybody has played some sort of video game in their life, even my grandparents who have an N64. Girls, which consist of the minority in the gamer population, play games too. And if you don’t mind me saying, some of these gamer chicks are amazingly gorgeous. Aside from being entertainment, video games can also be a hobby, which everybody has whether it be a collection of something, a sport, or any other activity that is enjoyable. So just because a person plays games, does not mean they are a loser.

Now, the different types of gamers vary depending on how much time is spent playing games, to the amount of years they’ve been playing, to the type of genre that they prefer, etc.

Casual/Passive: The casual, or “passive” gamer as I like to say, will pick up and play a game just to pass time or some game might catch their attention and so they’ll play for an hour or so every once in a while to have some fun. The casual gamers don’t really buy many games, and a majority of the games are given to them as a gift. Casual gamers usually only have one console too.

Gamer: Considering the amount of gamers there are, I personally fall under the “gamer” type of gamers, in that I’m not to casual about it, but I’m also not hardcore enough to be considered hardcore. I’m about average; I’ve got more than one game system, I play them almost every day for at least two hours, and on weekends when I’m not busy with my friends, I’m playing video games, pulling all-nighters.

Hardcore: Hardcore gamers are those who play games almost unstoppably, and have almost, if not every game system that has ever been released. They own a massive number of games, and they might even collect action figures, comic books, etc. of different games. Hardcore gamers are usually the ones who have been playing games since they were wee little lads in the 70s and 80s, and are pretty much open to every single game genre, not that they might not have a favorite genre, but they don’t limit themselves to one genre, they play everything (any gamer who actually had the mind to play the CD-I Zelda games and finish them, are definitely considered hardcore by me).

You would fall under casual.