By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Gaming Discussion - Why are handhelds often seen as inferior or not as important as home consoles?

Mosfet on 29 July 2016

Because they simply are.
They are less powerful then the home consoles,no huge 3A games for them and most people see them as toys.
I do most of my gaming at home so I'd rather play a decent game on my home console.
Even if I traveled alot I'd still wouldn't be using handhelds,I'd rather watch a show/movie on my phone.
And they are unpractical,especially let's say psp or a vita.You can't even get a movie to work hassle free on them,and I'm not that hardcore that I have to spend every free minute of my time playing a game.



https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqrZ1zwfB8Ok0PZp44I7ElQ

Around the Network
curl-6 on 29 July 2016

Because why would I want to squint at a tiny screen and cramp my hands around tiny uncomfortable controls when I could be sitting back in front of a big screen with a more comfortable controller?

I bought a 3DS last year because it was the only place I could play Monster Hunter 4, it was my first handheld, and it's been collecting dust in my bedroom cupboard for most of the time I've owned it. Whenever I play games on it, aI just can't help thinking how much better it would be on a console.



bunchanumbers on 29 July 2016

consoles are superior in every way. If Nintendo dedicated all of their resources to a console it would be considered the greatest console of all time.



Kai_Mao on 29 July 2016
Ganoncrotch said:
Kai_Mao said:

Just curious, why do you think its sad? For millions, probably billions, of people, Pokemon captures the essence of handheld gaming. As I said before, a few trailers of people coming together from wherever playing their Game Boys, DS, 3DS, etc., kinda shows that the experience of on-the-go play and person-to-person or online interaction show that Pokemon's place in handhelds is still significant. Even competitive Pokemon tournaments show that as well. Of course, home consoles could show greater resolution, graphics, online, and power to create bigger experiences, but they lose what made Pokemon special on handhelds, even as technology evolved. To be able to play on the go while progressing through gyms, capturing Pokemon, then later sharing with friends either online or in person. That, in part, created the phenomenon and, ultimately, led Pokemon to become the second best-selling franchises of all-time behind Mario and, as you said, arguably the biggest gaming brand in the world.

Oh I didn't mean that it was sad that Pokemon wrecked the theory of "consoles always do games better" I was more saying that it was a sad thing the theory wasn't correct. Perhaps I phrased it incorrectly but I agree completely that Pokemon on handhelds is the best way to play it, or at least it has been for the last 20 years.

Oh ok, understood. Got mixed up with that sentence :P. 



Mummelmann on 29 July 2016

Less power, small screen, more limited input for controls, poor sound, less features and connectivity, less media and online functionality. Not to mention the fact that they're being eaten alive by the mobile revolution.
Handhelds aren't as important as home consoles or PC's no matter how one looks at it, they're simply not.



Around the Network
Lawlight on 29 July 2016

The scope of the games are limited compared to what can be done on consoles.



fielding88 on 29 July 2016

Well, speaking as a Metal Gear fan, the games just wouldn't fit on the storage media. I've played every handheld Metal Gear game that wasn't a remake (so you know, Acid, Acid 2, Portable Ops, etc.) and the cinematics in them were gimped because they wouldn't fit on the UMD. If they could handle a bigger install size for those theatrical cinematics you're used to on a TV, then this wouldn't be a problem.

Not to mention the price point being lower, so I assume that has an effect on the budget?



 I have a gaming channel! Come watch me be bad at games :)


KBG29 on 30 July 2016

Handhelds are cursed by the group mentality. Handhelds were the original multimedia mobile device, and they were the first smart devices on the market as well. They outperform smartphones in every aspect, and they are many times more versatile thanks to the physical buttons.

Unfortunatly, people see handhelds as some kind of uncool, kiddie or geeky device. Handhelds are held down because, some how, some way, people where convinced no buttons and terrible OS's are wht we should expect from a mobile device.

Hopefully at some point in time Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo will be able to bring out a handheld that can swing things back towards the direction of usability, and performance, and away from the utter uselessness of the current mobile market.



Stop hate, let others live the life they were given. Everyone has their problems, and no one should have to feel ashamed for the way they were born. Be proud of who you are, encourage others to be proud of themselves. Learn, research, absorb everything around you. Nothing is meaningless, a purpose is placed on everything no matter how you perceive it. Discover how to love, and share that love with everything that you encounter. Help make existence a beautiful thing.

Kevyn B Grams
10/03/2010 

KBG29 on PSN&XBL

COKTOE on 30 July 2016

I loved the DS. DS Lite. Vita. I certainly don't hold handhelds in lower regard than home consoles. I can't answer your question with certainty, but I think it might be



- "If you have the heart of a true winner, you can always get more pissed off than some other asshole."

COKTOE on 30 July 2016
bunchanumbers said:
consoles are superior in every way. If Nintendo dedicated all of their resources to a console it would be considered the greatest console of all time.

Whoa whoa whoa whoa......lets not say anything we'll regret once the booze wears off.



- "If you have the heart of a true winner, you can always get more pissed off than some other asshole."