Most of you probably think that the fight for crown of the next generation handheld market is to be between the 3DS and the NGP. Maybe you consider smartphones valid competition even, but have you considered that Sony are using the smartphone market against Nintendo?
Right now the smartphones (iOS, Android, WP7) offer a different gaming experience than something you get from a dedicated gaming handheld (DS family, PSP), but still a good gaming experience none the less (it varies from device to device, but still). By using small downloadable games, Sony and Nintendo have been trying to bring that phone experience to their handhelds, but it's not really the same.
But with the PlayStation Suite, Sony are lining up every newer Android smartphone and tablet coming out these days and forward for PlayStation gaming. So Sony's next generation handheld is in fact not just the NGP, but is twofold. In the highend segment for all the dedicated gamers, the NGP is offering a first class portable gaming experience, while Sony are preparing every Android 2.3 (and onwards) machine for a less dedicated gaming experience.
So the NGP can sell less than the 3DS, and Sony can still defeat Nintendo, because Sony are using the smartphones to their advantage, where Nintendo is trying to compete with both the NGP and smartphones with one device. And with PS Suite games being directly playable on the NGP, Sony are lining the NGP up for a bunch of great on-the-go games like the iOS has.
So Nintendo are not just competing with Sony on the NGP, but with almost every Android device coming out from now on. And then you have Apple with the iOS devices, not to mention Microsoft bringing XBL on the go with WP7. So even if the 3DS outsells the NGP, Sony could still defeat Nintendo.
Have Sony one-upped Nintendo with this new strategy?
