The iPhone will damage the handheld market for everyone and this is why

[hunter_alien]

kitler53 said:

superchunk said:

No it won't.

iPhone is a phone first and foremost. Its gaming capabilities are now and will always be leagues behind the current handhelds in terms of graphics, game selection (latest and greatest vs really old ports or gimped ports), and above all controls.

There is no difference between in the relationship of iPhone (and other smartphones) to handheld consoles as PCs to home consoles. Hell, in all reality, PCs are much more of a competitor because they can and do match or exceed every area as home consoles.

However, PCs have NEVER stunted the growth or acceptance of home consoles and there is no reason to think that the smartphone market will ever stunt the handheld market.

There are far more differences between these markets than simularities and as such, they will have little crossover. Most people will own a phone regardless of anything else and the people who'd consider buying a handheld console will do so anyways as their will always exist an experience that their phone simply cannot provide.

bah, the itouch exists and sells well for a reason -- people use this device for a heck of a lot more than just to make phone calls.  it is first and formost a multi-media device of which gaming is a part.

i also think you're being a bit naive about how far behind IOs it is.  plants vs. zombies is on IOs and DS (and only 1/10 the price on IOs btw).  Iphone has a third person dead space -- wii doesn't even have one of those.

 

Next, your PC comparison is backwards:

 IOs and 3DS/NGP are competitors -- 3DS/NGP can match or exceed every (gaming) area of IOs devices.

home consoles and PCs are competitors -- PCs can match or exceed every (gaming) area of home consoles.

you shouldn't be asking if PCs hindered home consoles...you should be asking if home consoles hindered PC gaming.

 

Finally, let me just cap by saying this.  i'm a "core" gaming and as evidence i submit my dedicated status as a VGC poster and purchase dozens of games a year. 

I have in the last two years put more time and more money into my IOs games that i have into my DS.  i do this because it is a more convienent and more compelling device for the purpose of mobile gaming.  i underline mobile because i know i've seen you post about how bringing the "console" experience to mobile devices (ala psp, NPG) doesn't fit what the market wants.  the market wants pick-up-and-play games and IOs does that extreeeeemmlly well.

 

ignore apple at your own peril.  dedicated devices whether it be for gaming, reading, gps, phone, internet, ect are all trending away from importance.

Tough I agree with most of your rant, the truth is that there is a 70 million market even for the PSP. Yes the Iphone might hinder the handheld sales, but there will always be a market for, dar I say, more professionaly handheld systems.

 

The question is: will we see any more 200million sales/generation, or more like 100-150 million. Either way, there still is and will be a market for SOny and Nintendo ( myabe even MS) portables.