| thx1139 said: We have already made the switch. That is 4 3DS/NGP that wont be sold to this family. My youngest 2 boys (13 and 9) will use the DS they have until we get them cell phones. Not iPhones, but same difference. My oldest and myself already use our phones. Now we use portable gaming devices primarily for travel. I know a good deal of other parents that do the same and not many of them plan to spend over $200 for a device to keep the kids busy while they are on the road or spending the day in airports/airplanes. |
I see quite a few parents handing their small children iPhone/iPods to play children's games or watch children's videos on them in public as a means to keep them pacified.
You are clearly among that growing demographic that is diverting consumer spending away from dedicated handheld gaming devices.
The argument that this isn't somehow a common occurrence is based on the belief that one has to buy their child their own media/gaming device when this just isn't the case until they're old enough to be out in public on their own. At that point, do you buy your kid a $250-300 gaming device, or do you buy them a media device or phone where you have more control over what's played on that device as a parent?
Given the choice, which tweens would choose a Nintendo handheld over an iPod or better yet, an iPhone?
