| kowenicki said:
But for clarification I am talking about handheld gaming only. Factor in the explosion of casual gaming via smartphones, social media and tablets then factor in the biggest economic meltown of all time and you see why convergence is CLEARLY going to have a negative effect on handhelds over the next 2 or 3 years. I am not saying handheld gaming is declining, I am saying it is shifting focus. I dont get why people refuse to see this. |
Well, do you realise that while it is down from last years numbers, it has also been a whole year later and things change in a year? We are now in a time when Nintendo has already announced the beginning of the next gen, which will begin in less than a year (most likely), with Sony & MS not too far behind (probably a year). It has also been nearly 2 full years since the PS3 and 360 has had a price-cut, so many know they are due for one later this year. And the PS2's price is very relevant, as $199 is a very sweet spot for sales. It is also a price the PS3 has yet to reach. So in the end, home consoles this gen will surpass the number of consoles sold last gen, even with all those factors you pointed out working against them.
And even if you were only speaking of the handheld market, it is FAR too early to call doom and gloom. We have yet to see the release of the PS Vita. All we have now is the 3DS, which has been lacking a good quantity of quality titles. Now, if the Vita launches and within 6 months it and the 3DS are still being beaten by the PSP or DS WW, then yes you can say handhelds are doomed. Until that time, your comments are quite premature.
