Tablets and Smartphones are a fad as a significant gaming platform.

[Soundwave]

famousringo said:

TheLastStarFighter said:
Sorry, I should clarify. I think Smartphones and Tablets are here to stay, I mean as a primary gaming platform they are a "fad". I think games will always be on them, I think they will be used, but as Japan shows they seem to be, in my opinion, a gateway to dedicated gaming moreso than a block.

I honestly have no idea how reputable this analysis is (IDC's a big name, only heard of App Annie a couple months ago), but there is evidence that smartphones and tablets are already more important to gaming than the 3DS and Vita are:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/21/4012812/mobile-games-beat-handheld-games-in-consumer-spending-last-quarter

Wouldn't surprise me. What third parties really make a lot of money off the 3DS or Vita? How many Western developers do? It's completely irrelevant to devs outside of Japan. 

And really the 3DS is just replacing the traditional home console in Japan, which has gone kaput there.