Is the dedicated handheld market really dying or simply returning to normal?

[KBG29]

Fusioncode said:
DS + PSP = 230m

3DS + Vita = 90m when all is said and done

4DS + lol = 50m (this be my prediction)

Yeah handheld gaming is fucked. It's only gonna get worse as smartphones and tablets become more popular. I have a feeling that by the end of Nintendo's next handheld lifecycle they're going to jump fully into the mobile game.

Handheld gaming is only in trouble if Sony and Nintendo do not release Mobile Network capable handhelds. If they do this, the only way it fails is if the gamers fail. If we have networked dedicated handhelds that are fully capable of texting, calling, web broswing, banking, social media, smartwatch and smartband interaction, and the gamers out there don't jump to the platform then it is not Sony or Nintendos fault. 

Gamers messed up big time by failing to support the 3G Vita. I fully admit I was in a shitty state of mind upon its release. I wanted a PlayStation Phone, and failed to see that with Skype that is exactly what the Vita was. However, I fiddle farted around on iOS and Android wasting nearly $3000 on useless devices before I realized that it was completely stupid supporting ecosystems that takes a shit on games at every turn. 

All I can do now is hope and continue to hit Sony and Nintendo with requests for networked handhelds. If they give it one more shot with unlocked devices, and full access to the PlayStation and Nintendo Networks, services, and online multiplayer, they should easily build a userbase that is very profitable, and well worth supporting. Even if they only rake in 30 - 50M units each, those users will be worth more than 500M users on Android and iOS. However I think with networked handhelds it would be more like 100M+ each, and make a huge dent in iOS and Android. Google and Apple would be fine, but Samsung should be scared.