("Portable gaming" was the only short-title-friendly way I could think of to express the DS/PSP/etc. on one hand, and phones/IPads/etc. on the other.) 

I am going to admit upfront that this thread is something I came up with off the top of my head and no research went into it to see if I am mistaken about certain things, so you can correct me or argue whatever, as if you wouldn't do that without this disclaimer. 

Much has been made of the rise of gaming on cell phones and Ipod Touches and whatnot, with many suggesting that it spells the end, or the beginning of the end, of the dedicated handheld gaming devices that have made Nintendo so many billions.  But is that really possible?  And if it is, what would the consequences be to gaming? 

I may be wrong here, but it seems to me that the simple fact is that the games to be found on these other devices are in a different continuum.  Angry Birds may have sold umpteen jillion copies, and have "hardcore" players, but it's still an extremely simple game:  "launch object at stacked objects; watch physics-based result".  Many games are more complex -- I think the Ipod plays Plants Vs. Zombies now? -- but I don't think those platforms can ever accommodate the breadth of games found on dedicated handhelds.  Therefore, the handhelds don't have to fear being made obsolete. 

But that doesn't necessarily mean they don't have to fear destruction.  If the 3DS and PS Vita really do find themselves squeezed out by cell phones and media players, it wouldn't just be a changing of the guard.  It would be a genre holocaust for portable games!  Some genres would be fine -- many have already proved their ability to thrive on the ever-improving multimedia devices -- but I find it hard to imagine some others making the transition as successfully. 

Obviously since people DO buy games and play games on other devices, a certain amount of that time and money is going to be taken away from the handhelds.  But not all that much, I think.  Although some people will be satisfied with the games that can be adequately experienced on their cell phones or whatever, there will be many who go from Bejeweled to Puzzle Quest to Pokemon.  This is a simply huge new audience being enticed to game more. 

What do you think?  Am I cluelessly reinventing the wheel, stating obvious facts?  Hopelessly wrong, flaunting my ignorance?  Terrifyingly right? 

then again there is no way I pay a 100 bucks month plan for my handheld just because it does send text and make calls.....

I think the handheld has a bright future for gamers.... once again my friends.... don't take the fashion Frenzy of the lower masses around something that LOOKS new to be a threat.... I mean seriously.... who here as an assumed gamer can come to me and tell me that any smartphone out there now and to come in the next 2 years are legitimate game platforms????? I mean if we go by that standard my office PC is a gaming PC cause I can go on FB and play flashgames, and I have the best of the best game ever mine sweeper....

at best it can compete with XBox live arcade but then again as long as I can't play torchelight at least on it... it is still a cellphone with some shitty game on it not a handheld console.....
I really think it is just a phase (that might last).... meaning we might see that trend stay for ever (people playing shitty games and thinking it is cool and gonna kill the handhelds but those are not gamers that buy 3DS or PSvita) but Ngage from nokia was there what in 2003 did it ever remotly threaten the handhelds????
are you guys seriously thinking that a gamer would currently even ponder the idea of replacing a PS vista or 3DS by an iPhone or an iPad.... I realllllllllllllllyyyyyy doubt it