Personally, I think people who run out each year to get the newest Apple products at those prices are stupid.

*intrested to see what would happen to the market if they introduced productivity apps (connectivity apps, doccument apps, mail client software etc.) to 3ds/vita -vita in particular*

nope

That's the only thing that can save dedicated handheld gaming - you need to release games people want to pay $40 for and keep games budget in check to break even with 100-200k sales.

I think it will hurt in the Holiday sales when parents see more value in an iPad then in a Vita and 3DS with the new iBooks and iTunes U eductional stuff... ow and it also play games for 99 cents.. in the Netherlands there are already schools using iPads and some are forcing them to be mandatory from next schoolyear, which pissed off a lot of parents..

i think they are completely different markets.

i think a lot of those going out to buy the iPad 3 will be people who are replacing their iPad 1 or iPad2, i don't really see anyone interested in gaming buying one.

iPads and tablets are IMO products that are actually not needed by anyone, they don't do anything special, and the gaming controls are horrible.

iOS was already supposed to have killed the 3DS, but instead the 3DS is selling at a record pace.

The PSP vita will do poorly, but the reason will have nothing to do with the iPad. They are two different markets. It is like saying the reason TVs are declining in sales is because of the iPad. 

iPad did kill a market, but it was Net Books, not handheld gaming devices.

The iPad mini was released ages ago and its price point is bang between the 3DS and Vita. The iPod Touch.

They are not completely different markets, even if the iPad had no games, as a tech device it can be considered competition for both 3DS and PSV. Now, the whole discussion should be how much will it affect these two.

iPad 3 won't do much damage unless Apple comes up with some crazy idea that puts it in the gaming radar. But, claiming that smartphones and tablets aren't affecting 3DS and PSV is just being in denial.

Tablets will replace a lot more PCs and laptops for the typical day to day uses of e-mail, internet use, photos, etc. than they will handheld gaming devices.

The key consumers the handheld market will lose will be those who have outgrown such dedicated gaming devices due to changes in habits whether it's in the transition from school to career, single to married life, etc. But just as consumers exit the the age where disposable income and free time are often dedicated towards video games, there will be just as many new consumers entering the market as they start buying their own games and devices.

As it's been said before, but not nearly emphasized enough, is that what's really in question or at risk within the gaming industry is the viability of $30-40 games for portable platforms among general consumers in a post iStore $.99 throwaway game market.

Yes, there will always be a market for such games, but it is unquestionable that it is smaller than that of the iStore market, so the key issue is sustainable sales figures relative to production costs for $30-40 games that presumably offer a more in-depth gaming experience. In short, can they be made profitably?

The hardware itself is just the means to access said content. Anyone in the market for a 3DS or a PSV because they want to read their e-mail on it, watch YouTube videos on the go, or play $5 mini games (the equivalent of most $.99 games on iOS/Android) is kind of missing the point of dedicated gaming devices.