twesterm said: Now that is a totally valid argument and that is where hand helds still shine, but we already know the iPad and iPhone can have those experiences. It would be harder for the iPhone to do something like Uncharted with the deep controls, but your typical RPG?  Easy. We've already seen a large number of ports for RPG's on the iPhone and iPad, some better than others, and it's only a matter of time before we see serious RPG's and the like released on the iPad for $9.99 as opposed to $39.99 on the 3DS. In a few years, the only difference will be price (assuming 3DS and Vita games don't suddenly become cheap as IOS games, which I don't believe they will).  There's no reason the iPhone can't have the next Final Fantasy or Pokemon, just nobody has invested the money to make it yet.  With the way mobile gaming is kicking creeping into everything, that can't be too far away.

I don't know. I know it's all speculation, but I don't think the ipad has a control scheme that can handle games as well devices with buttons. I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Jay520 said: twesterm said: Now that is a totally valid argument and that is where hand helds still shine, but we already know the iPad and iPhone can have those experiences. It would be harder for the iPhone to do something like Uncharted with the deep controls, but your typical RPG?  Easy. We've already seen a large number of ports for RPG's on the iPhone and iPad, some better than others, and it's only a matter of time before we see serious RPG's and the like released on the iPad for $9.99 as opposed to $39.99 on the 3DS. In a few years, the only difference will be price (assuming 3DS and Vita games don't suddenly become cheap as IOS games, which I don't believe they will).  There's no reason the iPhone can't have the next Final Fantasy or Pokemon, just nobody has invested the money to make it yet.  With the way mobile gaming is kicking creeping into everything, that can't be too far away. I don't know. I know it's all speculation, but I don't think the ipad has a control scheme that can handle games as well devices with buttons. I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

I don't like to say can't, but for action games, yeah, buttons beat touch controls for the most part.  Even the good games like Infinity Blade don't control as well as the other console games.  For games like JRPG's that are traditionally menu based, touch controls work fine.

twesterm said: I don't like to say can't, but for action games, yeah, buttons beat touch controls for the most part.  Even the good games like Infinity Blade don't control as well as the other console games.  For games like JRPG's that are traditionally menu based, touch controls work fine.

It can handle menu-based and simpler-controlling games. You think that's going to steal the handheld market and transition them to ipod/iphone gamers? I doubt it. Like you said, there is a portion of genres that touchscreen just can't do well, (action games). For that, I see most of the handheld market sticking with handhelds while also having access to good JRPGs.

I'm not too familar with the ipad/iphone but can it handle racing games? Third-Person Shooters? Fighters? Platformers? You have a point with those games which aren't as fast paced or with complicated controls...but there are too many types of games that it can't do for it too kill off handhelds completely.

Jay520 said: twesterm said: I don't like to say can't, but for action games, yeah, buttons beat touch controls for the most part.  Even the good games like Infinity Blade don't control as well as the other console games.  For games like JRPG's that are traditionally menu based, touch controls work fine. It can handle menu-based and simpler-controlling games. You think that's going to steal the handheld market and transition them to ipod/iphone gamers? I doubt it. Like you said, there is a portion of genres that touchscreen just can't do well, (action games). For that, I see most of the handheld market sticking with handhelds while also having access to good JRPGs. I'm not too familar with the ipad/iphone but can it handle racing games? Third-Person Shooters? Fighters? Platformers? You have a point with those games which aren't as fast paced or with complicated controls...but there are too many types of games that it can't do for it too kill off handhelds completely.

Racers, it can do very well.  2D games of sorts it can do very well. 3D games start to get hairy (though it isn't bad, but not prefferred).

I think another thing to keep in mind is long in-depth games aren't popular on hand helds anymore.  JPRG's are the exception, but I believe that's because they aren't action games.  The hendheld market is very much moving towards quick, light games.  The ones that are coming up the quickest are the free-to-play microtransaction games where you and another player take turns (Words With Friends, Draw Something, etc).

Those types of games may never be the most popular on a hard core gaming site, but we (the typical forum user/commenter) are very much the minority.

spurgeonryan said: I cannot remember when the last time was that I played a handheld away from home. I guess it is something that kids do. Also I think you are the dandelion Micheal-5, but that avatar is so far away from the flower that it does not compute.

It's a Front Mission mech. Front Mission is one of my most played DS games, and same with Front Mission 4 for PS2. I love the franchise.

axumblade said: I usually play handhelds at home. It helps to alleviate the annoyance of commercials when I'm watching TV.

LOL!!! This is why Torrents were invented, I don't have cable/satilite.

Mummelmann said: Never. I haven't played a handheld game (at any length anyway) since the Atari Lynx and don't intend to.

Why not? Aren't there a few handhelds games you think look interesting?

 

and wow..... I'm a minority! I sneak in about 5 hours a week at work on breaks and stuff, and well during school I don't have more then 10 hours a week for games, so that's quite a bit for me. I love the games, but I also love console games too and if I started playing handheld games at home, I'd never beat some of my console games, and have nothing to play when I'm out.

 

Read all your comments, thanks Jay and d21lewis the detailed responses.

twestern let's hope your opinion never becomes a majority. I really like the dedicated Vita/3DS games, esecially those with 20 minute level designs (like Pokemon or Fire Emblem). They offer a deep experience, and at the same time can be played with minutes at a time. I never played something like that on iphone or whatever.

In fact I play an emulated version of FFVI on my android in my spare time (I own the GBA version). It's much better then paying a few bucks for some mindless crap.

and like someone brought it up, iPhones are pricey. Even with a contract, you're still paying off a $600 device over 3 years. I'm switching off contract when mine expires (had to renew when iphone broke to get a new phone), and I've done the math. If you get a data plan from Rogers or whatever and get the iPhone for $100 initially, you're still paying $30 a month more then if you used your old phone, on a smaller brand with data. So you're paying close to $400 a year for the phone. 3DS is $170 and you don't have to buy all your games new, and Vita is $250.

Plus....if you get a used DS or PSP now instead, you can get the system with about 10 excellent games for $250 or so. Much cheaper then an iPhone, and for much better games.

Apple is conceiving....

Michael-5 said: Mummelmann said: Never. I haven't played a handheld game (at any length anyway) since the Atari Lynx and don't intend to. Why not? Aren't there a few handhelds games you think look interesting?   and wow..... I'm a minority! I sneak in about 5 hours a week at work on breaks and stuff, and well during school I don't have more then 10 hours a week for games, so that's quite a bit for me. I love the games, but I also love console games too and if I started playing handheld games at home, I'd never beat some of my console games, and have nothing to play when I'm out.   Read all your comments, thanks Jay and d21lewis the detailed responses. twestern let's hope your opinion never becomes a majority. I really like the dedicated Vita/3DS games, esecially those with 20 minute level designs (like Pokemon or Fire Emblem). They offer a deep experience, and at the same time can be played with minutes at a time. I never played something like that on iphone or whatever. In fact I play an emulated version of FFVI on my android in my spare time (I own the GBA version). It's much better then paying a few bucks for some mindless crap. and like someone brought it up, iPhones are pricey. Even with a contract, you're still paying off a $600 device over 3 years. I'm switching off contract when mine expires (had to renew when iphone broke to get a new phone), and I've done the math. If you get a data plan from Rogers or whatever and get the iPhone for $100 initially, you're still paying $30 a month more then if you used your old phone, on a smaller brand with data. So you're paying close to $400 a year for the phone. 3DS is $170 and you don't have to buy all your games new, and Vita is $250. Plus....if you get a used DS or PSP now instead, you can get the system with about 10 excellent games for $250 or so. Much cheaper then an iPhone, and for much better games. Apple is conceiving....

There are a couple I guess but enough of them to warrant purchasing a console for them. Mobile and tablet games are absolutely null and void for me though. There are a couple of RPG's I'd like to play if I did have a handheld, and probably Mario on DS.

twesterm said: Racers, it can do very well.

Racers touch can do well??  Sounds funny to me... You have any good examples?  I highly doubt that any racing game without the use of joysticks/buttons can match ones that use them.

Mummelmann said: Michael-5 said: Mummelmann said: Never. I haven't played a handheld game (at any length anyway) since the Atari Lynx and don't intend to. Why not? Aren't there a few handhelds games you think look interesting? There are a couple I guess but enough of them to warrant purchasing a console for them. Mobile and tablet games are absolutely null and void for me though. There are a couple of RPG's I'd like to play if I did have a handheld, and probably Mario on DS.

So when the Gameboy Advance came out, and was backward compatible with all Gameboy games from 1989, did you not consider getting one then? Also DS is BC and so is 3DS to 1 generation, are there still not enough RPG's?