• Smart Phone and Tablet computers - Will it be the death of Handheld consoles?
    37 replies, posted
With more people owning the iPhone or an Android phone along with portable tablet computers like the iPad and Galaxy Tab, it seems likely that traditionally hand held consoles like the 3DS and the PSVita would suffer in terms of sales. If you were a person with a tight budget for a quick on the move entertainment, you would pick the iPhone or Android but if you prefer a larger screen and superb feature, you might pick a tablet PC or an iPad. The Hand held consoles however is sandwiched in between. Neither expensive nor cheap. A smart phone can be easily bought with a mobile contract while the tablets is multipurpose. You can actually use it for a presentation. What does the 3DS and PSVita have to offer aside from a dedicated gaming device. (of course the PSVita can connect to the internet but it can't be use to call people) Times have change. People no longer just want a mobile gaming device, they want a multi-media platform that also allows them to connect to the internet so they can check their facebook or watch youtube. An iPhone/Android allows a user to download hundreds of phone apps or games and most of them are free. An iPad or a Galaxy tab is more of a touch screen laptop. PSVita and 3DS have very limited feature and some might say they are outdated as soon as they are out. I hate to say this but handheld consoles are losing out terribly to the cheap and lame smartphone games. The casual crowd is not going to pay $600 for a PSVita or $200 for the 3DS and having to buy a $50 game for their console. If they can release GTA 3 for ipad or iPhone, what are the chances of them making a smart phone or a Tablet PC that WILL be dedicated to gaming? before you know it, there's an iPad with shoulder buttons and circle pads Nintendo and Sony have failed to counter the smartphone and the tablets. Don't be surprise if Nintendo suddenly go into the mobile phone business. Handheld consoles are finished. Unless any of you have a reason why the handheld consoles won't die just yet.
Though this is very likely; if handheld consoles can hold on to better hardware, and better gameplay The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will beat Angry Birds any day.
[QUOTE=KnightVista;36098224]The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will beat Angry Birds any day.[/QUOTE] You make it sound as if Angry Birds is the most complex game on the smart phone app market. Handhelds still have those set buttons which makes it a bit easier to control (because to be honest smartphone controls usually tend to suck), but if gamedevelopers can come up with better control schemes for smartphones, I think it could work out as a replacement in the future.
Nice question on this one... I agree with vista, If they can get better hardware, the answer would probably be a yes.
I think the hardware is already good enough, what they need are controller accessories. If you could attach controller buttons to the top and bottom of the phone (so it would be on the sides when held sideways), then handheld consoles would really be on the way out. I'd even go farther and say that in the not-to-distant future tablets will replace desktop or laptop computers for many people. They won't replace workstations, but the people who only check their email, or surf the web won't need a big bulky machine.
[QUOTE=PvtCupcakes;36100371]I think the hardware is already good enough, what they need are controller accessories. If you could attach controller buttons to the top and bottom of the phone (so it would be on the sides when held sideways), then handheld consoles would really be on the way out. I'd even go farther and say that in the not-to-distant future tablets will replace desktop or laptop computers for many people. They won't replace workstations, but the people who only check their email, or surf the web won't need a big bulky machine.[/QUOTE] Wait, what about serious rpg gamers, such as people who play Skyrim, or Fallout? These games have a giant list of requirements that It'd be excruciatingly hard to meet on tablets, unless they want it to be like 10 in thick.
Doesn't seem like it. PSP, which has less power than today's average smartphone still has a better selection of games.
No, I don't think Smartphones can give the same experiences and ultimately I believe it's market is doomed because of a glut of games for the systems. Yes it does have it's moments like GTA 3 and Sonic CD but it can't hold a candle to a proper dedicated system.
[QUOTE=Muggy;36100437]Wait, what about serious rpg gamers, such as people who play Skyrim, or Fallout? These games have a giant list of requirements that It'd be excruciatingly hard to meet on tablets, unless they want it to be like 10 in thick.[/QUOTE] This thread is only about handheld gaming. Skyrim and Fallout aren't on PSP or DS.
Really, handheld consoles are on their death bed then.
With touch screen controls alone, smartphones and tablets are a joke. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("This is not debating - Read the rules sticky." - Megafan))[/highlight]
[QUOTE=inconspicious;36101163]With touch screen controls alone, smartphones and tablets are a joke.[/QUOTE] Shitpost much? Anyway as they said up there they would need bumper buttons and other things before this is possible.
[QUOTE=Genericenemy;36100934]No, I don't think Smartphones can give the same experiences and ultimately I believe it's market is doomed because of a glut of games for the systems. Yes it does have it's moments like GTA 3 and Sonic CD but it can't hold a candle to a proper dedicated system.[/QUOTE] I don't think the cluttered market is really going to doom mobile phone gaming. That's only because anyone that has the knowledge and time to create an app can do it. You don't need to be a well established company with lots of capital to get your foot in the door. Hence more developers means more apps coming out. Though at the same time, there is a lot of crap as well, which is a downside. However, despite that, the Android and iOS markets are still doing incredibly well. I mean, there is nothing that truly holds smartphones from being able to being possible handheld gaming machines. They definitely have the capability of holding their own against dedicated handhelds in hardware power. They only limitation is input and what developers are willing to do. But that can be easily resolved by manufacturers making phones (Xperia Play) and accessories designed for gaming.
[QUOTE=Demache;36136979]I don't think the cluttered market is really going to doom mobile phone gaming. That's only because anyone that has the knowledge and time to create an app can do it. You don't need to be a well established company with lots of capital to get your foot in the door. Hence more developers means more apps coming out. Though at the same time, there is a lot of crap as well, which is a downside. However, despite that, the Android and iOS markets are still doing incredibly well. I mean, there is nothing that truly holds smartphones from being able to being possible handheld gaming machines. They definitely have the capability of holding their own against dedicated handhelds in hardware power. They only limitation is input and what developers are willing to do. But that can be easily resolved by manufacturers making phones (Xperia Play) and accessories designed for gaming.[/QUOTE] Exactly
Can you use a playstaion3 or other bluetooth controller with avarage smartphones these days or are they still jerks about that? Having a more broad market of arm-compiled gaming action would be pretty sweet.
I'd like to direct everyone's attention to the Xperia Play. It's a startling combination of both a handheld AND a smartphone, and I think that if trends similar to that continue the market could advance in an unprecedented way. Another thing to consider is the fact that phones can never be as powerful as handhelds due to the layers of abstraction and lack of bare-metal access a phone requires to be stable, and for the fact that portability and size is, somewhat ironically, less of an issue with handhelds than phones. This evidence leads me to believe that handhelds may be driven into a niche market.
[QUOTE=Tinker Toy;36153129]I'd like to direct everyone's attention to the Xperia Play. It's a startling combination of both a handheld AND a smartphone, and I think that if trends similar to that continue the market could advance in an unprecedented way. Another thing to consider is the fact that phones can never be as powerful as handhelds due to the layers of abstraction and lack of bare-metal access a phone requires to be stable, and for the fact that portability and size is, somewhat ironically, less of an issue with handhelds than phones. This evidence leads me to believe that handhelds may be driven into a niche market.[/QUOTE] Smartphones one to two years ago are powerful enough to [i]emulate[/i] PS1 and N64 games. Deadspace for Android looks pretty damn good, if you ask me. And now quad core phones are rolling out. I don't think power is an issue.
I wouldn't have thought so. Handhelds are properly designed specifically FOR GAMING. They have the required hardware and have specifications so all games will run well. Even though Android/iOS is a good gaming platform, it's never going to beat a specific gaming platform designed to run on a handheld game device because of the processing requirements differentiating between games. Most phones can run 'Angry Birds', but some of the more 3D, graphically intensive games run terribly on others. Plus you've got the issue with controllers. Yes, the Xperia Play has the cool control pad, but that's just adding bulk to the phone which most people nowadays do not want, and the controls (I have not used one so don't count me on this) may not be as ergonomic as a specific designed device such as the DS or Vita.
[QUOTE=BBgamer720;36187234]I wouldn't have thought so. Handhelds are properly designed specifically FOR GAMING. They have the required hardware and have specifications so all games will run well. Even though Android/iOS is a good gaming platform, it's never going to beat a specific gaming platform designed to run on a handheld game device because of the processing requirements differentiating between games.[/QUOTE] Graphics are not everything. And, as I said before, DeadSpace for Android looks great, so clearly they're capable of good-looking games. [QUOTE=BBgamer720;36187234]Most phones can run 'Angry Birds', but some of the more 3D, graphically intensive games run terribly on others.[/QUOTE] Stop buying cheap Chinese phones. With a contract (which you need anyways), you can get almost any phone for the price of the PS Vita or under. You can get a HTC Vivid from AT&T for $80, which is [i]well[/i] under the price of the Vita. [QUOTE=BBgamer720;36187234]Plus you've got the issue with controllers. Yes, the Xperia Play has the cool control pad, but that's just adding bulk to the phone which most people nowadays do not want, and the controls (I have not used one so don't count me on this) may not be as ergonomic as a specific designed device such as the DS or Vita.[/QUOTE] There are plenty of Bluetooth controllers for Android devices that can be detached and reattached, so bulkiness is not a problem since you can simply take it off. I have used several, and they're actually pretty great. Not to mention, I'm not stuck to one platform. I can play all the native Android games, then I can go play SNES, NES, N64, PSX, or pretty much any gaming platform PSX and older on an emulator. And then when I'm done playing, I can go watch YouTube videos, Netflix, or browse the internet wherever I am via 4G. Overall, Androids may not be as good as a device made specifically for gaming, but they're certainly comparable and capable, and are a betting entertainment platform overall. And honestly, at screen sizes averaging under 5", who cares about next-gen graphics anyways? The only reason to own a PS Vita or DS is if you don't want a data plan, and want to play games and only play games when on the go.
I think storage space is an issue for smartphones and limits games in a way. People aren't going to have a lot of 1-2GB games on a device where it most commonly has 8GB of storage especially if they've already got music and other apps on it, and the same goes for even the 32GB versions of some devices. Unless it's a dedicated game system, there will need to be more space if people are expected to have any kind of library beyond small, Angry Birds class games.
[QUOTE=n0cturni;36188728]I think storage space is an issue for smartphones and limits games in a way. People aren't going to have a lot of 1-2GB games on a device where it most commonly has 8GB of storage especially if they've already got music and other apps on it, and the same goes for even the 32GB versions of some devices. Unless it's a dedicated game system, there will need to be more space if people are expected to have any kind of library beyond small, Angry Birds class games.[/QUOTE] I've never had an issue with space, and the entire port of DeadSpace is actually well under 1GB. Plus, 32GB SD cards can be used on Androids, which is quite a bit of space. I don't know how they do it, but Android games manage to be very frugal with space.
[QUOTE=Dr. Evilcop;36188129]With a contract (which you need anyways), you can get almost any phone for the price of the PS Vita or under. You can get a HTC Vivid from AT&T for $80, which is [i]well[/i] under the price of the Vita.[/QUOTE] You don't need a contract to buy a phone. Factoring in long-term costs, a phone turns out to be [b]much[/b] worse in terms of price; you can't compare something you buy on a finance scheme (essentially) to something that's a one-off purchase.
[QUOTE=Nipa;36192253]You don't need a contract to buy a phone. Factoring in long-term costs, a phone turns out to be [b]much[/b] worse in terms of price; you can't compare something you buy on a finance scheme (essentially) to something that's a one-off purchase.[/QUOTE] "The only reason to own a PS Vita or DS is if you don't want a data plan, and want to play games and only games when on the go." If you're not going to get a contract then yes, you might as well. My point is I [i]do[/i] have a contract, which I use for more than just gaming, so why would I ever bother buying a PS Vita or DS as well? The same goes with anyone with an Android. I don't think most people other than big gamers would carry around both.
[QUOTE=Dr. Evilcop;36189884]I've never had an issue with space, and the entire port of DeadSpace is actually well under 1GB. Plus, 32GB SD cards can be used on Androids, which is quite a bit of space. I don't know how they do it, but Android games manage to be very frugal with space.[/QUOTE] Some newer phones like my Galaxy Nexus don't have an SD slot. It has 16gb of internal memory and that's it. However, by the time gaming on smartphones takes off they'll probably be back to SD slots being common.
For me, it all comes down to the interface and the controls. I hate on-screen buttons and have a little place in my heart for sticky buttons that I mash on when I can't make that jump on Mario.
[QUOTE=Mr. Sun;36204482]For me, it all comes down to the interface and the controls. I hate on-screen buttons and have a little place in my heart for sticky buttons that I mash on when I can't make that jump on Mario.[/QUOTE] [img]http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/gnbpj.khofm/v/vspfiles/photos/901-2T.jpg?1330349893[/img] There are tons of bluetooth controllers like this that you can just snap on to an Android. A lot of them are really great quality and only around ~$15.
[QUOTE=Dr. Evilcop;36205146][IMG]http://a248.e.akamai.net/origin-cdn.volusion.com/gnbpj.khofm/v/vspfiles/photos/901-2T.jpg?1330349893[/IMG] There are tons of bluetooth controllers like this that you can just snap on to an Android. A lot of them are really great quality and only around ~$15.[/QUOTE] While we are on the subject, could you link to a decent one around that price? Because seriously that would be the shit.
I think shitty handhelds will be the death of shitty handhelds, Vita has nothing going for it and from what I've seen neither does the 3DS I miss my Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance
[QUOTE=C0linSSX;36215385]I think shitty handhelds will be the death of shitty handhelds, Vita has nothing going for it and from what I've seen neither does the 3DS I miss my Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance[/QUOTE]I remember getting my Game Boy Advance (the very first one) and seeing the screen for the first time. It was enormous and practically in HD compared to the Color.
[QUOTE=Demache;36215405]I remember getting my Game Boy Advance (the very first one) and seeing the screen for the first time. It was enormous and practically in HD compared to the Color.[/QUOTE] Fucking this right here.
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