Stagnating PSP and DS' losing market to iPhone/iPad

The rapid rise of mobile gaming, particularly on Apple's iOS devices, is stealing "significant" market share from the DS and PSP, which are beginning to "stagnate".

That's according to Courtney Johnson, research and analysis manager at industry research firm Interpret, speaking on the results of a recent US survey.


"Devices which satisfy a variety of entertainment and utility are fast outstripping single-function devices as consumer favorites," said Johnson, based on the responses of 9000 poled.

He acknowledges that gaming as a whole is on a "meteoric rise", while "Sony PSP and Nintendo DS stagnate".

Another recent survey conducted by research firm Neilson concluded that the iPad is the most wanted technology product among US kids aged 6-12.

And earlier this year Epic VP Mark Rein said the smartphones and tablets like iPad and iPhone "are the consoles of the future", seemingly optimistic over the devices' download-only systems and cheaper software price points.

"I'd rather sell 10 million games at $25 and have a chance to sell DLC than 5 million at $50 on a disc that gets traded around," he said.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS

This is sort of a silly comparison because the DS and PSP have been around for around 5 years and the iPad hasn't even been around for 1. The newest model of iPod touch came out a few months ago. The odds are very good that people who like games that own either device would have already owned a DS or PSP.

In terms of game sales the $0.99 price point makes a huge difference since it means you can buy around 30 iPhone games for the price of 1 current gen handheld title. Some games like Crimson Gem Saga and Phoenix Wright are even released for both handhelds and iPhones.

But it's not solely a gaming device, and the comparison makes no more sense than laptop sales vs Xbox 360 sales because they both play games and media.

Yeah, this is the kind of weird and obscure comparisons that probably lead people to believe the DS needs more "match-the-3-colours" shovelware we've been seeing, because people believe there's no "market" for true hardcore GAME-games anymore and everyone apparently wants pointless crap that Little Bubba can enjoy just as much as old Grampa Joe. No!!!

The reason iWhatever seems to sell more games is because these are not game platforms but communication and media tools, and were NEVER designed for hardcore games. Most of the time it's evident just by looking at it. The platform sells, the games will sell based on who buys the platform. Everyone wants a cellphone, not everyone wants a gaming device, these are 2 different ideas and should be treated as such. "Jewel Adventure" probably sold more than Elder Scrolls Oblivion, sure, because everyone has a cellphone with Java, not because "Jewel Adventure" is a much better game than Elder Scrolls Oblivion. Same thing.

I've always thought, and will continue to think, that you can't have both. If your device is used primarly for communication, don't expect any complex space-sims on the same platform, expect Whack-a-Mole where you, the player, may interact with the game in 1 way. Whack! Don't expect Deus Ex to appear on the same platform anytime soon.

I have yet to enjoy ANY game played on the keypad of a cellphone, or a device with just a touchscreen but no actual "controls". I really hope the 3DS does live up to its promise and bring hardcore games back to the world of handhelds, and to hell with what we're supposed to see as "the common game purchasing audience" who would say "aw this game sucks, it's too hard!"... Games don't suck because they're too hard, people suck because they're trying to beat a game that God never blessed them with the brainpower to do so. To hell with these people! Please start listening to "gamers" and not "people", please.

Games are supposed to be difficult and put your intellect and processing to the test, requiring you to do more than just press a button when the screen tells you to. Those aren't really games, in my opinion, those are more like electronic poker machines. Go play them instead, if that's what you want. Help your economy along!

Game devices are supposed to be for (real) games.

Cellphones are supposed to make phonecalls.

End.

""I'd rather sell 10 million games at $25"

Good luck with that.
This guys staggeringly ignorant of average iPhone game sales or price points.

Digital Distribution is probably the future for all devices, but that doesnt mean the iPhone is seriously displacing DS or PSP game sales much.