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Nintendo's biggest competitor is itself. There are millions of DS owners out there and at present only a fraction of them see any reason to get a 3DS.
I can only speak from personal experience, but multi-faceted mobile devices have not replaced my dedicated devices. When I want superior photos, I need a dedicated camera. If I want proper gaming experiences, I need a dedicated handheld gaming system.
The iPhone 5 might affect 3DS sales to a certain extent, if we are talking about folk who will budget their gadget purchasing. However, Nintendo are irrevocably in control of their own destiny.
I can only speak from personal experience, but multi-faceted mobile devices have not replaced my dedicated devices. When I want superior photos, I need a dedicated camera. If I want proper gaming experiences, I need a dedicated handheld gaming system.
The iPhone 5 might affect 3DS sales to a certain extent, if we are talking about folk who will budget their gadget purchasing. However, Nintendo are irrevocably in control of their own destiny.
While I don't believe the iPhone 5 will "kill" the 3DS, denying the impact of mobile phones on the handheld market is like denying evolution. It isn't some wild, dreamed up hoax; it's already evident. Nintendo itself has admitted this. And John Carmack has stated "It's unquestionable that within a very short time, we're going to have portable cell phones that are more powerful than the current-gen consoles."
http://www.3dsbuzz.com/reggie-reckons-apple-nintys-biggest-competitor/
http://games.slashdot.org/story/11/07/08/041215/Carmack-Mobile-Gaming-To-Surpass-Current-Consoles
For me, its less about whether a phone can provide as compelling a game experience as a dedicated portable (though that's certainly arguable), and more a matter of convenience. I can only carry so many items with me out the door and my phone takes precedence over any gaming machine. Unless I start carrying a purse or resort to wearing only cargo pants, it is unlikely that I'm going to stuff my phone, 3DS, Vita, extra games, my wallet and my keys into my pockets; there's only so much space in a pair of jeans.
Also, again just my opinion, but I think taking a traditional home console game such as Uncharted and trying to make it a portable experience is the wrong way to go. Gaming on the go is not the same as gaming at home and shouldn't be treated as such. Portable games should be designed with quick, full experiences in mind. Groove Coaster and Doodle Jump are two great examples that give you a full, fun game experience in a very short amount of time; perfect for passing time in line at the grocery store or on the can.
Not everyone will agree, but whichever vantage point you take, it is certainly an interesting time in the industry.
http://www.3dsbuzz.com/reggie-reckons-apple-nintys-biggest-competitor/
http://games.slashdot.org/story/11/07/08/041215/Carmack-Mobile-Gaming-To-Surpass-Current-Consoles
For me, its less about whether a phone can provide as compelling a game experience as a dedicated portable (though that's certainly arguable), and more a matter of convenience. I can only carry so many items with me out the door and my phone takes precedence over any gaming machine. Unless I start carrying a purse or resort to wearing only cargo pants, it is unlikely that I'm going to stuff my phone, 3DS, Vita, extra games, my wallet and my keys into my pockets; there's only so much space in a pair of jeans.
Also, again just my opinion, but I think taking a traditional home console game such as Uncharted and trying to make it a portable experience is the wrong way to go. Gaming on the go is not the same as gaming at home and shouldn't be treated as such. Portable games should be designed with quick, full experiences in mind. Groove Coaster and Doodle Jump are two great examples that give you a full, fun game experience in a very short amount of time; perfect for passing time in line at the grocery store or on the can.
Not everyone will agree, but whichever vantage point you take, it is certainly an interesting time in the industry.
Look, I love my iPhone. I use it for almost everything. Texting my wife and friends, surfing the Internet (I'm writing this on my iPhone!), looking up movie times, reserving Redbox movies, even scanning in my wife's prescriptions to Walreens. What I don't use it for is gaming. I have a few "games" on there but they're for a situation where I don't have a portable console on my person. Modern smart phones are wonderful tools for everyday use but they are nit and will NEVER take the place of a dedicated portable console.
Don has had a deathwish for Nintendo for as long as I can remember. I'm pretty sure he used to do a "The Wii is a doomed fad with no games that collects dust" article at least once a week. Expect him to do the same with the 3DS from here on out.
Don is not a dick. He's probably a nice enough guy. That said, he's got some personal vendetta against Nintendo that makes his writing on the subject nothing short of ridiculous. On that topic, it's best to just ignore him.
Don is not a dick. He's probably a nice enough guy. That said, he's got some personal vendetta against Nintendo that makes his writing on the subject nothing short of ridiculous. On that topic, it's best to just ignore him.
As others have said, denying the impact of smart phones is being short sighted. A lot of people do buy and play games on their phones and it's simply more convenient for some than carrying an iphone and a DS.
Tablets are also going to provide competition. Sony's new tablet is garnering some pretty good previews and it will play all of the current PSN games available. With the bluetooth, it may also have the capability of using a separate controller for those that want both the portable and more console type experiences. Sony also offers a phone that does the same thing... offers PSN games as well as the usual phone experience.
The thing is... for people with limited funds, they may have a choice between a phone, a DS or a tablet. With phones and tablets being able to multitask they do have a small advantage. It really comes down to whether one likes Nintendo games specifically, because they won't be offered on anything other than a DS. However if one just likes gaming and isn't specifically a fan of Nintendo games - then these other devices will offer the usual fare a phone or a tablet offer - but additionally will offer PSN games as well as third party games from companies like EA.
I don't think that the iPhone specifically will kill the DS, but I do think that the plethora of new portable devices of phones and tablets combined will definitely take a big chunk of their business.
Tablets are also going to provide competition. Sony's new tablet is garnering some pretty good previews and it will play all of the current PSN games available. With the bluetooth, it may also have the capability of using a separate controller for those that want both the portable and more console type experiences. Sony also offers a phone that does the same thing... offers PSN games as well as the usual phone experience.
The thing is... for people with limited funds, they may have a choice between a phone, a DS or a tablet. With phones and tablets being able to multitask they do have a small advantage. It really comes down to whether one likes Nintendo games specifically, because they won't be offered on anything other than a DS. However if one just likes gaming and isn't specifically a fan of Nintendo games - then these other devices will offer the usual fare a phone or a tablet offer - but additionally will offer PSN games as well as third party games from companies like EA.
I don't think that the iPhone specifically will kill the DS, but I do think that the plethora of new portable devices of phones and tablets combined will definitely take a big chunk of their business.
*reads Captain Bus's & Rhuno's comment, nods head in agreement*
Everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Nintendo right now, the way I see it is it's a good thing. Sega, Atari, and all those other companies went downhill because people stopped caring about them. They say no press is bad press. Nintendo still has their groove, most Nintendo first party games usually score an 8 or a 9. So long as they have people's attention, and the games to offer them they'll turn out fine no matter what happens.
Everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Nintendo right now, the way I see it is it's a good thing. Sega, Atari, and all those other companies went downhill because people stopped caring about them. They say no press is bad press. Nintendo still has their groove, most Nintendo first party games usually score an 8 or a 9. So long as they have people's attention, and the games to offer them they'll turn out fine no matter what happens.
My phone has a game pad. I'm writing this on my Xperia Play's touch screen...
I am pretty much against handhelds because I would never carry them with me, and now I have access to PS1, N64, GBA, SNES, GBC, NES, Genesis, Game Gear, Mame, and Atari games on my smart phone with a gamepad. That said... using a Vita as a controller/screen for ps3 games is hard to ignore.
I am pretty much against handhelds because I would never carry them with me, and now I have access to PS1, N64, GBA, SNES, GBC, NES, Genesis, Game Gear, Mame, and Atari games on my smart phone with a gamepad. That said... using a Vita as a controller/screen for ps3 games is hard to ignore.
" I would love how to see you could possibly play something like Super Mario 3D Land or better yet Uncharted: Golden Abyss on the iPhone"
They are not supposed to. So not being able to play uncharted is not a mark against it. Touch screen gaming is a completely different beast.
"The IPhone 5 is just a newer, powerful iteration of the same phone. Nothing new. Boring." Is that not what the 3ds is? A more powerful version of the ds, but this time IN 3D!!!!!!!!
"Most of the games the App Store that are available for $1 don't even offer hours of gameplay. Majority of them are just silly mini games that are 5-10 minute time killers." Maybe that's what people want from mobile experiences? Low barriers of entry and easily played in short burst.
"They do not hold a true value or quality of handheld experiences." Or maybe many handheld games are just overpriced and the lower price of mobile games is just incredibly attractive. I would say mobile games have very high value since many are either free or just 99c.
They are not supposed to. So not being able to play uncharted is not a mark against it. Touch screen gaming is a completely different beast.
"The IPhone 5 is just a newer, powerful iteration of the same phone. Nothing new. Boring." Is that not what the 3ds is? A more powerful version of the ds, but this time IN 3D!!!!!!!!
"Most of the games the App Store that are available for $1 don't even offer hours of gameplay. Majority of them are just silly mini games that are 5-10 minute time killers." Maybe that's what people want from mobile experiences? Low barriers of entry and easily played in short burst.
"They do not hold a true value or quality of handheld experiences." Or maybe many handheld games are just overpriced and the lower price of mobile games is just incredibly attractive. I would say mobile games have very high value since many are either free or just 99c.
"Person says something on the internet, then people lost their shit. More details on the blood-bath at eleven."
- the newscast, every night forever
- the newscast, every night forever
Smartphones being successful has no impact on handhelds. People who buy smartphones buy it because their old phone is broken; they don't give a fuck about games. People who want to play video-games on the subway will buy a handheld.
It's not the same demographic. In fact, we aren't even comparing the same product.
It's not the same demographic. In fact, we aren't even comparing the same product.
@drbutler
People may get a phone because they need it but they may then find they have no need for a handheld since there phone does games and a lot more.
People may get a phone because they need it but they may then find they have no need for a handheld since there phone does games and a lot more.
It's weird to me that so many people say that smart phone gaming is cheaper that dedicated handhelds.
Isn't an iPhone4 like $300? Not counting the monthly data plan? And the better DL only games like Sword and Sworcery are still +$5. Add to that that you can't borrow games from friends, but and sell them used, and so forth, and you're looking at a gaming platform that can add up in expenses really fast.
Isn't an iPhone4 like $300? Not counting the monthly data plan? And the better DL only games like Sword and Sworcery are still +$5. Add to that that you can't borrow games from friends, but and sell them used, and so forth, and you're looking at a gaming platform that can add up in expenses really fast.
@Jonathan
Well, it IS cheaper when you factor in that you only need to buy ONE device for all your needs. Even if I did all my gaming on a 3DS (or whatever), I'd still need to buy a phone...
Not saying it's better or worse, but less hardware in my pocket normally equates to less debt on my credit cards :)
Well, it IS cheaper when you factor in that you only need to buy ONE device for all your needs. Even if I did all my gaming on a 3DS (or whatever), I'd still need to buy a phone...
Not saying it's better or worse, but less hardware in my pocket normally equates to less debt on my credit cards :)
