Anyone feel less effort/interest in portable systems?

[MrEco]

I was recently reading over the PS Vita thread and some people were talking about how they own surprisingly few games for the Vita compared to their other portables. It got me thinking, and I realized that I own about the same amount of games for each portable system I have. I own between 10 and 15 or so games for GBA, 3DS, DS, PSP, and Vita. I own at least twice as many games for each console I own, except PS4 which is still new. And I own hundreds of PC games of course.

And to be honest, this thought sort of put a spotlight on something I've felt or a while. I just don't have the same feeling towards my portable systems as I do for my full consoles or PC. I don't have the same drive to collect games for them. I get the major titles that look like the most fun, and then don't really bother to pick up the less interesting or more obscure titles. I also don't have the same drive to play through that section of my backlog. I've played at least a couple games on each portable system I own to completion, but whenever it's time to pick another game from my backlog to try and go through, I barely even consider my portable systems. And it's not a conscious decision, I just don't think about them as much. Maybe that's because of the fact I own less portable games, and therefor feel less of a rush to play through them and lessen my backlog in that area? I'm not sure.

It's not a matter of me not liking my portable systems or the games available on them either. In my honest opinion, asides from the obvious graphical differences, many portable games are just as high quality as any average console or PC game. I really don't understand why I feel this lack of interest in collecting for them or playing them (Well... collecting for GBA is a pain in the ass because everything for it is so expensive now, lmao, but that's beside the point).

So what about you guys? Does anyone else have this strangely specific issue, and if so how do you deal with it?

[pierrot]

I basically grew up in the back seat of a car, so I played the Game Gear a lot, once I got one of those. I've played other handhelds since (mostly the GBA and DS in college) but I often try to avoid playing things on handheld consoles these days. I've actually put some time into making my setup conducive to playing handheld games on a TV set. I think my aversion is partly due to my inability to really split my attention between multiple things, now. If I'm playing something on a handheld, I'm much more likely to get distracted, and forget about the game. If I'm playing something on a TV, my attention is much more directed, and focused. I typically don't play games for more than two hours at a stretch, but I also can't 'micro-game' in five to ten minute spurts, so that particular benefit to mobile gaming is not particularly important to me.

[ElkinFencer10]

The main effort in handhelds seems to be Pokémon and niche titty anime titles. So I'm very content right now, lol, but I agree, in general, handhelds seem to be fading.

[Tanooki]

I guess I am the opposite of this thread. Thanks in part to leniant parents allowing Gameboy anywhere on the go. Games being cheaper so I could get more. And Nintendo f'ng up mid n64 era causing me to seek fun elsewhere actually made me MORE of a handheld gamer.

I dont think it is the games fault as you were kind of into but the fault of your own and many others. Often handheld games going back to the GB are looked upon more as side stories, bite sized adventures, pick up and play stuff, whatever you get the idea.

I never felt that way. To me just because it was in a teeny cart on a teeny screen it still felt as beefy and resolute as what the NES and gfx/audio quality aside what much on SNES did too.

Sure there were many games that were just arcade like or NES like point runners to a higher score. But if you look beyond the crust to the franchises and many unique titles when you start seeing 6-100 stage long platformers, adventures, lengthy RPGs and the rest there is a lot there and more than a few hours work too.

As it is now with adult time limited with a kid and all the handheld is my refuge as I can do that when the TV is in use, or use it while watching the TV too or listening at least. It can be in bed, shotgun in the car, whatever. And this easily to tens of millions or more bleeds into android and ios games too. If anything Id say my interest and many are stronger, not so much maybe on niche cartridge stuff but in the bigger modernpicture for sure.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Game Boy Color > Nintendo 64
Game Boy Advance > GameCube
DS > Wii
PSP > PS3
3DS > Wii U
Vita > PS4

Handhelds have been crushing it for awhile now. Love 'em.

[marurun]

I find handhelds inconvenient. If I have the time to play something in a dedicated fashion, I want a dedicated space. I just can't pay attention to something whole-heartedly when I'm on the go. That's why all the games on my phone are lightweight stuff. If they were heavy and demanded focus I wouldn't touch them.

[Sarge]

At one time, maybe. But I love portables now, primarily because my favorites genres made a transition to them a good while back. Metroid, Castlevania, and JRPGs made the choice pretty easy.

Really, though, I'm the type that wants to play handheld games on a big screen, and console games on a handheld. Basically, I just want to play wherever I darn well want to.

[ExedExes]

I'm into them now because I quit after GB/GBC and Pokemon 1st/2nd gen. GBA and DS have so many hidden gems it's nearly impossible to list them all. Scribblenauts is a genius example.

[nightrnr]

Really, though, I'm the type that wants to play handheld games on a big screen, and console games on a handheld. Basically, I just want to play wherever I darn well want to.

It's the novelty of it all; plus having what they say you can't have, or what's not exactly available.

There's more to it though, as if the change of locale (screen and control) affects the feel of a game, or expands the nostalgia if playing a game you are well familiar.

Otherwise, I just like increasing my gaming options.
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It does seem like there is less focus on portables "out there". I just see less fan and review sites centering on handheld systems.
But I LOVE collecting for portables. I have an utter fascination with them. Sometimes my collection is smaller for a particular portable, but that's usually due to lack of availability, higher prices, or just fewer choices. Vita games fit all 3 instances for me.

One day (I say that a lot), I need to finally start my blog for Game Gear.

[Anapan]

I physically own more handheld games than console games. I prefer 2D to 3D, so the handhelds fascinate me far more than most of the post 16-bit era consoles. I also find playing older consoles on a portable to be the most exciting part of the technology - being able to save-state/pocket a game wherever I am is really cool.