Still not convinced of the iOS as a handheld?

[diesel_dan]

For the amount of time I've spent playing Angry Birds and Words With Friends, it's hard to make the claim that iOS isn't a handheld. Heck, I've played a lot worse on a lot more mainstream systems.

The trick, in my opinion, is to take advantage of the strengths of iOS without overdoing it. Like the Wii and DS, some of the best games on the system are the ones that utilize the waggle/touchscreen without getting in the way of solid game mechanics.

...which reminds me...I gotta go play my words.

[Itchyant]

Its most definitely a serious handheld gaming device.

Even if you don't include ports of classics such as secret of mana, or shining force, there are so many new awesome games that suit the touch controls.

Pix'n'love was mentioned in a previous post is an awesome retro syled platformer. Monsters ate my condo is one of the best match 3 games i've ever played. Infinity field is an ios developed geometry wars clone that is great fun. And the cave ports mentioned earlier are just wonderful to behold.

So much love on ios, amd all at really low prices. My pile of shame is getting out of control since i started ios gaming...

[Itchyant]

Its most definitely a serious handheld gaming device.

Even if you don't include ports of classics such as secret of mana, or shining force, there are so many new awesome games that suit the touch controls.

Pix'n'love was mentioned in a previous post is an awesome retro syled platformer. Monsters ate my condo is one of the best match 3 games i've ever played. Infinity field is an ios developed geometry wars clone that is great fun. And the cave ports mentioned earlier are just wonderful to behold.

So much love on ios, amd all at really low prices. My pile of shame is getting out of control since i started ios gaming...

[casterofdreams]

Honestly I feel the same way when it comes down to it being a very different market for Nintendo and Sony compared to 2004 and 2005 when the DS and PSP launched. This generation of portables (Gen 8? not sure if it has this label yet) may me the last time we see a dedicated system with physical media. The market delivery system put in place by iOS and Android are far more convenient than going to the store and getting that particular game. People are always in a rush (at least here in downstate New York). We can see that the quality will match and out perform the dedicated portables more often than before soon enough. Touch controls work for certain games but others not so much, that's a given.

I was in the market for a phone last week and I wanted an iPhone. I didn't get it and went with the HTC ReZound with Android. I had Android before and had a lot of fun with the GameBoid, GBCoid and SNesoid emulators I could not give them up.

[ejamer]

I'm not touching the whole comparison with other gaming platforms discussion, as people have strongly held beliefs that aren't likely to change.

I will say that I don't view iOS as a serious gaming platform, but think that it's perfect for casual gaming. Why the distinction? I don't feel like most people buy an iOS device with gaming as the primary reason - or even in the top 2 or 3 reasons. As multifunction devices, they simply do other things better and include games as icing on the cake. Dedicated gaming devices obviously offer the opposite role: games are the reason you own one, and other features and services are nice bonuses.

That doesn't mean that iOS can't have good games - it obviously already does! But the biggest brands and best quality games often aren't that much cheaper here than what you find on other platforms, especially when you take into account the cost difference for hardware. The types of gaming experience that touch controls are really suitable for is limited, and excludes some of my favorite genres. Additionally, since I have limited time and am only interested in playing a small number of top tier games, the masses of cheap, indie-developed games that the App Store thrives on simply don't appeal to me - even though many of those games will be appealing to many other people. (It's like when people talk about how exciting the indie scene is on PC, and yet every time I venture in it feels disappointing.)

So my answer is "no". I'm not yet convinced that iOS represents a serious alternative to more traditional handheld gaming systems for me and don't expect that to change until it has some games that I really feel motivated to experience.

[RCBH928]

You are free to express your opinion
but the way I see it that people no more want dedicated gaming device since I can buy another device for same price and it can do a lot more(video chat/internet/music/video..etc)

Publishers are selling games in the millions on iOS and I have no doubt that they sold more games on iOS than combined on psp/ds in the last 2 years(notice 2 years).

It is a disadvantage to have no buttons on the iOS,b but amazingly it does work, and in the future it will work even better with faster processor and graphics.

The only way out I see for handheld dedicated gaming devices is they either target young kids, that are crazy about iPods and iPads anyway , so this might NOT work OR, they should turn handheld devices into iOS ones specialized in gaming. For example Vita and DS will go online for browsing, apps, video. In other words, iPods with analogue sticks and buttons.

This....I might buy

[RyaNtheSlayA]

You are free to express your opinion
but the way I see it that people no more want dedicated gaming device since I can buy another device for same price and it can do a lot more(video chat/internet/music/video..etc)

No argument there except that people do still want it. The 3DS is selling extremely well and the original PSP is still doing fantastic in Japan. It's just that iPods and such have more universal appeal than a dedicated games devices, because, as you said, they play videos/music/go on the internet etc.

Publishers are selling games in the millions on iOS and I have no doubt that they sold more games on iOS than combined on psp/ds in the last 2 years(notice 2 years).

I wouldn't be surprised about that, as, iOS devices have much higher market penetration than the DS or PSP. I'm not sure about combined, but, whatever.

It is a disadvantage to have no buttons on the iOS,b but amazingly it does work, and in the future it will work even better with faster processor and graphics.

This doesn't make sense. Faster processing and graphics wont make having no-buttons any less of an annoyance. I find games on phones nearly unplayable due to the lack of buttons.

The only way out I see for handheld dedicated gaming devices is they either target young kids, that are crazy about iPods and iPads anyway , so this might NOT work OR, they should turn handheld devices into iOS ones specialized in gaming. For example Vita and DS will go online for browsing, apps, video. In other words, iPods with analogue sticks and buttons.

This....I might buy

The PSP and Vita are basically this. Fact is, that wont really make it sell any better. The people that are serious about playing games on the go will continue to buy dedicated handhelds and those that aren't will continue to buy phones.

I will say that I don't view iOS as a serious gaming platform, but think that it's perfect for casual gaming. Why the distinction? I don't feel like most people buy an iOS device with gaming as the primary reason - or even in the top 2 or 3 reasons. As multifunction devices, they simply do other things better and include games as icing on the cake. Dedicated gaming devices obviously offer the opposite role: games are the reason you own one, and other features and services are nice bonuses.

I basically agree with this statement here, and actually you're entire post was pretty spot on with my opinion. There's some good games to pass the time on phones, but, it certainly doesn't satisfy my needs for mobile gaming and I'll continue to buy dedicated handhelds for that purpose.

[RCBH928]

for gaming needs/wants ds and psp are of course better, as they are dedicated devices, unlike iPods/ipads that are made to browse the net and see videos

but I was looking into the future, 4 to 5 years now(within same generation range) how much advanced these devices will be. People are still purchasing PSPs today, but will they in 2017? Games take at least a year to make(sometimes 3) hardware manufacturing(Design and research) probably takes as much, let us not forget marketing and years waiting to sell off units(ps2 is still selling) so 2017 is not a far year from , Nintendo and Sony of course are looking into the topic.

I say they make their devices iOS like in functionality , but keep the buttons.

@Ryan
maybe the Vita can probably play video and music, so did the PSX play audio CD's but no one used it to rock on his party. What I am trying to say its different when you "CAN" do something with a device, and then where you favor doing an activity using a device. Now when you ask someone to play music on the go, his to go to device is the iPod. Vita has to reach that level of convenience to do general computing activity to be favorable by the market.

Of course let us not forget, there will always be people dedicated to playing just games, but the question is a 2-3 m sales enough for Sony+Nintendo to continue build these handhelds or are they looking for 20m+ in sales ?

[Ivo]

for gaming needs/wants ds and psp are of course better, as they are dedicated devices, unlike iPods/ipads that are made to browse the net and see videos

but I was looking into the future, 4 to 5 years now(within same generation range) how much advanced these devices will be. People are still purchasing PSPs today, but will they in 2017? (...)

I say they make their devices iOS like in functionality , but keep the buttons.

Of course let us not forget, there will always be people dedicated to playing just games, but the question is a 2-3 m sales enough for Sony+Nintendo to continue build these handhelds or are they looking for 20m+ in sales ?

This is definitely it.

Dedicated handhelds do tend to be better - this seems logic. But is not necessarily true. There is a limitation in the cost of the unit. If people are willing to pay much more for a smartphone / tablet / notebook that plays games this may mean that the phone that plays games can actually have more powerful hardware than the dedicated handhelds that wouldn't sell for the price they would fetch to match those specs.

Note that Sony already has the Xperia Play along the "just keep the dedicated buttons" approach. Remember also that Nokia actually were right with the N-Gage, they were just too early and had a bad implementation. Mobile phone games were already a big deal in Japan before the iOS boom.

I also think there will continue to be people dedicated to playing certain types of games, but there is 1. a worry about market and justifying development costs 2. there is no fundamental reason that we can't just play them on a smartphone, provided there are good controls (like the Xperia Play). The barriers are mostly artificial, like Nintendo making 1st party titles and only releasing them on their own hardware.

Ivo.

[RCBH928]

Yeah Xperia is something close to what I had in mind but needs to be implemented better, most people will go iOS or Vita. No idea about the Xperia.

1 thing that makes iOS so popular is that u don't have to carry games around, so the idea of downloaded games should be implemented soon. I know it exists,but they still sell DS games and Vita games as separate hardware.

I know this hurts collectors,but if you think about it, if it is a handheld and it is on the go., then you want to carry as less as you can, can you imagine if you had to carry a cd/cartridge/sd-card for every App or game you have on iOS. It won't be so popular.