​Can handheld consoles really compete in the world of iOS/Android?

The origins of the question this week stem from a comment I received on my photography site. The question posed was this: In these times of iOS and Android based devices, can a handheld console, that pretty much does gaming only, really compete? This continues to be a growing question, and it seems to creep up more and more as of late....

[roblef]

I firmly believe that they can, as they add more and more console-centric features. The future that we all wanted back when the PS3 and PSP came out is almost here - seamless console to handheld gaming.

[nycrekid]

This article is stupid. They aren't even in competition. The handheld gaming devices are trying to be a phone. it is the other way around. the phones are trying to be game machines also. If anything the title should be Can IOS/Android really compete in the world of PSV and 3ds?

[lil Titan]

if they where id say no. reason why is because with cheap games on the ios and android and with the over whelming flood of cheap people sales for the ios and android will always be higher but if you want quality games you have to shell out a little more

[Spitfire_Riggz]

Ive said it before and I will say it again. Didnt the DS just break the record for most consoles sold ever?

It was out in the era of android and iphone. Didnt slow the DS down 1 bit

[pain777pas]

Depends on who you are. I am sort of different so I would love to have a portable game console. Vita is for me and when I want to be home and play games save to the cloud and continue at home. The setup works for me.

[bgrundman]

There is room for everyone!

[Hellas13]

Buttons!

[JimmyJames70]

Yeah, the Vita is basically a console wrapped into a handheld, and it's cheaper than some models of the Touch.

[ClimateKaren]

Can bycicles compete in a world of motorcycles? They serve different purposes, and are appropriate in different situations. There will be some crossover in both directions, and both will do very well.

[schlanz]

Not to mention, digital cameras still have a market, even though smartphones have good cameras they still are a long way off from having the same quality as a dedicated camera. Same thing can be said for the games.

[BubbleSniper]

Jobs already predicted that competitors would start eating into their pie, so they are going to release cheaper version of their touch products.

[silvacrest]

unfortunately for jobs, having it cheaper does not make up for touch screen only gaming

[Newtype]

The PSv is pretty similar hardware wise to the Ipad-2. PSv is more powerful though, since it's a quad core architecture.

[Troll-without-Bridge]

Whats there to compete? One's a gaming platform the other is a joke.

I love games and i love jokes, room for everyone.

[ClimateKaren]

Thanks Dwight =)

[Troll-without-Bridge]

;)

[Aarix]

I'm not laughing when I see games like these on the ipod

http://n4g.com/comments/rel...

[PirateThom]

Buttons are the key factor here, I can't imagine a game like, Uncharted or Mario, really functioning with a solely touch screen set up.

Different worlds.

Both have a place, but I can see phones eating into the userbase of handhelds, with both existing side by side... if the PSV had call capabilities, it could be interesting.

[Viper7]

There's another key factor, the phone models, operating systems and operating system versions make developing games such as Uncharted for such platform close to impossible.

where as lower production values can easily be ported to as many platforms humanly possible.

[Aarix]

Because their meant for buttons. There are endless possibilities for games. Who knows, maybe well see a huge game on the iPod that requires touch controls. Like infinity blade, but alot longer.

[VampiricDragon]

its more like can those compete with dedicated handhelds

We are gamers

The gameboy started a revolution.

A portable device with real controls and real hardcore games.

Hell pokemon was a 100+ hour rpg on the freakin gb....I havent seen any ios rpg with that much depth

Hell the 3ds is on the 100+ mil pace according to analysts ( its outpacing the ds)

So this doom and gloom and death talk is stupid

[schlanz]

Pokemon and Mario will keep Nintendo handhelds alive forever.

[NicSage]

PSV it only does everything!

[Infernostew]

I have an Iphone 4 and I'm still buying a PSV. Although I have been out of the handheld market since the GBA, I wouldn't use an iphone as a replacement for a handheld console. Then again, this is an opinion coming from a gamer and not an "average consumer".

[Ju]

I could imagine the PSV can create a reverse trend. We all tried cell phone gaming and most people would agree it doesn't work - not for games like UC or any console type game. Until now there was no device available which was powerful enough to produce a console like experience on a mobile device. This will change drastically. I would rather go with a cheaper phone and the PSV these days, TBH instead of one does it all - but nothing right. Smartphones are nice, but having my phone on the cord for 80% of the time somehow defeats its purpose. Next one will be one with the focus on battery lasting time, and I'll leave the gaming to the pros.

[Dannehkins]

Of course they can and the reason why comes right back down the developers. Take Sony for instance or Nintendo, they both have a large array of first party developers, healthy budgets for development and they can push their console to the max.

What do you get on a phone? In most cases, you don't get a deeply immersive game, but saying that they are cheap.

It's the games that will drive Vita forward. Games like Uncharted and Wipeout and Call of Duty. Games you just can't get the same experience on with phones.

[Miths]

I'll settle for the Samsung Galaxy S II Android phone I just ordered last night, but then again it's likely to be quite rare that I'll feel like doing any gaming on a handheld device. The PSP I bought a couple of years ago has been gathering dust for the last year, and probably never got more than 40-50 hours on it before then.

Whenever I've had the PSP (or my iPod Touch) with me on a vacation and I've felt in the mood for a bit of gaming, I've usually run to the nearest PC instead - even when it's meant settling for browser based Flash games.
The only explanation I can come up with is that I just can't stand those tiny screens for any remotely extended gaming sessions. I imagine an 8-10" tablet screen might be the acceptable minimum for me.

[silvacrest]

as it stands, right now, no

but if the handheld and phone continue to merge ever closer (xperia play) one day it could happen

[Motion]

Nobody buys a phone FOR gaming, while iOS and Android do have some neat games on them, its really just a secondary function of the device.

[Otheros00]

Ios and andriod are both handheld.

[nevin1]

i bet the majority of you people carry around your smartphones more than your PSP/DS/3DS.

i agree with PirateThom. the 3G version should of had phone capabilities.

[blackburn10]

For the love of cake. A phone is a device that does gaming on the side. A VITA and 3DS are gaming machines. They are made for GAMING. The VITA's buttons and joysticks are made for gaming. If a cellphone had the kind of tech the VITA is sporting it would be too big to be a phone. Ask me these stupid questions in about five years when you precious phones have gaming joysticks, games as deep as Uncharted or Resistance and not dime store flash games then we will talk.

[Aarix]

-_- really dude the iPod has real games. Quite a few have are improved Ds/psp ports. If you never checked out games like chaos rings, real racing and dead space then itd be best not to run your mouth.

[blackburn10]

Sorry those are 'real' games in your opinion. Compared to what have seen on the VITA there is no comparison. I would rather play Gravity Daze or UC then some of these so called games you people put in such a high standards. It sure doesn't take much to impress people these days. Maybe you should wait until they can make games that are as deep and complexed as UC or Killzone with precision controls for the IPHONE before you run off YOUR mouth.Just because lots of people do crap doesn't make it a good thing. The VITA is a gaming device, NOT a phone. Get it through your heads.

[Figboy]

I don't understand this question, because the issue with it is inherent in the very question.

Can HANDHELD CONSOLES really compete in the world of IOS/ANDROID?

Smartphones are not consoles. They are barely gaming devices, truth told. They are certainly capable of playing really fun games, but I've found that since I got my smartphone, I don't use it for gaming. I use it for phone calls, web browsing, and an MP3 player.

When I want to play games, I'll play them on a dedicated handheld.

The PSV looks to satisfy my gamer need. The features, controls, and gaming library is exactly to my tastes.

the IOS/Android market is great. And it's growing, but the 3DS and PSV are catering to a different demographic. A demographic that is somewhere between the phone crowd, and the gamer crowd.

I like that I can play some games like Word Bobble or Angry Birds on my smartphone. Thing is, I'll be able to play those AND Uncharted, LittleBig Planet, Super Stardust, and Wipeout. On the bus, or on the crapper. Then I can get home and continue the game there, on my bed, or synced up to my TV (i'm pretty sure the PSV will be able to Remote Play to the PS3).

In either case, I think there's a market for both. It's not about competing. It's about evolving the current dedicated gaming handheld market.

The problem with handhelds like the PSP and DS, were that they were limited in what they could do in comparison to a smart phone. the DS had the stylus, so it could 1up the PSP in that regard, but it didn't have the horsepower to run more advanced applications.

The PSP had the horsepower, but not the more fluid and intuitive interface that a touch screen or stylus brings to the table.

The PSV has all of that and then some. The dual analog sticks means that there is no genre that can't be represented as well on it as on the consoles. The touch screen ensures that doing non-gaming related activities like browsing will be handled well, and the horsepower ensures that any app currently available will run to the best of their abilities (i'm sure we'll see an "Infinity Blade Vita" announced eventually).

It's a great bridge between smartphone capabilities (minus the phone, of course), and a hardcore gaming platform.

I don't see any competition here.

The 3DS is interesting, but ultimately not appealing to me. The software will make or break the machine, but I wouldn't count it out just yet. The Nintendo faithful will ensure that the device is a success. It's also not competing with IOS/Android.

It's a rather large world. There are plenty varied tastes out there that the handheld and smartphone market can co-exist.

Thanks to devices like the PSV, there will be overlap. Which is a good thing.

[knifefight]

Can ovens compete in a world that has microwaves?

Can shoes compete in a world that has sandals?

Can email compete in a world that has phone-based text messages?

Can soda compete in a world that has juice?

Can salad compete in a world that has steak?

Can football compete in a world that has rugby?

...etc.

[mshope10]

i wish people would stop with this crap!!!! ps vita and 3ds are way better game machines than any phone out there period!!!they both offer different but great portable game experiences.and this will be the best handheld generation ever!!!

now the only thing iphones and ipod touches should be compared to is android devices and other phones cause thats what they are!!they are phones that play games. not dedicated game machines that have extra multimedia features thats why they will never be better game machines!!if nintendo or sony added real phone calls to 3ds and ps vita the iphone and android phones would be better phones thats just the way it is so theres know point of trying to pretend phones are better portable game machines!!