Part in bold is where this topic should've ended. As I would put it: different markets, different markets, different markets. mobile platforms (iPhone/touch OS/iOS, Android, etc.) are not in the same market as portable video game systems no more than the personal computer market (including Apple computers) is in the same market as home video game consoles.
Woooow lets discuss and compare idevice games to a console no one here has even played on yet. So guise, iOS games or PSP 2 games?
Totally agree bro. Now, I am totally excited for the 3DS but, I think with the excpetion of Eli, no-one here has actually 'played' or even seen the 3DS beyond pictures and videos. Actually, someone earlier in the thread even compared the amount of iDevices sold compared to the 3DS!!! It's hilarious
I have a PSP and would like a 3DS but this is beside my point. From my personal consumer stand point I see it as this: I think that the reason I play my ipod more than I play my PSP is because there is a surprising abundance of well designed and fully realized games for it - and playing them reminds me more of playing PC games than console games. Of course there are games that are less polished, or more casual - but I have a good collection of at least 14 or 15 games that I have put more than 15-20 hours into each.
You are assuming there will be console-style games. Peace Walker has all the depth of the console MGS games but it is designed for portable play. What hurt the PSP was Sony did not give clear direction to third-parties as to how that device should be treated (because every manufacturer does this). As such it got console ports as well as console style games. As long as Nintendo directs third-parties as to how to go about things there will be little problem. Not least for JPN devs who have had five years practice on the DS of how to create console depth for a portable experience. Your concern is unwarranted. As for transition period you clearly do not understand. The iterations of the DS still played the same DS retail games. Dragon Quest IX, a game which pushes the DS tech in 2009 still works to the same degree on the original 2004 DS system. As such the generation cycle of the DS has been six years. This is not the case for the idevices which release more powerful iterations every year and as such fractures the market each time and thus adds further complications. Surely you see this, how handhelds and the idevices are in completely separate camps with the portables in the more favourable one because its market doesn't fracture when a new iteration is released and so this leaves all developers free to push the hardware as hard as possible while still able to sell to the whole market. For you it is your own fault you keep buying new iterations since all the DS models play the same retail games yet you continue to buy a new iteration. The mass consumers do not do this though, so for them it isn't every one or two years. They buy the device and keep it for years enjoying all the content that is available for it, it is only when it is year three or more for that systems successor that they will make the transition. So there is no market fatigue because the jump from the predecessor (example: GBA) to successor (example: DS) for the vast majority is actually a long period of time (four years if not more). You're making it up and trying to present it as a possibility despite the figures from one generation cycle to the next, on both handhelds and consoles show otherwise. Fatigue of buying the next successor only really sets in when a company doesn't have the content (not a problem for Nintendo) or when a company continually releases iterations of the same device that can play games you as a consumer cannot on your current device. But the latter scenario is not the realm of the handheld or a problem for Nintendo, but the PC and now idevices. If there is ever transitional fatigue it would happen to the idevices long before it would happen to handhelds / consoles because with one purchase of a handheld / console you are assured that model will play all games released throughout that systems lifecycle. As for your note on how it is interesting of killer apps being sequels... Er, welcome to the games industry? How you entertain the possibility of Mario Kart 3DS not pulling in consumers because it is just a sequel is amusing, especially since every MK sells millions if not tens of millions. In any case I just noted the sure hitters, Nintendo will create new IP to sell as killer apps for the device just as they created the Brain Training and Nintendogs IPs to sell the DS. Iwata has made sure Nintendo never rests and are always pro-active, this is why Nintendo has become so successful these past six years. And that's that. There's really nothig else to discuss without going around in a circle once more.
The only reason we are going in circles is that you keep stating conjecture and assumptions as facts and certainties. My only point is that, even though you are likely right that the 3DS will be a monster hit (and once again crush the PSP as the dominant portable gaming platform), such success is by no means assured. From a marketing perspective, Nintendo is stepping away from their position in the industry and taking something of a risk. And yeah, I know all about development cycles and long-term commitment to platforms -- I've been around a while, you know. I'm not saying that iDevices, which tend to have yearly upgrades, are the same as dedicated consoles. My original point is that the bulk of iPhone gamers will soon be playing on devices at the 3Gs/3rd Gen level or better, which will expand the market for higher end games. I'm not saying that that will somehow make iPhones a better gaming platform than the 3DS (or the DS, for that matter). But it's certainly good news for people who want to play games on an iOS device. I should note that I purchased my first DS (a DSi) only a few months ago. I bought it not because it delivered the highest level of gaming technology (and in fact, it doesn't), and definitely not because I thought it was a sexy or attractive device (it isn't, at least not to me), but because it allowed me to play games like Devil Survivor, The World Ends With You, Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks -- none of which push the envelope visually but deliver big time on gameplay. That's Nintendo's brand position, not high end visuals and 3D graphics. I can also add that even though the titles announced look great, I'm much more looking forward to games like Okamiden and the Ni no Kuni, the Studio Ghibli RPG, neither of which will require a 3DS purchase. In any event, I enjoy these discussions, even if we don't agree in the end. I appreciate the depth of your knowledge and I always feel that I learn something from your posts.
Why should we compare these games? The devices are totally different, and while games like GTA and Mario Kart rule the DS market, games like Rolando and iBlast Moki work best on the iDevice (even though GTA also exists on the iPhone). Erm... I'm probably twice as old as you an own four Nintendo consoles and one Nintendo handheld. I don't own anything from Sony or Microsoft. But as I said, I prefer an iDevice over the Nintendo DS, that's it. And I don't see a reason to go wild with the 3DS, it isn't even out yet. It's like me going totally crazy for the next iPod Touch... If your anwer on that is that I'm just an Apple fanboy, I think that's highly amusing.
Compare the best iPhone shooter with Metroid Prime or CoD5 on DS, and you'll see that the iPhone controls suck BIG TIME (really big time. believe me) compared to DS.
I have those games on my DSi. they controls are insanly better. they both use a touchscreen for aiming. the only difference is you move and fire with buttons, which can be awkward sometimes. DS controls vs iphone controls: iphone controls dont suck as much as you think they ado.
I don't know... When I was playing CoD4 on the DS the controls weren't that good, but I haven't played CoD5 yet so maybe they improved. The walking controls in particular were pretty bad.
Win is a rather hard thing to determine, but what's clear is neither will lose. There's no way Nintendo will be anything but dominant in the handheld market, and there are certain characteristics that mean the 3DS will have an edge over iOS devices, but yearly hardware refreshes and software updates put iOS in a quite different situation, and multitouch gives iOS games some capabilities the 3DS doesn't have. What really makes the 3DS stand out as a device for me is the 3D camera - that's going to be fun to play with, and I'll be sticking with my 2G iPod touch for many years (probably until the battery dies), while looking at the 3DS next. What is really more of a clear fight will be Windows Phone vs iOS, and WP will bring in some interesting stuff with Microsoft's developer relationship thanks to the Xbox.
Now, that we now the time of release of the 3DS: By the time the 3DS is launched, there is already iPhone 5 coming or already there. I see dark times coming over Nintendo. Or at least, not as bright as the competition less time before.
Nintendo have absolutely nothing to fear. Their portable console is the best selling console in history. The market hasn't changed, it's just been added to. iPhone gamers aren't Nintendo converts, they're just people who own phones. ...and for the record, I'm pretty sure 3DS games are gonna smash iOS games in terms of depth and development quality. Neither will "win", but if you wanna get deeply invested in a bunch of games, the 3DS is the one to go for.
I find amusing how some believe that people buy iDevices strictly as gaming platforms. Anyway, I see the iGaming audience as a totally different audience than Nintendo´s. From what I´ve seen so far, Nintendo is going for the hardcore gamer this time (their lineup of games prove that), yet casuals--the reason why the original DS and Wii are so popular-- will find stuff like Nintendogs, nifty 3D games, etc. In a few words, looks like Nintendo finally found the right balance. I can see the 3DS becoming the most succesful platform of all time.
I loved the my DS but I think the portable gaming market has changed ever since the App store was released. The 3DS will no doubt be as popular as ever in Japan, but depending on the price I'm not sure if it will be as popular in other countries. I would imagine that the higher production values for these games would lead to higher prices but at the end of the day I'd rather play videogames for extended sessions on my consoles, not so much on the handhelds anymore.
every one who thinks iOS will win is wrong. Think about it iphones and ipods were never ment for heavy gaming. It just does not work I have my ipod touch and I love it I will never sell it but iphones/iPods should just stick to tilt to live thoose are the games ment for iphones. Now the 3DS with the graphics and real buttons will make that win.
3DS games = better. Way, significantly better. iOS games = cheaper. Way, significantly cheaper. Many people, who are either somewhat more casual in terms of gaming, extremely cheap, or of limited funds (typically people too young to have jobs), will cling to iOS gaming no matter what. And that is for one reason and one reason only. You cannot beat the price of iOS gaming. It's simply not possible. But cheaper doesn't always mean better. I believe the 3DS will completely revolutionize handheld gaming; like nothing any of us ever thought could be possible. But you are going to have to be willing to shell out fair market value in order to climb aboard the 3DS bandwagon. You going to have to be willing to pay 29.99 or above, per game, like everyone else in the gaming universe. Some people are likely too spoiled by now to relent to this fact, so they will miss out. And it will be their loss.
Pretty much this. In their latest reports Nintendo has actually reported losses. This is not because of falling Wii sales, as you might expect, but because of falling DS (well, all the versions) sales. This says a lot about 1) the strength of handheld gaming to Nintendo and 2) the level of expectation for the 3DS, since the fall in DS sales had been attributed to the announcement of the 3DS recently, so people would hold off until the 3DS release.
I'll get both. No matter what we won't really have serious, deep and original games for iPhone for a while. Most of the so called big name games for iPhone are all ports from DS, PS or other consoles.
