Report: iPod, iPhone to take over growing handheld gaming

I would like an iPod Touch. My dad has an iPhone but I hate AT&T. iPhone is pretty cool though. Already got a DS and PSPgo though.

>> LocoRoco, Patapon, Katamari, Space Invaders Extreme, Professor Layton or Ace Attorney.

It's interesting. You reference several franchises that until quite recently were entirely unknown and unproven (Space Invaders being the exception, of course). Also, those franchises feature unusual and unprecedented game mechanics. The point is... the iPhone/iPod touch platform (and BTW, "iPhone/iPod touch platform" is awkward as hell. I hope Apple marketing comes up with a more succinct term) is gestating hundreds of originals IPs that will be the next Layton, Katamari, or Patapon.

Many people who champion the DS today forget that pretty much every criticism that was leveled against that platform before it succeeded is being leveled at the Apple portable platform.

I have a bunch of iPhone games, but they just don't grab me the way PSP and DS games do.

I think the reasons are control scheme and game depth/quality.

In particular, there just aren't enough good RPGs on the iPhone platform; where are my Final Fantasy I-IV/Tactics/Crisis Core/Chrono Trigger/Valkyrie Profile/Brave Story/Jeanne D'arc/Tales of Eternia/Persona/Star Ocean/Disgaea/etc.? There is just no comparison.

The Nintendo and PlayStation-based series are also strong on their respective platforms: Mario, Metroid, Zelda, God of War, Gran Turismo, Soul Calibur, Resistance, MotorStorm, Syphon Filter, Metal Gear (4 great games!), Tekken, Ratchet & Clank, etc..

Having buttons seems to make "pick up and play" games, and games that potentially could be decent on the iPhone, still better on the DS and PSP. Rolando looks like a good LocoRoco clone, but I still stick with LocoRoco, Patapon, Katamari, Space Invaders Extreme, on the dedicated gaming handhelds.

There are some DS and PSP games that would work very well on the iPhone: adventure games, for example. I'd love to see the Professor Layton or Ace Attorney series come to the iPhone, though it seems unlikely that Nintendo will release its grip as I think it owns the US publishing rights for both games. I haven't been able to bring myself to buy Monkey Island or Myst again for the iPhone, but games of that type should work very well. I'd love to see Telltale, LucasArts, and DreamCatcher bring as many games as possible to the platform. Traditional and tactical RPGs should also work fine, but there just aren't any great ones on the iPhone yet (see above.)

Anyway, the things that I think would make the iPhone a first-class gaming device are: buttons, a bigger screen, and better/deeper/higher-quality games (and game IP), most notably RPGs, which are sorely lacking at the moment.

With the existing iPhone, quality IP that takes advantage of the touch screen is going to be the best option; I can't figure out why we don't have great point-and-click adventure games, tactical RPGs, deep RTS games (StarCraft portable?!), etc.. A good MMO (why not WoW portable?) would be a diabolical form of crack. Diablo/Dungeon Siege type RPGs (click on the monsters until they die, then grab their loot) should work just fine as well.

There are some obvious opportunities here for both Apple and game developers - get with it, guys!

I have all three and they are different animals.

The PSP is probably the most fun for pure gaming. It does quite a bit when homebrewed and that really unlocks functionality: emulation, UMD-less game play, ebook reader, comics reader, gps with add-on, movies, mp3s, mp4s, netbook functionality with add on keyboard, and etc. For pure gaming it really is hard to beat with the large bright screen.

The DS is also a contender; its biggest plus is Nintendo's franchises and innovation. The touch screen is really great too. It adds much functionality to mini-games that developers include. The intuitive mini-games are great for kids. This too can be homebrewed but the community is not as large and usually requires you to purchase stuff.

The iPod touch is by far not for hardcore gamers like myself. It does have fun games like paper toss but for dedicated gaming sessions it is hard to but dedicated buttons. I also don't get the none two player nature of the games either. In both the DS and PSP you can play vs another person or several people. Many games are enhanced by multiplayer. The functionality of the touch screen is cool but for someone that has all three the iPod mainly gets used for music and other media.

This is how I use them:
*PS
-Studying
-Gaming-emulation of old school systems, POPS, Homebrew, and etc
-Comics
-Ebooks
-Photo Viewing
-Ocassional PDA: alarm, budget keeping, and document editing,
-Email
-Thumb drive
-Web surfing
-Online Radio
-IM/chat/ICQ
-Online Flash Gaming

*DS
-Gaming
-Keep my nephews and niece occupied

iPod Touch
-Email
-light Gaming
-Music
-Videos
-Movies
-Photos
-Ebooks
-Comics
-Document Reading
-light Web surfing

As you can see, I really do use my devices and love them. I just don't think its comparing apples to apples.

I agree the touchscreen is where the innovation is involved. But touchscreens won't really take over until tactile buttons can evolve into the screen. If apple reaaly wants to overtake the gaming marke while not drastically changing the design they will make the home button it's own touch sensitive surface like the new magic mouse. Imagine if the button knew what edge your finger was on and reacted like a joystick/d-pad. And the phone already has volume buttons that programmers are changing the function of in the jailbroken apps. A few minor changes and the power of the iPhone dramaticaly increases.

Multitouch combined with a D-pad and a couple of buttons would make for a killer gaming device in my opinion. However, I have a hard time seeing Apple adding more buttons. Instead, I'm hoping for a good compromise, such as making the home button a D-pad and adding touch-sensitive button areas to the screen bezel.

iPod/iPhone will be a huge part of the market for gaming, but after you take away Apple's 30% how much profitiablity will there be for game makers? Already the PSP offers the ability to download games directly, which will eventually make it the equiivelant of the iPod Touch for gaming.

The iPod/iPhone will be akin to the Wii that it makes many more people gamers than would traditionally be in that market.

As an FYI, here are the games on the iPhone that I consider absolutely as engaging as anything on the DS or PSP. These are ones I have played and continue to enjoy. Best of the best (in no particular order):

Rolando
Rolando 2
Lion Pride
Canabalt
geoDefense
geoDefense Swarm
Enviro-Bear 2010
Flight Control
Castle Warriors
Galcon
Galcon Labs
Alive4Ever
Bailout Wars
iBlast Moki
Knights Onrush
Harbor Master
MiniGore
Hi How Are You?
Parachute Panic
Eliss

All of the above well worth the money and offer amazing replay value.

The one thing I have noted is that the games from the big developers seem to me to be the least interesting. I paid full price for Katamari, SimCity, Resident Evil and they just don't seem interesting. I'm a big fan of the Metal Gear series and haven't been motivated to buy the iPhone app. To me the indies are just producing better stuff. The price is secondary because I'd pay $9.99 for a lot of the above games. They're that good.

I began playing video games in 1976 with the Magnavox Odyssey 300. I have forgotten more game consoles and devices than most have played.

I own and have really enjoyed the DS. I was very excited to purchase a PSP when it was first announced (bordering on lust), but it has so completely failed to reach its potential I have never purchased one and likely never will. I have owned and used an iPod touch and now the iPhone.

I can tell you that this article is absolutely spot on except for one detail. It won't take five years. One ought to do. In addition, the real x factor is the impending iPad which will extend the continued expansion of the iPod touch/iPhone growing dominance in the handheld space. You thought the DS was a miracle story? Wait until we see where gaming on Apple devices is one year from now. It will blow your mind.

I simply don't play or buy games for the DS anymore. It seems like every day I am made aware of another two or three must-own games on the iPhone. It's insane how the level of quality and volume of compelling games keeps accelerating. And for a buck apiece, I buy them with complete abandon. I can buy forty great games on the iPhone or one great game on the DS. How is that even a comparison? Basically, what it means is I will only buy the occasional (one every two months maybe) AAA game on the DS, a Zelda game or Advance Wars. And the big difference between the digital downloads for the PSP and DS are that they are offering games I have played on eight different platforms. I guess some people are content to play Super Mario over and over again and to pay $10 each time, but not me.

Those who say the iPhone is under-powered simply do not know what they are talking about. The biggest drawback is the control system on-screen (obscures gameplay), and the lack of tactile feedback (actual joystick, buttons). But these are also strengths and innovative developers are already playing to the strengths to minimize the weaknesses.

I was REALLY skeptical about the on-screen control scheme, but have been won over. I still do not like having my fingers in the way, but I'm willing to deal with it given the price of games and variety.

All that needs to happen is for someone to come out with a joystick cradle that works with the iPod Touch and iPhone and the biggest complaint will be gone.

After that happens, why would anyone want to spend $30-$40 per game when they can get games between $1 to $10 for the Apple devices AND use them for other purposes?