Filed under: Apple Corporate, Gaming, iPhone, iPod touch
Report: iPod, iPhone to take over growing handheld gaming
In a bold report released this week, DFC Intelligence states that if current sales and development trends continue, the iPhone and iPod could surpass both Sony and Nintendo in the fast-growing handheld gaming market in as little as five years. Now, DFC isn't describing the number of units sold. They expect the Japanese companies to retain that lead. Instead, they expect the iPhone/iPod's growth rate to expand while PSP and DSi sales have plateaued. In other words, DFC predicts that the iPhone and iPod touch will be the only portable gaming devices still seeing significant growth by 2014.
It's interesting because Apple has never paid much attention to gaming... until the most recent press event where they went overboard to promote the iPod touch as a gaming platform. I play games on my iPhone and my original PSP and while it's a different experience, they're both enjoyable.
Of the apps you own, how many are games? If you own either a PSP or a DS plus an iPhone/iPod touch, how would you compare the three platforms?
[Via Electronista]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jordan said 3:56PM on 10-23-2009
They will take over games played for five minutes at a doctors office, in essence by creating a market that plays stupid litle games, akin to the Wii
But the way they function now, they will never take over or replace true portable gaming. They just can't handle it.
Reply
Scott said 5:19PM on 10-23-2009
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?
Jordan said 5:25PM on 10-23-2009
The biggest complaint would be gone, but then we enter the realm of add-ons. It would sell, initially, but people don't want to carry around add-ons for the protable device they're already carrying around to play games. It just makes more crap to lug around and gets annoying.
iBearTouch said 4:12PM on 10-23-2009
I like the notion of having the iPod Touch as a gaming device. Maybe with some accessory support and better, more varied types of games, it stands to reason that it could surpass the PSP and DSi. I don't know though, honestly i will pick up my touch and play a game just to fritter away what little free time I have.
A hard working guy can afford a 400 dollar Touch. The "real" gamers market which all the other platforms seem to target are the 13-25 set, that (a) have more free time on their hands, and (b) have less disposable income...
So if Apple wants to tap into that market, the price for a Touch has to be lower. But Maybe a 99 dollar iPhone with a phone contract that many of these younger people will have anyways is more up their alley in many ways. The question is, "are they going there for comms, or are they going there to play."
I guess Apple would hope "a bit of both"...
Reply
coolwubla said 4:51PM on 10-23-2009
You Obviously have never played Tank Rush
itms://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=331794762&mt=8&s=143441
Reply
drumstik76 said 4:25PM on 10-23-2009
I love my iPhone - I have a crap load of games for it... but I got a DSi a few weeks ago and I'm really enjoying playing games like New Mario Bros, Castlevania, and others... I'm willing to bet that the iPhone with it's lack of buttons will not come close to the experience of playing games like that...
Reply
RestaurantShareApp said 4:38PM on 10-23-2009
I have very few games on iPhone. They all seem to be very typical "get the biggest score" type of apps and that's what turns me off. However, I am thinking about graphic and/or script intense games like Football 2010 and Need For Speed. I only wish I would have 3GS and not 3G...
Reply
RestaurantShareApp said 4:39PM on 10-23-2009
I have very few games on iPhone. They all seem to be very typical "get the biggest score" type of apps and that's what turns me off. However, I am thinking about graphic and/or script intense games like Football 2010 and Need For Speed. I only wish I would have 3GS and not 3G...
Reply
St.McDuck said 4:56PM on 10-23-2009
I cannot get past the lack of actual buttons on my ipod touch for certain games. It just sucks sometimes. Earthworm Jim, most recently.
To kill a few minutes waiting, the touch is fine, but if I'm going to be on a plane, I don't think twice about charging up my PSP and/or DS.
Reply
themapplestore said 5:02PM on 10-23-2009
I've owned the original PSP, the Nintendo DS lite, and all 3 iPod touches, and I can say without a doubt that the iPod tuch has been my favorite of the 3. However, I can safely say that although the iPod touch has great games, I still miss Sonic, Mario, and Daxter. However, I like some games more tha ANY PSP or DS game I've had. Tap Tap Revenge, Rolando, Bejewled, Fieldrunners, and Doodle Jump have successfully kept me from getting bored in the last 1 1/2 years. I love the fact that most games download in less than a minute, and I don't have to deal with putting in cartridges or UMDs at all! I've always loved casual games, and I've also always wanted a computer in my pocket, and the iPod touch does both of these things very nicely! :D
Reply
Tom Smale said 6:11PM on 10-23-2009
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.
Reply
Tom Smale said 6:25PM on 10-23-2009
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.
Reply
Albert said 2:25AM on 10-24-2009
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.
Reply
joeybeast said 11:04AM on 10-26-2009
I haven't played the PSP since I got my iPhone in July, mostly because I don't want to carry two devices at once.
hunglyka said 7:16PM on 10-23-2009
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.
Reply
Smithrs101 said 2:07AM on 10-24-2009
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.
Reply
orangegent said 4:54AM on 10-24-2009
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.
Reply
partner said 1:10PM on 10-24-2009
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!
Reply
Tom Smale said 1:37PM on 10-24-2009
>> 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.
Reply