By no means is handheld gaming a new concept. After all, the original Gameboy debuted more than two decades ago. However, with the advent of more and more sophisticated smartphones such as the Hero and Nexus One running Android, and the iPhone and iPod Touch running iPhone OS, as well as numerous other devices; creatively designed games with rich interfaces are emerging for these current and highly portable devices.
So is this the future of gaming? Consider that for more traditional gaming handhelds such as the Nintendo DS Lite and Playstation Portable most games start at $30 and go up from there. Contrast that with programs, commonly referred to as apps, for Android and iPhone, which usually run less than $10, and suddenly you have an equally rich gaming experience for a third of the cost.
As apps become closer to traditional videogames, such as Electronic Arts' Need for Speed: Shift, the line between video games on consoles and handhelds from Nintendo and Sony becomes blurred with the games developed for smartphones. This offers an attractive alternative to the gamer who desires more than solely a gaming or media platform.
Of course, the PSP and DSi are, and have been, moving closer to the realm of smartphones as well, with the PSP integrating VoIP, music, and movies in addition to videogames. Similarly the DSi incorporates video as well. As gaming on smartphones increases, this may force gamemakers to consider lowering the price of their games for Sony and Nintendo platforms.
While consoles and PCs clearly have the upper hand in retaining the highest performance in gaming, the handheld segment of the gaming industry may be in for significant changes due to in large part to smartphones.
-aquatsr
Source:
phandroid
