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Handheld consoles have been around for quite a while, there is a big market for them and a big part of todays gaming. Firstly this post is about the future, we all know that Nintendo dominate the market with the Gameboy and its various sequels. Atari with the lynx, Sega with the GameGear and many others have had a go but never really reaching the domination that Nintendo have always seemed to have.
But what about the future of this side of the market?
To me this has always been a little disapointing due to the fact that Nintendo have had no competition, but maybe Sony, Microsoft and other big named companies could prove that this can be a market dominated by others and not just Nintendo. Also as most of us know, competition for them is no bad thing.
Take a look at the gamecube, tiny for a console but it does show us that technology is getting smaller, we could reach standards were it is possible to cram a lot more into a smaller space giving us very high spec handhelds and not ones that can only compete with consoles that have been around for years.
I think the handheld market gets overlooked a lot just because Nintendo seems to be the only one interested in it, maybe because others see it as too hard to compete with them. Maybe because the time, effort and money in the end just wouldn't be worth it. Either way there could be money to be made if they take a risk and try take on Nintendo - but the handheld would have to be great to take on the likes of the GBA.
So whats important with a handheld? Well they have to be of a high quality, portable, easy to use and have a battery that lasts long enough to allow a decent length of gaming to be played. It is here that the Gamboys have always been better, particularly in the battery length and ease of use. This is why they have been so dominant in this part of the market. So what could the future hold for the handheld market?
Mobile phones? Could well be a form of handheld gaming. As anyone who pays any attention to latest phones you will know that soon phones will send pictures from digital cameras, play movies and play better quality games, maybe even reaching a suitable standard to compete with game developers.
But is there another possibility? How about using phones to allow the handheld consoles to play on-line using the likes of WAP or even better communication protocols to send/recieve the information to allow a decent on-line game to take place. All possibilities but maybe not of any interest to people out there until they become more than just an idea or possibility. Mobile phones are a huge market so there is money to develop and research the gaming side to it all, whether we will see console quality games ever on a phone though is just something we will need to wait and see.
One thing that came across as I wrote this was what would happen if Nintendo pulled out from this part of the market all together? Would others try take their place or sadly could this part just die out and fade away to just a memory?
I would love to see the likes of Sony and Microsoft have a go with a handheld, just to increase competition and variety in this area, more choice of games, choice of handheld/peripherals etc to suit what games you like. But as with all things that are to do with the future we will never know until someone else tells us what is going to happen.
Just hope this part of the gaming industry improves and dosn't become overlooked.
But what about the future of this side of the market?
To me this has always been a little disapointing due to the fact that Nintendo have had no competition, but maybe Sony, Microsoft and other big named companies could prove that this can be a market dominated by others and not just Nintendo. Also as most of us know, competition for them is no bad thing.
Take a look at the gamecube, tiny for a console but it does show us that technology is getting smaller, we could reach standards were it is possible to cram a lot more into a smaller space giving us very high spec handhelds and not ones that can only compete with consoles that have been around for years.
I think the handheld market gets overlooked a lot just because Nintendo seems to be the only one interested in it, maybe because others see it as too hard to compete with them. Maybe because the time, effort and money in the end just wouldn't be worth it. Either way there could be money to be made if they take a risk and try take on Nintendo - but the handheld would have to be great to take on the likes of the GBA.
So whats important with a handheld? Well they have to be of a high quality, portable, easy to use and have a battery that lasts long enough to allow a decent length of gaming to be played. It is here that the Gamboys have always been better, particularly in the battery length and ease of use. This is why they have been so dominant in this part of the market. So what could the future hold for the handheld market?
Mobile phones? Could well be a form of handheld gaming. As anyone who pays any attention to latest phones you will know that soon phones will send pictures from digital cameras, play movies and play better quality games, maybe even reaching a suitable standard to compete with game developers.
But is there another possibility? How about using phones to allow the handheld consoles to play on-line using the likes of WAP or even better communication protocols to send/recieve the information to allow a decent on-line game to take place. All possibilities but maybe not of any interest to people out there until they become more than just an idea or possibility. Mobile phones are a huge market so there is money to develop and research the gaming side to it all, whether we will see console quality games ever on a phone though is just something we will need to wait and see.
One thing that came across as I wrote this was what would happen if Nintendo pulled out from this part of the market all together? Would others try take their place or sadly could this part just die out and fade away to just a memory?
I would love to see the likes of Sony and Microsoft have a go with a handheld, just to increase competition and variety in this area, more choice of games, choice of handheld/peripherals etc to suit what games you like. But as with all things that are to do with the future we will never know until someone else tells us what is going to happen.
Just hope this part of the gaming industry improves and dosn't become overlooked.
Well, the consoles are also backward compatible, which have something to do with how well they are selling (and was also a big plus point for PS2).
Neo Geo handheld was just as good as the GBA, with some great games, but it sold really badly here through lack of publicity and everyone else going to the GBA.
Neo Geo handheld was just as good as the GBA, with some great games, but it sold really badly here through lack of publicity and everyone else going to the GBA.
I see some of your points, i mean form a companys point of view it would be stupid to try and make a handheld to compete with gba, at the moment as nintendo completely dominate this area. To many people would stick with nintendo as its mainly younger children who have them, then they move on to consoles. I belive if sony or microsoft were to make a handheld it would spert up there sales. This is ebcause if they can generate enough games for the younger generation in the market this would then make them see what it is like with that comapny. Now chirldren being chirldren they will love this beautiful handheld and when they get older will probably think of buying a console. Now if you were a kid and you loved sonys new handheld and when you went to look in to a companys console, where are you going to go first?
My other point is if sony or microsoft can study and really try and make a revoloution in to handhelds eg fit massive amount of power in to a really small handheld or make it comaptible for cds, something that would make people go wow. I then belive they would be able to fight for a percentage of the market. This would be great for the consumer as it puts pressure on nintendo to produce a even better handheld, with more games. So either way the consmuer wins if another competitor entered the market.
By the way great post.
My other point is if sony or microsoft can study and really try and make a revoloution in to handhelds eg fit massive amount of power in to a really small handheld or make it comaptible for cds, something that would make people go wow. I then belive they would be able to fight for a percentage of the market. This would be great for the consumer as it puts pressure on nintendo to produce a even better handheld, with more games. So either way the consmuer wins if another competitor entered the market.
By the way great post.
Handheld consoles have been around for quite a while, there is a big market for them and a big part of todays gaming. Firstly this post is about the future, we all know that Nintendo dominate the market with the Gameboy and its various sequels. Atari with the lynx, Sega with the GameGear and many others have had a go but never really reaching the domination that Nintendo have always seemed to have.
But what about the future of this side of the market?
To me this has always been a little disapointing due to the fact that Nintendo have had no competition, but maybe Sony, Microsoft and other big named companies could prove that this can be a market dominated by others and not just Nintendo. Also as most of us know, competition for them is no bad thing.
Take a look at the gamecube, tiny for a console but it does show us that technology is getting smaller, we could reach standards were it is possible to cram a lot more into a smaller space giving us very high spec handhelds and not ones that can only compete with consoles that have been around for years.
I think the handheld market gets overlooked a lot just because Nintendo seems to be the only one interested in it, maybe because others see it as too hard to compete with them. Maybe because the time, effort and money in the end just wouldn't be worth it. Either way there could be money to be made if they take a risk and try take on Nintendo - but the handheld would have to be great to take on the likes of the GBA.
So whats important with a handheld? Well they have to be of a high quality, portable, easy to use and have a battery that lasts long enough to allow a decent length of gaming to be played. It is here that the Gamboys have always been better, particularly in the battery length and ease of use. This is why they have been so dominant in this part of the market. So what could the future hold for the handheld market?
Mobile phones? Could well be a form of handheld gaming. As anyone who pays any attention to latest phones you will know that soon phones will send pictures from digital cameras, play movies and play better quality games, maybe even reaching a suitable standard to compete with game developers.
But is there another possibility? How about using phones to allow the handheld consoles to play on-line using the likes of WAP or even better communication protocols to send/recieve the information to allow a decent on-line game to take place. All possibilities but maybe not of any interest to people out there until they become more than just an idea or possibility. Mobile phones are a huge market so there is money to develop and research the gaming side to it all, whether we will see console quality games ever on a phone though is just something we will need to wait and see.
One thing that came across as I wrote this was what would happen if Nintendo pulled out from this part of the market all together? Would others try take their place or sadly could this part just die out and fade away to just a memory?
I would love to see the likes of Sony and Microsoft have a go with a handheld, just to increase competition and variety in this area, more choice of games, choice of handheld/peripherals etc to suit what games you like. But as with all things that are to do with the future we will never know until someone else tells us what is going to happen.
Just hope this part of the gaming industry improves and dosn't become overlooked.
But what about the future of this side of the market?
To me this has always been a little disapointing due to the fact that Nintendo have had no competition, but maybe Sony, Microsoft and other big named companies could prove that this can be a market dominated by others and not just Nintendo. Also as most of us know, competition for them is no bad thing.
Take a look at the gamecube, tiny for a console but it does show us that technology is getting smaller, we could reach standards were it is possible to cram a lot more into a smaller space giving us very high spec handhelds and not ones that can only compete with consoles that have been around for years.
I think the handheld market gets overlooked a lot just because Nintendo seems to be the only one interested in it, maybe because others see it as too hard to compete with them. Maybe because the time, effort and money in the end just wouldn't be worth it. Either way there could be money to be made if they take a risk and try take on Nintendo - but the handheld would have to be great to take on the likes of the GBA.
So whats important with a handheld? Well they have to be of a high quality, portable, easy to use and have a battery that lasts long enough to allow a decent length of gaming to be played. It is here that the Gamboys have always been better, particularly in the battery length and ease of use. This is why they have been so dominant in this part of the market. So what could the future hold for the handheld market?
Mobile phones? Could well be a form of handheld gaming. As anyone who pays any attention to latest phones you will know that soon phones will send pictures from digital cameras, play movies and play better quality games, maybe even reaching a suitable standard to compete with game developers.
But is there another possibility? How about using phones to allow the handheld consoles to play on-line using the likes of WAP or even better communication protocols to send/recieve the information to allow a decent on-line game to take place. All possibilities but maybe not of any interest to people out there until they become more than just an idea or possibility. Mobile phones are a huge market so there is money to develop and research the gaming side to it all, whether we will see console quality games ever on a phone though is just something we will need to wait and see.
One thing that came across as I wrote this was what would happen if Nintendo pulled out from this part of the market all together? Would others try take their place or sadly could this part just die out and fade away to just a memory?
I would love to see the likes of Sony and Microsoft have a go with a handheld, just to increase competition and variety in this area, more choice of games, choice of handheld/peripherals etc to suit what games you like. But as with all things that are to do with the future we will never know until someone else tells us what is going to happen.
Just hope this part of the gaming industry improves and dosn't become overlooked.