With the failure of 3ds and rise of tablets is nintendo handhelds a thing of the past

Discussion in 'General Gaming' started by ASSEMbler, Oct 24, 2011.

  1. ASSEMbler

    ASSEMbler Administrator Staff Member

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    $169 for a 3ds, with games being $30-40

    Compared to an android tablet $70-100 with games being free to $5

    Compared to an android phone $99 with $35 a month plan

    Compared to iphone free with $100 a month plan (but is fashionable)


    Are we witnessing the end of handheld age? Can nintendo
    field a new device that people will even look at?

    3ds

    • Phone? no
    • Finger touch? no
    • camera >3 mp
    • Video > 3mp
    • Large
    • Games are almost as much as console games
    • HAS original content
    • HAS novel 3d system
    • HAS 3d video recording
    • HAS wifi and online nintendo assets
    • Is a closed device with limited function
    • Is an additional item to carry
    Android / iphone

    • Phone - yes
    • Finger touch yes
    • Camera 3-12mp
    • Video - yes
    • Smaller than 3ds
    • Only one screen
    • Games are cheap but mostly low quality
    • Has very little AAA original content
    • No 3d system
    • No 3d video
    • No "theme" or central game network
    • High monthly costs
    • Is a multi function device
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2011
  2. GodofHardcore

    GodofHardcore Paragon of the Forum *

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    Gamers will still embrace handhelds the masses however won't flock to them like they did the gameboy and DS. I think most PSP owner if not all of them are hardcore gamers and not casuals that picked up Nintendo handhelds in the past.

    Making the PS Vita 3G compatable opens it up for some INTERESTING features in the future too and also opens it up to the masses Nintendo are ignoring.
     
  3. la-li-lu-le-lo

    la-li-lu-le-lo ラリルレロ

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    Let's clear up some details. The 3DS cannot currently shoot videos. I think Nintendo has stated that they plan to release an update that will allow you to do that, but they haven't yet.

    Secondly, the camera is not 3MP. It's VGA, which is less than 1MP. I'll be honest, the camera sucks. It's really not worth your time. I've barely used it since I got mine.

    Thirdly, there are a couple Android phones that have 3D parallax barrier screens like the 3DS, but I don't think there's much content available for them as of yet.

    Finally, you actually can finger touch (that sounds dirty) the 3DS, but it's less accurate and responsive than an iPhone or Android phone. Basically, it works with menu items that have large buttons or that don't require dragging, but otherwise you need to use the stylus.

    I do think that 3DS sales may increase somewhat when Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 come out. Even though the 3DS has a rather small library at this point (it was only released this year), every game I own for it is better IMO than any iPhone game I've ever played. Does that matter to the average consumer? Probably not, when iPhone/Android games can be had for a fraction of the price.

    While I hope it will succeed, it probably won't. I'm not too upset about it, though, because I already have a bunch of really good games for it, and there are at least a few more that are guaranteed to come out before it kicks the bucket. I'm the kind of person who will buy system just for one amazing game.

    3DS post = comment by la-li-lu-le-lo

    EDIT: Apparently Nintendo recently announced an update in November that will enable 3D video recording. My b.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2011
  4. subbie

    subbie Guardian of the Forum

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    I think 3DS will still do well in the market (not DS levels but still above GBA/PSP).

    Yet going forward (post 3DS), Nintendo is going to have a hard time putting out a dedicated handheld gaming device and by then will be way behind the curve.

    While sony Vita will also still suffer from the iPhone Boom, at least they are trying to straddle the line between both (with the inclusion of 3G & PS Suit Support which will be expanding to non Sony Android Devices in 2012). So sony will get the high end $40 games but it will also get the low end $1-$5 Android/Cell games.

    It's less that he is talking about simply using a finger and more talking about Capacitive touch (phones/vita/iPhone) vs Resistive touch (3DS/DS).
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2011
  5. la-li-lu-le-lo

    la-li-lu-le-lo ラリルレロ

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    Maybe Nintendo should release their own phone. Remember that cable they had that let you connect a GBC to a cellphone?
     
  6. GodofHardcore

    GodofHardcore Paragon of the Forum *

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    Knowing Nintendo they will probably try to invent something to replace the Cellphone
     
  7. subbie

    subbie Guardian of the Forum

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    At one time they showed a phone that played GBC games (back when GBA was out) that was a partner deal but sadly it never came out.
     
  8. graciano1337

    graciano1337 Milk Bar

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    If Nintendo wants to make even more money, they should just start porting some of their games to Android/Apple's app stores and make a ton off of software sales. I doubt it will ever happen, but it'd be a lot cheaper than coming up with expensive hardware that won't sell as well and meet their expectations.

    People are going crazy for apps and crappy touch screen games right now. Nintendo should hop on it.
     
  9. la-li-lu-le-lo

    la-li-lu-le-lo ラリルレロ

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    Nintendo would have to be in a Sega-like position to do that. I don't think Nintendo has ported/developed a game for another system since the NES-era.
     
  10. Hedgeyourbets

    Hedgeyourbets Dauntless Member

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    I'm pretty sure some of the people high up in nintendo already suggested porting games over to other platforms but the party line was that they would do no such thing and had no plans to do so.
     
  11. 7Force

    7Force Guardian of the Forum

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    Yup, at this rate, in a few years: stick a fork in it, it's done.
    Most people playing mobile games these days aren't looking for an epic adventure to play through or anything, they just want a little game to amuse them for a while, as evidenced by the success of Angry Birds. Even a cheapass Android phone can play these games, so why would they want to buy a dedicated console?
     
  12. Cyantist

    Cyantist Site Supporter 2012,2013,2014,2015

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    Handhelds in the form we have known it are dead. People don't like carting around huge bulky handhelds and cartridges when you can get an iPod and many apps for the same price as a 3DS and it be much smaller.
     
  13. karsten

    karsten Member of The Cult Of Kefka

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    handheld will became kid's toy only in time. For kids too young to get a phone.

    slowly the phone/tablets will eat all.
     
  14. kendrick

    kendrick Enthusiastic Member

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    I don't know about that. Is it fair to equate a $30 DS RPG to a $5 iPhone download? With the former you get decades of history (for long running series), piles of art and hours of spoken dialogue. For the latter, you get to fling birds.

    This is one of those things where people see only 'games' and don't see history or art. It's not just as casual/hardcore division either, since it's possible for casual games (like Tetris, for example) to have a rich history and a deep legacy. Are the gamers who care about 25 years of Metroid or the promise of a third Shenmue enough to sustain traditional handheld games?
     
  15. MottZilla

    MottZilla Champion of the Forum

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    In general I've noticed a trend of games being aimed more at casual gamers or games being very generic. I don't think the 3DS is doomed. But I don't think it'll be as successful as the GBA or DS. Even though the Wii outsold many of their older consoles, it wasn't sold to that many actual gamers. They are after getting money from people that have no interest in anything but shitty casual games. That may be a success money wise, but to someone looking at it as a game console it's a huge failure.
     
  16. GodofHardcore

    GodofHardcore Paragon of the Forum *

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    Like I said, Handhelds will go back to being for Hardcore gamers while casuals will play everything on their overpriced phones
     
  17. 7Force

    7Force Guardian of the Forum

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    Overpriced? LOL. If anything's overpriced it's the 3DS, even at the current price point.
     
  18. _SD_

    _SD_ Resolute Member

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    I was actually having this discussion with one of my mates the other night. The era of dedicated handheld consoles is definitely in its twilight years. The future belongs to iOS and potentially Android.

    If Nintendo released A Link to the Past on iOS for £2.99, with an appropriately tweaked control scheme, they'd sell absolutely millions. I also believe they'd have a good chance with more social games like Pokemon or Animal Crossing. It really is a potentially huge untapped market.
     
  19. Vosse

    Vosse Well Known Member

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    I don't think so.
    I will NEVER buy into gimmicky tablets and stupid phone games. EVER.

    And the 3DS is hardly a failure. Go back and tell me how many units and good games the DS had after 6 months.

    The DS had like 1 good game out for a long time. Super Mario 64.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2011
  20. Cyantist

    Cyantist Site Supporter 2012,2013,2014,2015

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    Not all games on the Android/Apple marketplace are that simple. If real developers got onboard I could see REAL games being produced.
     
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