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How the Smartphone vs. Handheld War Really Doesn’t Exist

How the Smartphone vs. Handheld War Really Doesn’t Exist

There is often a lot of doom and gloom when it comes to discussing the future of handheld gaming. Nintendo needs to adapt or perish, they say. The Vita is proof that there’s no interest in handheld gaming anymore. Mobile gaming on iOS and Android will surely take over. It’s true, nobody really knows what the future holds for one of gaming’s oldest markets, but there’s no need to be so fatalistic about things; handheld gaming might just remain healthy for a while yet.

Sony’s PlayStation Vita is an impressive piece of hardware from a technical standpoint. Its ability to remotely play PS4 games is an enticing feature and, on it’s tiny little OLED screen, the games it runs look fantastic. It also has two analog sticks, a touch screen, and an intuitive feeling, touch-enabled surface on the back. By most accounts, the PS Vita was poised to be the ideal platform for hardcore gamers on the go. Its lack of success, however, isn’t evidence of a dying market. The failure of the PS Vita and its predecessor, the PSP, is evidence that Sony is not Nintendo and doesn’t know how to handle the portable market. For one, their marketing sucks and even their first party titles seem to release under the radar.

This isn’t the case at Nintendo, who have set themselves up as the undisputed champion of handhelds. Hell, the older crowd are still calling the DS and 3DS “Game Boys,” which must be indicative of Nintendo’s legacy and reputation. The company’s main franchises are recognizable across a vast array of demographics, and the ubiquity of Mario and friends makes Nintendo’s handhelds easy to shop for. Working at Gamestop, I often noticed clueless parents gravitate towards Super Mario titles when shopping for their kids. It’s a bit anecdotal, sure, but Nintendo is clearly getting their hooks into younger gamers somehow. One is inclined to assume that it’s one part reputation and another part colorful marketing.

The Nintendo 3DS also remains extremely successful in its home region of Japan. The handheld is a haven for JRPGs, has decent third party support from companies like Capcom and Atlas, and offers games that aren’t merely scaled down console games; games on the 3DS are designed to fit well on a handheld. Nintendo is particularly adept at designing specifically for their systems. Their handhelds are also the place to go for the definitive Pokemon experience, which is and has been an incontestable force. Tack on some tranquil titles like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon , mix in some portable Mario Kart , release some Smash Bros . and voila , you’ve created a platform that is sure to dominate conventions, playgrounds and buses. But if Nintendo is safe, why have they started developing for mobile?

How the Smartphone vs. Handheld War Really Doesn’t Exist

Nintendo’s decision to start developing and publishing on mobiles is frequently cited in gamer debates as an argument that Nintendo is trying to adapt to the changing market, away from their more traditional handheld. That just isn’t the case, though. Despite the fact that mobile and handheld gaming are both ways to play games, it is important to recognize that they are very different markets. Pricing is different between the two, and the design philosophy differs greatly as a result. The modes of input, specifically touchscreen versus actual buttons, also create experiences unique to each platform. One device captures the casual market, while the other appeals to the more traditional type of gamer. It’s important not to conflate the two markets. Realizing this, Nintendo isn’t embracing mobile because it’s the future. Nintendo is simply branching out.

It’s easy to see where the speculation comes from. Mobile games are everywhere, and we see kids playing Angry Birds or whatever everywhere we look. It’s different from the childhood many of us experienced, true. And yes, mobile games range from cheap to free, which is hard to compete with. But handheld gaming isn’t directly competing with mobile in most ways so there is plenty of room for the two to coexist. So chin up, handheld fans; you still have a bright future ahead of you.

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