The inevitable has happened. No, MTB has not become the #1 gaming website on the internet. Smartphones have claimed 58% of the portable gaming market. An analysis by Flurry shows the combination of iOS and Android devices taking 58%, while Nintendo claims 36%, and Sony takes 6% (ouch). This really should surprise no one; it was just a matter of the time. Way more people have access to iPhones and Android devices than dedicated gaming devices, so the user base is much larger. Combine that with the ease of purchasing games through an app store, and anyone will understand why these figures aren’t shocking.
Some have been saying for some time now that smartphones will kill of dedicated gaming devices such as the 3DS or PSP; but I wouldn’t count Sony and Nintendo out just yet. The 3DS has definitely suffered a bit from low movement, but it’s not because of smartphones. The shoddy launch, price point, and poor library is what hindered the 3DS. In regards to the PSP… It’s old. It’s will also soon be replaced by the PS Vita, which is guaranteed to give you an experience your iPhone or Android device can’t handle. The 3DS, PSP, and Vita all offer in-depth gaming experiences that you won’t find on a smartphone, and probably never will due to not having limited control options (remember, buttons are important).
Personally, I’m getting kind of tired of the “there can only be one” mentality. Dedicated handhelds may not be for the person who is just looking for something quick to do while taking a dump, but there are plenty of GAMERS out there that would like to take their gaming on the go. Then again, if enough developers and publishers read into this and decide that dedicated handhelds aren’t worth it; that would kill dedicated handhelds. Then I would be both sad and wrong. That’s not a good combination.
