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CES Summit Brings Together 'GameBoy Killers'

Posted by simoniker on from the shoot-you-down dept.

Thanks to GameSpy for their article covering a panel at CES in Las Vegas discussing the future of the handheld gaming market. Representatives for the Sony PSP, Tapwave Zodiac, Nokia N-Gage, and for Intel's 'standard portable platform' XScale technology were in attendance, and it was noted that: "Intel, Nokia, and Tapwave are attempting to expand the market by offering powerful platforms that also offer other productivity and entertainment features." However, Sony are staying out of allowing other kinds of software on the PSP, suggesting: "We feel very strongly that what the consumer wants is a dedicated gaming device." A retail representative also voiced concerns with the new diversity of portables: "I don't know if there's room for tons of other devices. You've got to sell to the core gamers and expand from that."

10 of 41 comments (clear)

  1. Right.. by swat_r2 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The only way they will actually compete head to head with the GBA is if they are under 100 bucks. Even if they can cook you dinner, clean the house and walk your dog.

    1. Re:Right.. by FlipmodePlaya · · Score: 4, Insightful

      That worked for Sony back when Sega provided them an oppurtunity to pry into the console market. Nintendo wasn't overly dominant (still dominant), and Sony had room to squeze in and expand. Remember that at first, the N64 was killing the PS.

      This is a different market. 'Gameboy' is a household name, more so than 'Nintendo' ever was. It's been in countless TV shows, movies, and the like. Every parent knows what it is. The Playstation isn't quite as well known as it, I would argue. Not only that, but there is no ailing company for Sony to steal the business of (Sega's Game Gear won't help them).

      Forgetting the obvious design problems of making a handheld console do what they say it will (they will surely scale it back, PSX style), they need to make it at a reasonable price. I've yet to see an estimate pricing it at under $200, most hover across the $300 line (USD). That's more than any home console sells for, right now.

      So the Gameboy has the advantage of an absurdly large user base and library of games, brand name recognition, and most likely price. Sony will have to compete with Nokia...

  2. Handheld market situation by neostorm · · Score: 4, Insightful

    With the GBA riding as the top product for this market, it's a sure target for a challenger. However I really don't think any of the devices here hold any sort of challenge for it, sadly enough.
    The PalmOS devices, while supporting a vast library of PalmOS games, don't have nearly the quality that the average gamer would be interested in. The typical PalmOS games are not very exciting to say the least, and will ultimately fail to really draw in a crowd.
    The NGage needs no introduction, and it's reasons for failure are already pretty apparent.
    The Sony PSP is really the next best contender, but if they launch at the rumored price level reported in the last few days, it's not going to go very far until a major drop in retail. Who knows...

    Funny enough, the two devices that probably could have done quite well against the GBA were never brought over here; the Wonderswan color and the GP32. The Wonderswan probably would have sold for the Final Fantasy ports alone, and the GP32 really entices me as an older gamer, simply because of it's open development.

    1. Re:Handheld market situation by b0r0din · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I agree about the price. $350, let alone $200, is too much for a handheld system. I don't care how great the graphics are, unless you can drive the price down to say $150, you won't be able to penetrate a market where a $70-100 device (which easily fits into a pocket now, I might add) has more than 90% of the market share. I remember even 10 years ago, the Sega GameGear was just about the most beautiful handheld you could lay your eyes on. Color LCD display, TV capable. But I just couldn't afford it. In the end, I opted for the monochrome GameBoy. It took them years to develop it in color, despite my estimate that they would be in color within two years. But they still hold the market, and have something like 600 playable games for it. The PSP does have a chance, but only if they can drive the cost to about $150. Plus, I'm not a big fan of spinning discs when it comes to portables. Solid state is the way to go. I'm sure iPod users would disagree, but the less moving parts, the better, if you ask me.

      We'll see. One reason Nintendo dominated w/GameBoy was because their NES had made them dominant, and it seemed a natural progression. Now, Sony is the game station of choice, and PSP seems like a natural progression. Their hype machine is in full swing just like it was when they were developing the PS2, and look how it destroyed the Dreamcast.

      As for Nokia and company, no chance in hell. They should have stuck to cell phones. Their games just don't even look that good, even on TV. Two years from now, maybe. And the other one...Zodiac? Hell I already forgot it. They'll drown under the competition from the two top players. They have no name recognition, no other game products. Nothing. If they're smart, they'll stick to a niche market like airplanes or fancy limos.

  3. Excuse me if I don't buy it by Slashdot+Insider · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Sony, on the other hand, is sticking to its gaming guns with the PSP. "We feel very strongly that what the consumer wants is a dedicated gaming device,"
    MPEG4 video (w/ a format large enough to hold a movie), ATRAC3 (as used in MD players), MP3, 7.1 sound, USB 2.0, memory stick slot, and a 16:9 widescreen. Does anyone seriously believe the line that they want a dedicated gaming machine?
  4. All-in-one device by sofakingl · · Score: 2, Insightful

    We feel very strongly that what the consumer wants is a dedicated gaming device.

    They say that for the portable system, but not the home console. Honestly, I could care less about DVD playing, CD playing, and the other new stuff in the PSX, since I have devices for those purposes already that outproform the PS2/PSX. But when it comes to portable machines, I would rather carry around one device rather than several. Don't get me wrong, I don't want cell phone abilities on the system, but PDA software would be quite useful (and if not integrated into the system, then at least in software form). Of course, all-in-one devices tend to not be as good as individual ones, but if it is done decently it will at least be an added reason to shell out the high price that this thing seems to be heading towards.

  5. Nintendo is right?! by RyoShin · · Score: 4, Insightful

    However, Sony are staying out of allowing other kinds of software on the PSP, suggesting: "We feel very strongly that what the consumer wants is a dedicated gaming device."

    I can recall interviews with Nintendo personel that they didn't put a DVD player, etc., in the Gamecube because they think the people are interested in dedicated gaming devices, which I agree with. Is Sony saying Nintendo is right?

  6. Don't expect me to believe this by xQuarkDS9x · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I don't believe any of this. Simply because when the Sony PSP does come out in the States it will be around $200-400, compared to a GBA or GBA SP which is MUCH cheaper and has a *HUGE* software library spanning the original Gameboy, Gameboy Color and Gameboy Advance titles.

    Nokia N-Gage is a joke, no serious gamer buys this unless they like wasting money. Intel's standard portable platform isn't going to mean much of anything to a gamer at any rate.

    No, Nintendo will still dominate the handheld market, especially once the NEXT generation of their handheld comes out with equal to or slightly better N64 quality graphics and gameplay.

    --
    You must master your joystick like a fisherman masters bait! - Gimpy
  7. Software, anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful
    It's the software!

    I'll plead ignorance to matters of videogame business- I don't know how much nintendo themselves has to do with who does or doesn't make software for their platform or it's quality, but methinks it *can't* be a coincidence that the GBA software library is stellar. I have a GBA for one reason, it had more than 5 games I wanted to play and when I'm having a blast playing Warioware or Defender of the Crown I don't wish it was a cellphone or an MP3 player or could play XXX divx (ok, well maybe I'm lying about that last part).

    The N-gage or whatever else, besides looking really akward and silly, just doesn't have the lineup. I think it should be a law that anyone attempting to make a new gaming platform should have "Make Good Software" tattooed backwards on their forehead. It will take one hell of an effort to dethrone Nintendo in this area.

  8. They just don't get it by IntergalacticWalrus · · Score: 2, Insightful

    All those companies apparetly don't understand why the GBA is so cool: it's an oldskool device. It's only a slightly better SNES, with all that good ol' stuff like tile rendering and scrolling. Those so-called "GBA killers" all sport fancy-pants mobile 3D GPUs and other silly stuff that only makes them bland, shitty versions of living room consoles. I bet 90% of the games we'll see on these handhelds will be washed-out versions of current console games. Who the hell wants to play that?