Smartphone Games - destroying Handheld Gaming?

These days, iPod touches and cheap android phones (Even iPhones and iPads to some extent) are filling the hands of young kids and teenagers. It seems that they're now quite popular, probably more so than the old PSP's or Nintendo handhelds. Is anyone else recognizing this, or is it just me? Do you think in the future, Handheld Gaming will become almost non-existent?

 

Depends how fast technology evolves for smart phones and/or handheld gaming devices. If we can play PS3/360 games handheld soon, then no - but if we still have all these shitty handheld games you better believe it.

 

I've definitely noticed this, and it's rather irritating to me too. I have no qualms with spending good money for the likes of a playstation vita or the new DS, having the proper gaming controls that come with them makes it more worth while. Gaming on a touchscreen phone is about as useless as tits on a bull...touchscreens will never be able to give the experience that physical controls can give. I honestly hope that mobile phones/pads don't take over the mobile gaming market..

 

Those game's have nothing on the good old GBA or the original GB

 

Definitely. People don't want to spend an extra $100 or more if they don't have to. The old market for handheld devices has been completely swallowed by smartphones and ipods, and it makes sense that it should be so. They have more functionality and are used by the same group of younger children that used to own DSs or PSPs
I expect both brands to die off soon.

 

I agree, why would you pay an extra £100 for a handheld console plus the price of games these days when you could use your phone and buy an app for about £0.69+.

I do still enjoy handheld console, though.

 

The fact that these new devices can emulate those two consoles voids your statement.

 

soo true i can use ipod and play anything from gba - ds games just gotta have the right roms

 

Physical controls, that's the whole thing here. I dont see how people find gaming on a shitty touchscreen as a feasible alternative. I for one will happily shell out 300$ for a handheld gaming console, so as to be able to properly play games. Perhaps people will wake up and realize you can't properly play a fps on a phone!

 

Would you really want to play that crap they put on the store, without the physical control's and the old look to it.

 

As Android increases, so does handheld gaming, have a look at the new handheld Wii, its amazing. Recommend it to all. A++

 

Considering you can buy the emulator app for like $2 and download the ROM's for free - Yes.

Golden Sun for GBA on my Android FTW.

 

I play more games on my phone now then anything else.

 

I agree, the only games I really play now are on my iPhone. Much more convenient, decent graphics, and the majority of the games are simpler to just pick up and play which caters to my tastes

 

In a few years I'm betting there won't be handheld only gaming, because smart phones are getting more and more advanced with new technology.

 

No I wouldn't, which I why I own a 3DS.

 

nah smartphone suck gaming on it is really bad, i rather have a handheld with analog, buttons and etc

 

I do enjoy having a handheld controller like device rather than a touch screen phone, but the phone can do so much more.. I noticed people mentioned emulators, which I also use on my phone.. Dragon Warrior 3 for Gameboy Color and NES are on my phone. I have a couple different gameboys, and they all work. The game cartridge is messed up though so I must use an emulator, even though I prefer the GBC.. But the emulators let you cheat and stuff too so it's a give and take situation..

Bottom line, nobody wants to carry around 3 different devices the size of a phone when the phone can do it all... (almost)

 

Smartphones have some pretty ridiculous specs nowadays. Gaming on a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is pretty sick, recently played GTA 3 on a friends Note 2.

Now with the new generation Cortex A15 ARM processors we will see even better performance. Only problem is battery life - it will be significantly better with the new generation processors but still.. handheld devices have a better battery life.

I can see smartphones and tablets taking over handheld gaming - or making some handheld devices similiar to tablets/smartphones.