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Ever
since the release of Nintendo’s Game and Watch series of
single-game consoles, the handheld system has always been popular.
There have been many different models available from a wide range of
companies, from the ill fated Atari Lynx to the unbelievably
successful Nintendo
Game Boy, all offering different games and features. Despite the
original Game Boy changing very little
in it’s nine year shelf life, Nintendo have dominated the handheld
market since the original Game Boy’s release back in 1989 with
sales of the Game Boy series (Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, Game Boy
Light, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP and
Game Boy Micro) having sold over 180 million units. Although
handheld hardware was sold in huge numbers, most gamers portable
software collection was far smaller than their home console
collection with an average of three games to one handheld, compared
to the average of nine games to a home console. However, recent
years have seen an increase in the number of handheld games bought,
so much so that it’s now common for a handheld console to have as
large a catalogue of software as a home console in your living room.
So
why have people been buying more handheld games? One possible reason
is that people like to take advantage of the backwards compatibility
offered by Nintendo’s Game Boy series. Backwards compatibility has
been a method used by Nintendo since the Game Boy Color to
drastically increase the number of titles available at a consoles
launch. This also means that the Game Boy Advance has access to a
back catalogue of over 10,000 titles, many of which are now
available for very cheap prices. The Game Boy Advance’s new titles
are also quite cheap at RRPs from £14.99 to £34.99 - often
significantly cheaper than the £39.99 to £44.99 quoted for most
home titles. The Game Boy’s popularity with children, due mainly
to the child orientated titles available, especially on the Game Boy
Advance, and it’s low game prices, mean many parents may be
happier to part with their money for a cheaper game to amuse there
little ones on those long car journeys as opposed to a more
expensive home console title.
The
launch of the Apple iPod back in 2001 triggered a public obsession
with advanced handheld gadgets. This trend has obviously affected
sales of handheld consoles, especially those of the Sony PSP, as
more and more people buy handheld devices to remain fashionable. In
order to be competitive with the iPod, many developers have added
extra functionality to their consoles. A prime example of this is
the Nokia N-Gage, a system which allows MP3 playback as well as
phone calls and gaming, however, despite good intentions, the N-Gage
is widely considered to be a failure. However the Sony PSP’s added
functionality, widely known PlayStation heritage and clever
marketing has already seen very good sales and is far more
attractive to older users than the Game Boy franchise due to it’s
sleek appearance and it’s emphasis on games for older users. The
release of the PSP is probably also a factor in the increasing
amount of handheld games bought. As the target audience is older,
it’s very likely that they have a great deal more disposable
income than the young audience traditionally associated with
handhelds. Henceforth, these consumers can afford a larger amount of
games.
Finally
there is the NintendoDS. The newest original console from Nintendo
intends to change the way people play games with its Touch Screen,
dual screen and Microphone  features.
It’s been described as revolutionary and Nintendo hope that
it’ll will make gaming more appealing to a wider range of people
and with the launch of totally original titles such as Sonic Rush,
Project Rub and the immensely popular Nintendogs,
it’s seems that their gamble is paying off. So, if the games
appeal to a wider range of people, there are more potential
customers, perhaps this is another factor in the increased sales?
As
more and more people favour handheld devices, the handheld market is
sure to grow even further. But what does this mean for the home
consoles? Could the Xbox360,
PlayStation3 and
Revolution be the last
in a long line home gaming systems? Will you have enough pockets? Or
are handheld gadgets just a passing phase? One thing is for sure,
Nintendo and Sony are going to make a lot of money.
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