Michael Pachter has been at it again – this time voicing his concerns over the handheld market. He thinks that the PSP2 is going to be “dead on arrival”, following in the footsteps of the original PSP. Now it would be easy to bung that quote in as the headline to grab some attention, but it’s what he says next that’s interesting:
“We’re approaching saturation in the handheld market. We’re starting to see DS hardware sales crack, the iPod Touch is cutting into the handheld market. It looks to me like young kids are just as happy playing with the iPod Touch.
The 3DS will prolong the handheld market for manufacturers, but ultimately I think handhelds are in trouble. What’s the difference if you play Tetris on an iPod Touch or on a DS? Well, you pay a buck on the iPod Touch and you pay $20 on the DS.
After the 3DS has had its little rush I think the handhelds will continue to decline.”
I find myself (mostly) nodding in agreement with what he’s saying. One of the first things that usually gets mentioned when a new PS mini is released is “that’s quite expensive, I can pick it up for 59p on the iPhone”, and it’s true. A case in point would be Flight Control and Auditorium; both amazing games but both can be picked up for peanuts from the app store.
Has the Pach man actually got something right?
Source: MCV
stonyk
doesn’t apple have virtually the whole market here? Which apple owners are going to stop using their iphone to get one of these? No matter how great it could be my iphone does EVERYTHING i need it to, and has shed loads of apps that I use. Why would I (or anyone else like me) trade all that investment in for something new and most likely far more expensive.
This, I believe, are the questions that Sony need to think about. Not only do they need to be cometitive in quality, pricing structure and content, they need to be far superior in all areas in order to convince people to take a financial and logistical hit and move over.
shields_t
I know what you mean, I’m a massive Sony fan but frankly couldn’t give two hoots for Apple. However I have no desire to replace my iPhone with a Playstation phone, it would take a pretty amazing device to twist my arm.
Voganlight
I would give away my 3GS any day. The way you can personalise Android is brilliant
MXZ
Screw that!
im still in love with my PSP and (not mine but i use it) DS
sure the handled market is in a iffy area right now, but that could change at any time.
assuming future handleds can do something amazing.
RedStarGlow
I think he is 95% correct!! I have several PSPs collecting dust while all my kids use their Touches daily! It gets even cheaper when they are all on the same iTunes account. Older generations need buttons, the younger ones don’t. I personally like the PSP controls but they are happy to tap, slide, pinch away.