Atma Xplorer

Xploring Games, Computing, Photography

Will the iPhone unseat PSP and DS? Not likely

There’s a lot of buzz on the Mac side of computing as a several game developers start signing up for the Mac camp.  Sure it’s exciting since big names like Sega are setting up for game releases and some people (in the Apple camp no less) are already touting that the iPhone is the next biggest thing in gaming.

Apple has the advantage of userbase (although I’m really curious as to how the 2,000,000+ iPhone users match up to the 100,000,000++ for the DS and PSP market) and a mature AppStore that both Sony and Nintendo are now just beginning to bloom so they may have a winner up their sleeve.

But after a reality check, sorry fanboys, here’s a few reasons why it’s going to outseat the current giants.

Speed

iPhone: ARM processor (600Mhz)
PSP: MIPS R4000-based (333MHz)
NDS: ARM processor (67MHz)

By the numbers, the iPhone looks like the clear winner, right? Not exactly. You see, the iPhone still has to handle OSX running in the background and no matter how lightweight it is, it’s much too heavier than the OS’s on the PSP and the DS.

Gaming on the Iphone, not as hot as you think

Controls

iPhone: Multi touchscreen, tilt sensor
PSP: Usual Playstation layout sans the L2, R2 buttons and the 2nd Analog stick
NDS: Gameboy controls + touchscreen.

Hands down, the iPhone is innovative.  The multi-touch is one of the biggest reasons that the iPhone sells but it’s also the biggest reason why it’s not meant to be big with gamers. Real gamers need their buttons in order to get their game faces on. Take for example a fighting game like Tekken.  Would you be able to execute combos by touching the screen?  I can imagine board games like Monopoly, Scrabble and chess as easily playable on the iPhone but when you add something like Monster Hunter, it’s going to be tough going.

The iPhone might be able to run Doom 3 but how will you control it?  You’ll be able to aim with the touchscreen, move with the iPhone’s tilt sensor but by putting your finger on the screen, you’re effectively blocking your view.  So much for FPS huh?

Userbase

iPhone: Apple fans, business men, people with cash to buy Apple
PSP: Playstation fans, serious and casual gamers, Monsters Hunter players
NDS: Everyone… literally

Yes, you can’t deny it.  The DS is everywhere.  Even I want one even if I’m a die hard PSP fan.  iPhones are simply too niched if you asked me.

Cost

iPhone: Roughly Php 25,000 (Prepaid plan from Globe) convert to USD
PSP: Php P9,500 convert to USD
NDS: Php P6,500 convert to USD

Will you hand your iPhone to a 5-year old?

Those are the four main reasons why Apple won’t hit it big with the gaming community.  That and the little piece of history that Apple is seriously willing to hide, remember the Pippin?  Of course, the real biggest reason why the iPhone will not be a big hit with the gaming community is it’s a PHONE.

It’s arguably one of the best phones in the market because you’ve got a full fledged OS under it’s hood (No flash though) but as a dedicated gaming platform?  Lastly, the reason you’re buying an iPhone is because you want a phone, not a game console-wannabe.

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Comments ( 4 )

Have Something To Say ?

  1. zetagear zetagear November 19, 2008 Reply

    what happens if your playing on iphone your on the last level then someone calls you…
    that is so fucked up, i dont want someone disturbing me while on the last level…

    iphone is just a phone with many features but it will not be a gaming handheld just look at the ngage… its a phailure.

    the only thing i agree with apple is that the games are to be pay>download>own kinda like you do w/ the music and videos in the iStore

  2. alexanderbagpipe alexanderbagpipe December 11, 2008 Reply

    Honestly, I don’t tink for a second that iPhone wants to be put in challenge with PSP or DS, The iPhone is a computer-phone, the other two are portable consolles… I don’t see the meaning of this post at all I phone will have games that you play by touch screen, made exlusively for that, who the f…k would even think to play Tekken on an iPhone? mah…

  3. atmaxplorer sylv3rblade December 11, 2008 Reply

    @alexanderbagpipe:
    Apple’s VP thinks it’s the biggest thing in gaming since… well the iPhone.

  4. zhorry99 mikulotksi September 4, 2009 Reply

    psp rules..end.

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