Is the iPhone More Important Than DS or PSP?

[DangerousDaze]

Neil Young (not that Neil Young), in an interview conducted by PocketGamer.com (http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Ngmoco+News/news.asp?c=9554) today, stated:"I love my DS, but the things I can do on my iPhone are just so much better, so cooler. I believe this device can be better than DS or PSP."So if he's not that Neil Young then who is he? Well, he's the CEO of ngmoco (http://blog.ngmoco.com/), a company that develops iPhone games so of course he's going to say that! But dig deeper and you find that he's also the very same Neil Young (http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,1770/) who, over a career spanning nearly two decades, brought us such classic games as Smash TV, RoboCop Versus the Terminator (I guess everyone has an off-day), and more recently The Sims 2, and even Spore for Electronic Arts before giving it all up to helm a new company that just does the iPhone.

Now factor in the increasing number of "big-ticket" titles like Spore Origins (ironically from Young's former employer), a growing stable of excellent commercial games available from the likes of Gameloft (http://www.gameloft.co.uk/iphone-games/) and the literally hundreds of freebies (http://www.allfreeiphonegames.com/) available on the net, not to mention evidence that reviewers are beginning to separate the iPhone out from the rest of the mobile pack (http://www.pocketgamer.biz/r/PG.Biz/PG.biz+Quality+Index/feature.asp?c=9334) and you think that maybe, just maybe, Mr. Young made a wise career move.

So what do you think? Is the iPhone going to distance itself from its mobile compatriots and break into the big leagues of little gaming? Or is there something fickle about the phone form factor that will always inherently limit its potential?

[Xerxes]

I hate this bullshit. The Iphone is just a smart phone.

[Gorvi]

It's a frickin' phone. I'd take either handheld, thanks.

[Xerxes]

It's a frickin' phone. I'd take either handheld, thanks.

Then once you had homebrew capabilities to either one of these devices they increase what they can do so much.

[Adam Blue]

I think a phone can compete with the handheld market, but like Xerxes said, it's just a smartphone. And I'm sure if the market got big enough, WinMo based phones would take off. The iPhone has the 'trendy' factor going for it, which could help with the push. Like how the Wii is pushing the casual/mainstream market, yet it's a mediocre console compared to others.

[Adam Blue]

It's a frickin' phone. I'd take either handheld, thanks.

That's sort of a narrow view, as the lines will blur. It's just about how and when. I think the iPhone will help with that.

[Purple Santa]

I hate this bullshit. The Iphone is just a smart phone.

This hurts but...X is right. I'm a huge Apple fan, and the iphone may do games, and they might be fun...but they are still phone games. They aren't and at the moment cannot compete with a DS or PSP. Nor will I believe they will compete in the same arena as the DS and PSP.

[Adam Blue]

This hurts but...X is right. I'm a huge Apple fan, and the iphone may do games, and they might be fun...but they are still phone games. They aren't and at the moment cannot compete with a DS or PSP. Nor will I believe they will compete in the same arena as the DS and PSP.

I thought he meant that the iPhone is no different than any other phone. The iPhone games are pretty good - definitley heading in the right direction.

[Quinefer]

Etrian Odyssey on the iPhone with menu-driven touch screen interface. I don't see any reason why a full featured game like that can't appear on a "smartphone". The screen real estate on the iPhone completely trumps the DS, and is on par with the PSP.

[Gorvi]

That's sort of a narrow view, as the lines will blur. It's just about how and when. I think the iPhone will help with that.
It may be something of a step in that direction, yes, but the only thing the iPhone has over the PSP and DS is access to a cell network for anywhere downloads. Otherwise, they both have it beaten in pretty much every area. The PSP lacks the touch screen and the DS (currently) lacks the horsepower and storage, but the strengths of both devices far outweigh these "negatives".

[Dukefrukem]

Why are they comparing a phone to two non phones? If I had my choice,I'd take the iPhone over the PSP and DS.

[J Arcane]

I hate this bullshit. The Iphone is just a smart phone.
As much as I would rather see a more open approach, the App Store has created a coherent market for cellphone apps no other mobile platform has now or has ever had.

The quality of some of the games coming out for the platform possesses more polish than any game I've ever seen for a mobile device short of maybe a handful of Japanese-only titles that were mostly ports of old arcade games.

The hardware itself from what I've seen is at least as capable as the DS, if not more so. It certain seems to manage 3d apps better than the DS does.

Now, on the flipside, it's stupid fucking expensive, AT&T's rates are absolutely obscene, I still think the App Store is a bit of a silly and restrictive environment, but as a gaming device, as a general applications device? It's pretty damn good.

I still wouldn't buy one, and I certainly wouldn't buy one just for gaming, but a hell of a lot of people are buying them for other reasons and there's nothing to stop anyone from making it also something of a third handheld gaming platform on the market given that level of penetration.

It's certainly doing better at it than the nGage did.

[Xerxes]

Look, I love smart phones. I think sooner or later one day we will stop calling them phones they do so much. I'm thinking communicators myself. Anyways, thing is as for as gaming go, it's not going to take down a dedicated gaming handheld. Even if they next phone was focused on games a bit more, you'd only get the same ngage feel about the whole thing. Phone games beat nothing. Great phone games beat brix and bubble burst. However, they have no right being compared to about 20% of DS and PSP games. Even the shovelware games in most cases.

http://earthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/smug-alert.jpg
IPHONE SMUG ALERT!

As far as Iphones go, there are several hot phonesthat do most of the same shit. It's maybe a little sleeker and have a bit more gold plating but it's not god to other smart phones.

[J Arcane]

It's not about the physical bloody phone. Of course the phone itself is mostly just another phone.

It's the iTunes/App Store synergy situation that's creating an iPhone market all in it's own that just flat isn't paralleled on any other platform.

Drop the fucking kneejerk "OMG they said something positive about Apple they must be elitist" nonsense and actually address the reality of the fucking situation.

[Xerxes]

As much as I would rather see a more open approach, the App Store has created a coherent market for cellphone apps no other mobile platform has now or has ever had.
Android has the same thing doesn't it? And that will be possible on several phones in the future.

The quality of some of the games coming out for the platform possesses more polish than any game I've ever seen for a mobile device short of maybe a handful of Japanese-only titles that were mostly ports of old arcade games.
I'm actually coming in this blind. I've never seen many of the iphone games. I'm being a hater as they say. I like to go to one extreme when the other extreme is being presented. (See The Dark Knight release) If the games look like Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes, then sure it's not a horrid as the picture I previously painted. I do still think it's smug BS though.


All and all I see the homebrew abilities as the edge that puts these devices ahead. Also whats the gaming battery life on a iphone?

[Xerxes]

Drop the fucking kneejerk "OMG they said something positive about Apple they must be elitist" nonsense and actually address the reality of the fucking situation.

No. :rolleyes:

/smug alert

[J Arcane]

Android has the same thing doesn't it? And that will be possible on several phones in the future.


Frankly I think Android is one big load of overrated hot air. I've played with the software, I wasn't impressed. You want to talk about "just another phone", that seems to be the defining development philosophy for the Android platform, and from what I can see it looks destined to be no different on the third-party support front than any of the other jillions of mediocre mobile platforms before it.

[biosc1]

I have an iPhone and a DS. I game on the DS, I waste time on the iPhone. My iPhone games are games that I can fiddle with for a couple of minutes here or there while I'm waiting for something (like the gf shopping girly stores at the mall).

I have yet to encounter an iPhone game that comes remotely close to a decent game. Sure, Enigmo is fun for a bit, but the controls get annoying. JewelQuest is fine too, but is only really useful in short bursts.

If I'm going to actually devote time to portable gaming, the DS wins hands down for the games and...and the control.

[Xerxes]

Frankly I think Android is one big load of overrated hot air. I've played with the software, I wasn't impressed. You want to talk about "just another phone", that seems to be the defining development philosophy for the Android platform, and from what I can see it looks destined to be no different on the third-party support front than any of the other jillions of mediocre mobile platforms before it.

Sounds like how I felt about the iphone. :(

That's disheartening. I still haven't tried TouchFlo 3D yet I guess.

[Calm]

RoboCop Versus the Terminator (I guess everyone has an off-day)

Uh, Robocop vs. Terminator was awesome, I don't know what you are talking about.

[Lutheran]

I have all 3 , and so far the Iphone doesn't come close as a game player and will NEVER surpass either one of those handhelds. Doesn't mean it isn't the best game playing phone ever or will be but its not a threat to Sony and the DS shits all over it.

[J Arcane]

I have all 3 , and so far the Iphone doesn't come close as a game player and will NEVER surpass either one of those handhelds. Doesn't mean it isn't the best game playing phone ever or will be but its not a threat to Sony and the DS shits all over it.
Yeah, this is pretty much what I was trying to get across.

It's no DS or PSP, but it could definitely be a strong number three, and still has the potential to give them a run for their money if control issues and enough of the right developers get on board.

[Kelegacy]

It's a frickin' phone. I'd take either handheld, thanks.

Not to mention it's a frickin EXPENSIVE phone. And you need a service agreement with AT&T. No thanks. That's too much dough for this man.

[jeffbax]

Its more than "just a smartphone", especially because the iPod has the same capabilities sans phone. They'll go down as the first truly broad mainstream pocket computing devices.

Game wise the iPhone will never be better, but it has and will continue to have a much larger impact upon consumer electronics. It's already turned the cellphone industry on its head.

[KingGorilla]

I know that iPhone owners and the apple fans, really believe that phone is important. But it does not have much market share compared to say, RIM. But that point is not relevant here.

Gaming and Apple, more specifically Apple under Steve Jobs, are like Oil And Water, every once in awhile the bottle jets shaken up and an emulsion forms, but they soon separate. I can remember big speeches with John Carmack, Will Wright, where Gaming on the Mac as a priority was promised. A few titles are ported, few people care. Game makers get frustrated with how closed off apple is to any third party not named Adobe, and then the world goes back to normal for a couple of years.

[Wraith]

The iPhone is, without a doubt, the best phone of the three. :rolleyes:

But I think the iPhone is missing a few things that will keep it from being a great gaming platform.

Buttons.
A sub-$200 price point. (Well, the Touch is getting closer.)
Game flexibility - You can only buy games/apps through the iTunes store, right?
Carrier flexibility - You're with AT&T, or you may as well just have a Touch, right? Not a limitation you want on a gaming platform.
Publishers - Well, at least two major publishers (Nintendo and Sony) won't be doing anything for iPhone.

[Xerxes]

Its more than "just a smartphone", especially because the iPod has the same capabilities sans phone. They'll go down as the first truly broad mainstream pocket computing devices.

Game wise the iPhone will never be better, but it has and will continue to have a much larger impact upon consumer electronics. It's already turned the cellphone industry on its head.

http://earthfirst.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/smug-alert.jpg

[Raen]

Currently the iPhone just doesn't have the content to compete with a fully fledged gaming device right now. From what I've seen there are some pretty cool games on the App store, but a lot of the current store is promo games (the company I was interning for recently is starting to churn these out now), or stuff from the casual gamer. However given the background of Neil Young I think we could be seeing something a bit more substantial at some point. I can't imagine he'd select it as the sole platform he was going to work with if he didn't see the potential for it to bring out some truly comparable content (unless they offered him a bucket load of money, and that's not always enough to grab a good CEO).

[boratika]

As much as I would rather see a more open approach, the App Store has created a coherent market for cellphone apps no other mobile platform has now or has ever had.
The carriers here have as coherent market places (not to be confused with "as worthwhile"), accessible through the phones or by web. That is however from the carrier, rather than hardware manufacturer. So the games are java, which isn't a patch on what the iPhone can do and there isn't really a focus on aps, although with the increasing ubiquity of Windows Mobile, that may change rapidly.
Gaming and Apple, more specifically Apple under Steve Jobs, are like Oil And Water, every once in awhile the bottle jets shaken up and an emulsion forms, but they soon separate. I can remember big speeches with John Carmack, Will Wright, where Gaming on the Mac as a priority was promised. A few titles are ported, few people care. Game makers get frustrated with how closed off apple is to any third party not named Adobe, and then the world goes back to normal for a couple of years.
Chemistry analogy. I approve.

[Froghourt]

Like Lutheran, I own all three and I very much doubt that the Iphone will ever surpass the DS or the PSP in terms of games. The only game I have on my Iphone is Tap Tap and Tris, because they were free, but I have invested, maybe, half an hour into both. I don't want to pay for watered down versions of games, that I most likely can find better on the DS and/or PSP. Even if there were some original quality titles on the Iphone, the backcatalouge on the DS and PSP blows the Iphone's out of the water.

The only thing that has, so far, peaked my interest is Song Summoner, but that isn't on the Iphone yet so bullocks to that.

[Raen]

The carriers here have as coherent market places (not to be confused with "as worthwhile"), accessible through the phones or by web. That is however from the carrier, rather than hardware manufacturer. So the games are java, which isn't a patch on what the iPhone can do and there isn't really a focus on aps, although with the increasing ubiquity of Windows Mobile, that may change rapidly.

Well each carrier has their own market place, but their usually locked to a territory. The advantage of the App Store is world wide distribution on a large user base, with improved ease of use. I really dislike the stores that individual carriers set up, they aren't always easy to get listed on and they just aren't designed for usability in my experience. The App Store solves a lot of this. I haven't seen the Android store, but I'm fairly sure the same could be said about them. The question is how many people will have Android phones? There could potenetially be high quality apps for both the Android and iPhones stores, but it just depends on how well Android phones sell. Developers aren't going to put in any effort if the platform tanks.

[boratika]

Well each carrier has their own market place, but their usually locked to a territory. The advantage of the App Store is world wide distribution on a large user base, with improved ease of use. I really dislike the stores that individual carriers set up, they aren't always easy to get listed on and they just aren't designed for usability in my experience. The App Store solves a lot of this. I haven't seen the Android store, but I'm fairly sure the same could be said about them. The question is how many people will have Android phones? There could potenetially be high quality apps for both the Android and iPhones stores, but it just depends on how well Android phones sell. Developers aren't going to put in any effort if the platform tanks.

Is the App Store isn't region locked? iTunes is, so I figured it would be the same.

[JayVe]

I hate this bullshit. The Iphone is just a smart phone.
Not even.

Smart phones allow you to copy-paste.

If the iphones games help people get into deeper gaming experiences, even better. I can't see everyone interested in gaming switching to AT&T though. That's telling everyone who wants to play games that they also need to be Republican. Your mobile carrier and your desire to play games are totally unrelated.

[Raen]

Is the App Store isn't region locked? iTunes is, so I figured it would be the same.

Well as far as I know listing on the App Store gives you worldwide distribution. Getting listing on a store for a network might give you listing in every region (maybe), but it's very unlikely they'll cover every territory worldwide. For example in the UK O2 only cover the UK, and as far as I know AT&T, Verizon etc.. are only in the US. You'd have to get listings with potentially dozens of carriers to get global coverage via carrier stores.

[KingGorilla]

I do find it staggering that Apple has managed to build up this persona among their fanbase so that everything they do often is the greatest step forward mankind has made since the discovery of fire.

[Xerxes]

Not even.

Smart phones allow you to copy-paste.
Ipod/Phone hybrid better for you?

I do find it staggering that Apple has managed to build up this persona among their fanbase so that everything they do often is the greatest step forward mankind has made since the discovery of fire.

Exactly.

[Variable Gear]

The iPhone is, without a doubt, the best phone of the three. :rolleyes:

But I think the iPhone is missing a few things that will keep it from being a great gaming platform.

Buttons.
A sub-$200 price point. (Well, the Touch is getting closer.)
Game flexibility - You can only buy games/apps through the iTunes store, right?
Carrier flexibility - You're with AT&T, or you may as well just have a Touch, right? Not a limitation you want on a gaming platform.
Publishers - Well, at least two major publishers (Nintendo and Sony) won't be doing anything for iPhone.

I'm with you. The iPhone will continue to be an unimportant, niche platform until some changes are made.

[bean]

Eventually, all handhelds will be a great phone, Ipod (movie and audio player), digital video camera, internet browser, calendar, address book, and a game machine. They'll probably be a little big compared to standard phones, about the size of a PSP and larger if they have mini-keyboards (maybe as a flip out).

I think the problem is that marketers have research that shows that people will resist buying phones that are huge (by phone standards. . . these would need to be at least the size of the PSP), but they will need to be marketed as game machines that have the ability to work as a cellphone and not as cellphones that have the ability to work as game machines.

Someone will do it and they'll start out expensive, but you'll be able to get them for fairly cheap if you agree to a cellphone contract. Then we'll see every cellphone provider offering a deal for them, and Apple will go bankrupt. Sell Apple stock the moment you see this device come out if it doesn't come from them.

[KamaItachi]

Uh, Robocop vs. Terminator was awesome, I don't know what you are talking about.

I actually registered today so that I could say the same thing. RvT rocked.

[Gorvi]

The main problem with the iPhone is cost. For the price of the data plan alone for one year you could buy both a PSP and/or a DS and a pretty solid library of games.

[Jeffool]

I'll actually <i>care enough to argue</i> about any portable electronic device when I'm able to drop one of these in my pocket:
http://alltogether.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/xo-zoomed-book.jpg
So until I get that, this is all pointless arguing.

[boratika]

I'll actually <i>care enough to argue</i> about any portable electronic device when I'm able to drop one of these in my pocket:
http://alltogether.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/xo-zoomed-book.jpg
So until I get that, this is all pointless arguing.

Yeah! Where's my Young Lady's Illustrated Primer already?

[DangerousDaze]

Yeah! Where's my Young Lady's Illustrated Primer already?

Unfortunately we haven't yet reached the Diamond Age.

I actually registered today so that I could say the same thing. RvT rocked.

Glad to have you both on board. Proves that there's more than one way to skin a lurker. ;)

[astranoir]

I'll actually <i>care enough to argue</i> about any portable electronic device when I'm able to drop one of these in my pocket:
http://alltogether.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/xo-zoomed-book.jpg
So until I get that, this is all pointless arguing.

Are your pockets really that big? :confused:

On a more serious note, I would buy one of those right off the bat.

[Xerxes]

I'll actually <i>care enough to argue</i> about any portable electronic device when I'm able to drop one of these in my pocket:
http://alltogether.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/xo-zoomed-book.jpg
So until I get that, this is all pointless arguing.

There's the Amazon Kindle.

[DeathtollWRX]

Like someone mentioned earlier. Without a D-Pad and true buttons iPhone gaming will just be 2 minute sessions while the wife is shopping at Reference. I've tried many games... including Quake and i'm sorry.. as much as I like Apple I can't say the iPhone can hold a candle to the PSP or even the DS.

Perhaps if apple created a blue tooth controller that was of respectable size then it might be a bit better off.

This comparison really should be between the iPod Touch and the DS,PSP. The touch comes in at $200 for starters and can download/play ALL of the iPhone games.

Even at it's 200 dollar price point gaming just blows nuts, sure you can play SuperMonkeyNuts and Labyrinth but it's just not enough. What is the killer game that we will be rushing to buy? ZERO ! All we are going to see are iPod remakes of already established games. Like Spore wimp version or Gears of War lite.

[jeffbax]

the iPhone is not a more important gaming device, but it is a far more important piece of consumer electronics.

http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/18840/

Some priceless quotes there. Same idiots who say Apple should try to be like Microsoft and license their OS :p

[Xerxes]

the iPhone is not a more important gaming device, but it is a far more important piece of consumer electronics.

http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/18840/

Some priceless quotes there. Same idiots who say Apple should try to be like Microsoft and license their OS :p

I don't get it. Seems like more mac circle jerking. :p

[HydroJohn]

I like turtles.

[National Kato]

Oh, HydroJohn, your time here was so brief....

:D

[Wraith]

Oh, HydroJohn, your time here was so brief....

:DStrange that he waited three months after registering to resurrect a year-old thread with spam.

[Goronmon]

Holy crap, I didn't even realize this was an old post. Epic necro-posting.

[mightbe]

It's quite funny to read the old comments as the iPhone has come a damn long way as a gaming platform. And can cut/paste :)

[Xerxes]

I like turtles.

Classic. :D

[Shieldmaiden]

It's quite funny to read the old comments as the iPhone has come a damn long way as a gaming platform. And can cut/paste :)

That's exactly what I was thinking. I'd not noticed that it was an old thread and was wondering why people were still shitting on it considering the quality of the games that are appearing and at a fraction of the price of DS games.

[Ink Asylum]

This year has definitely brought us a lot of quality iPhone games, all for under $10 and most under $5. However, I believe the low price point does limit the kinds of games we see produced. While there are a few games that I could see selling for $30 on the DS these are exceedingly rare, and even then they just don't rise up to the level of the best the DS has to offer.

No iPhone RPG is yey as rich and engaging as the Mario & Luigi series. No iPhone war game is as deep and lengthy as Advance Wars. No iPhone puzzle game is as fascinating and varied as Professor Layton.

It's a new platform, though, and it remains to be seen is such developers will do once they're comfortable with the pricing and development model.

[Shieldmaiden]

No iPhone RPG is yey as rich and engaging as the Mario & Luigi series. No iPhone war game is as deep and lengthy as Advance Wars. No iPhone puzzle game is as fascinating and varied as Professor Layton.

I agree, but the difference is that people are realising that there is no reason they couldn't be. Did you intentionally choose three genres that can take advantage of the touch screen, rather than being limited by it? I'm interested in seeing how far iPhone games go with the limited price point, or how high prices will get.

The iPhone is kinda making the DS and PSP into premium gaming devices. Yes, the iPhone is more expensive, but you can use the PC arguement that you buy it for its other functions and the gaming is a bonus. If it can provide a quality "gaming on the go" experience, but at a fraction of the price, those DS and PSP games start looking really expensive.

[rein]

This year has definitely brought us a lot of quality iPhone games, all for under $10 and most under $5. However, I believe the low price point does limit the kinds of games we see produced. While there are a few games that I could see selling for $30 on the DS these are exceedingly rare, and even then they just don't rise up to the level of the best the DS has to offer.

No iPhone RPG is yey as rich and engaging as the Mario & Luigi series. No iPhone war game is as deep and lengthy as Advance Wars. No iPhone puzzle game is as fascinating and varied as Professor Layton.

It's a new platform, though, and it remains to be seen is such developers will do once they're comfortable with the pricing and development model.
I don't know if you have played Chronicles of Inotia: A Wanderer of Luone but it is every bit a deep rpg as ones found on other portable systems. Not only that, the touch control works great with it.

I think the main problem developers are facing on the app store is that it is still evolving. Too many developers are still playing the "get ranked in the top 10" game. This leads to a lot of free and low priced shovelware titles. I expect a lot more games like Skies of Glory. It's an awesome "free" game that uses in-app purchases to generate income. As a consumer, I don't like the DLC model but developers are facing issues with piracy, the 10MB 3g download limit, and pricing themselves out of the top 10, or even top 100 apps, which makes a huge difference on sales numbers. I sort of wish developers would get out of that mind set. If you make a great game and market it right, it can still be profitable. Maybe even moreso than just trying to price the game into the top 10.

With recent releases like N.O.V.A., Skies of Glory, Inotia 2, and several others, I don't feel the iPhone is lagging behind the DS/PSP by too much. I think by this time next year we will see that gap close even more. Heck, it's pretty much become my go to portable system lately.

[Narradisall]

I'm an iphone fan, and I barely touch iphone games. I've downloaded some of the recommended ones here, Dungeon Keeper, etc etc, yet I still find they lack the control and comfort of a handheld.

[mightbe]

I'd suggest you're probably not getting good examples of the best of what's out there for the platform.

At which point I'm inclined to plug our Moving Target (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=13112) feature for some of what Curt and I consider our favorite apps.

[DangerousDaze]

One word... Doodle Jump. ;)

My (poor) stats:

Total games played: 214
High score: 41,914
Total play time: 3h:58.:35s
Longest play time: 3m:56s

That's some addictive shit right there! :)

[rein]

I'm an iphone fan, and I barely touch iphone games. I've downloaded some of the recommended ones here, Dungeon Keeper, etc etc, yet I still find they lack the control and comfort of a handheld.If you're talking about Dungeon Hunter. I switched to touch control and it made a big difference in my enjoyment of the game. Same for Inotia 2. I found the tap-to-move control works really well once you get used to it. I had issues with Zenonia (the first rpg I bought in the device) because I couldn't get used to the virtual controller.

[Camel]

Man, when I was reading through this thread and I saw a post from KingGorilla I got super excited. Then I realized it was from over a year ago. :(

[rein]

Man, when I was reading through this thread and I saw a post from KingGorilla I got super excited. Then I realized it was from over a year ago. :(I think we should have Necro day next year to celebrate Halloween. For one day, nobody starts a new thread. All discussions are in the form of necro threads being resurrected.

[SMELTN]

I definitely think iPhone is just the start. We are to far into a high tech world were we want ALL our devices in one, so smartphones are here to stay. I mean we could even see a DS in a year or 2 that has a phone built into it and all you need to do is insert a sim card for it to work.

I just got my iPhone 3Gs 2 months ago, and must say I can't put it down, and for gaming the device looks GREAT.

[itchyeyes]

Personally, I think that the iPhone receives quite a bit more attention than it deserves. Was it a groundbreaking device? Definitely. And it helped bring smart phones to the mass market. But in the end, it's still just one of nearly half a dozen major smartphone platforms, many of which are changing and adapting much faster than Apple is at the moment.

I see a lot of parallels between the iPhone and the original Mac. At its moment in time, it was a groundbreaking device. But Apple's insistence on maintaining control of the platform held it back when PCs broke into a larger audience with more diverse needs.

So while I think that smart phones as a platform will eventually supersede a lot of our portable devices for most people, including dedicated game platforms like the PSP and DS, I think that its entirely too presumptuous to say that the iPhone, in its current incarnation, will continue to be the de facto leader in that market.

[Tayaya]

I have to admit that as much as I love and adore my PSP, and as many great DS titles there are out there, I do a startling amount of my on-the-go gaming on my iPhone. Enough to say that I don't keep a handheld with me at all times anymore, instead choosing to play my handhelds when I am sitting at home in my recliner and not in the mood to be social and play a console.

The iPhone has a bevy of great titles, and with support from some of the bigger names in the industry, a great price point of $5-10 per title, controls that are getting ever more competent in both the tilt and "virtual pad" department, and ever improving visual performance, it really does just keep getting better.

I think the main benefit is knowing that whatever game I want to play is just a touch away... no fiddling with cards or UMDs, or clunky and sometimes slow homebrew app loaders. The interface for the iPhone makes it very nice when you need that quick fix. Swipe to my games screen and tap the game I wanna play. Play my 5-10 minutes, and just press the home button to quit. It's just so streamlined... combine that ease of use with some actual quality apps, and you really do have a winner.

I do have a hard time playing longer or more serious games on the thing, as holding it for long periods of time can get tiring, but the casual or twitch games really shine on the thing. Is it better than a PSP or DS? Not really.... but is it important and a game-changer for what kinds of entertainment a phone can provide beyond its basic calling/texting/browsing functions? Most definitely.

[SMELTN]

Right Tayaya that was my point, its just ease of use more than anything. I mean at $5-10 a pop, with free updates, DLC available, and with it being "on your hip" most of the time anyways, its just to good to not be a focal point for gaming now. I mean some of the graphics look GREAT in these newer games. Its like with a console, where at first the graphics looks decent, but as more developers work on it, they start to unlock some of the full potential of the phone and graphics get better and better.

[Tayaya]

Right Tayaya that was my point, its just ease of use more than anything. I mean at $5-10 a pop, with free updates, DLC available, and with it being "on your hip" most of the time anyways, its just to good to not be a focal point for gaming now. I mean some of the graphics look GREAT in these newer games. Its like with a console, where at first the graphics looks decent, but as more developers work on it, they start to unlock some of the full potential of the phone and graphics get better and better.

Exactly. I remember when I saw Monkey Ball running on the iPhone and was impressed... I never expected we'd see 3D visuals like we have in Firemint Real Racing, Rock band (just looks great but has some stutter problems), Doom Resurrection, or Dungeon Hunter. The 2D stuff like Hook Champ and Canabalt, though, just looks so clean on the iPhone that it almost is a cut above PSP 2D, which is saying a lot.

[jeffbax]

Personally, I think that the iPhone receives quite a bit more attention than it deserves. Was it a groundbreaking device? Definitely. And it helped bring smart phones to the mass market. But in the end, it's still just one of nearly half a dozen major smartphone platforms, many of which are changing and adapting much faster than Apple is at the moment.

I see a lot of parallels between the iPhone and the original Mac. At its moment in time, it was a groundbreaking device. But Apple's insistence on maintaining control of the platform held it back when PCs broke into a larger audience with more diverse needs.

So while I think that smart phones as a platform will eventually supersede a lot of our portable devices for most people, including dedicated game platforms like the PSP and DS, I think that its entirely too presumptuous to say that the iPhone, in its current incarnation, will continue to be the de facto leader in that market.
Shirley, you jest.

If anything, the iPhone doesn't get enough credit, but you're welcome to your belief. Additionally, people have been waiting for years for the iPod to get knocked off, but the iPhone platform certainly has more momentum than any other right now.

Android can't really quite compete on device quality (http://www.flickr.com/photos/anticitizen/4193870759/in/photostream/) and more importantly developer (http://www.talkandroid.com/739-kogan-agora-delayed/) consistency (http://scobleizer.com/2009/11/08/droid-palm-pre-iphone-product-comparison/#comment-22255943)

Windows Mobile has laughably fallen behind the iPhone, giving monkey boy another classic quote (http://www.electronista.com/articles/07/04/30/ballmer.on.iphone/)

Has Palm even sold 1 million Pre's yet? (http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20091217/palm-posts-loss-ships-783000-smartphones/)

iPhone platform has 70 million devices so far (faster than the Wii and DS), each one with the same screen resolution, SDK, and software distribution. To overlook how it has radically changed the cellphone market, and all the little things we expect every phone to do now and the radically new UI paradigms it has brought, is simply foolish.

Competition is great, because it will keep Apple on their toes, but to say they are falling behind, I have to ask what you are smoking because they are still far ahead of the curve.

[Xerxes]

Gotta love this guy.

[jeffbax]

Gotta love this guy.

What, because I'm not the one overlooking the fact that the iPhone singlehandedly changed the way you interact with handheld devices (and if you overlook the work that goes into a touchable device... seriously, shame on you), distribute software, and turned the phone industry on it's head?

It's easy to take for granted two and a half years later, so I'll cut you some slack.

[J Arcane]

Man, you haven't just drank the koolaid, you bought the whole damn factory.

[Gorvi]

Shirley, you jest.
This was served up on a silver platter and nobody got it? For shame, CoG, for shame.

[jeffbax]

This was served up on a silver platter and nobody got it? For shame, CoG, for shame.

It was intentionally spelled that way, shirley.

[Narradisall]

I never jest, and don't call me Shirley.

Happy?

[Xerxes]

Man, you haven't just drank the koolaid, you bought the whole damn factory.

http://www.explosm.net/db/files/Comics/Rob/help.png

[TheFlyingOrc]

I thought that there might be a chance the iPhone could challenge the DS.

However, dedicated devices for gaming is going to be where it's at for a while. The reason? Battery. If I run down the battery on my DS, oh well, I can't play my games. If I run down the battery on my iPhone? GREAT, NOW I CAN'T USE MY PHONE.

[Narradisall]

I thought that there might be a chance the iPhone could challenge the DS.

However, dedicated devices for gaming is going to be where it's at for a while. The reason? Battery. If I run down the battery on my DS, oh well, I can't play my games. If I run down the battery on my iPhone? GREAT, NOW I CAN'T USE MY PHONE.

I'm a bad person, I leech power from any USB port I can find to charge my iphone while I'm out and about :p

[Primus]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it, but one huge factor is battery life. I find it hard to believe that while running a intensive app like a standard 3D game on an iPhone that the CPU nad GPU aren't running at full speed and draining the hell out of it.

As always, when a phone is hybridized with somethign else, you usually end up with shittier, and less practical version of a cell phone and whatever its been combined with. There is no way current smartphone tech will allow this to compete directly with dedicated players like the DS and PSP.

EDIT: Beat to the punch!

[OldJadedGamer]

I don't think anyone has mentioned it, but one huge factor is battery life. I find it hard to believe that while running a intensive app like a standard 3D game on an iPhone that the CPU nad GPU aren't running at full speed and draining the hell out of it.

As always, when a phone is hybridized with somethign else, you usually end up with shittier, and less practical version of a cell phone and whatever its been combined with. There is no way current smartphone tech will allow this to compete directly with dedicated players like the DS and PSP.

EDIT: Beat to the punch!

But the apps aren't just limited to the iPhone. I have an iPod Touch and it runs 98% of the same apps. I also have a DS and a PSP and I can say that by far my iPod Touch gets used way... way more often.

[Akion-Totocha]

There are a lot of factors to take into consideration. But for one - there's price. An expensive game on the iPhone is £5.99. But the exact same game in a case with a card or a disk, can be up to £40. And then the portability. You don't have the disks and the cards involved with the iPhone. It's all inside, contained away. And also, you don't have to take a phone as well. Nor a media player (in the case of the DS) And it's smaller.

I love my iPhone.

And on the gadget show, where they compared all three consoles, the iPhone came out on top.

Plus they're just so goddamned sexy.

[JayVe]

There are a lot of factors to take into consideration. But for one - there's price. An expensive game on the iPhone is £5.99. But the exact same game in a case with a card or a disk, can be up to £40. And then the portability. You don't have the disks and the cards involved with the iPhone. It's all inside, contained away. And also, you don't have to take a phone as well. Nor a media player (in the case of the DS) And it's smaller.

I love my iPhone.

And on the gadget show, where they compared all three consoles, the iPhone came out on top.

Plus they're just so goddamned sexy.

I still have yet to find an iPhone game as good as the best PSP / DS games... sexy or no.

The DS is far from being sexy, yet it is the most popular game system ever. Form over function can only take you so far.

[mightbe]

I still have yet to find an iPhone game as good as the best PSP / DS games... sexy or no.

I propose to you that you're not looking hard enough.