Nintendo, Sony Need to 'Reinvent' Portable Gaming or Lose to Mobile, says Alan Wake Dev

iPhone gaming has been booming and Android has been coming on strong as well. The popularity of smartphones in general appears to be putting a dent in the traditional handheld space. Nintendo and others have complained that mobile apps are devaluing games, but rather than complain, companies like Nintendo and Sony will need to react and "reinvent" handheld gaming, say some developers and analysts.

[NukaCola]

The NGP looks like a reinvention to me and unlike Alan Wake, it didn't take 5 years to deveolop and never was hindered by restrictive technology.

[Nes_Daze]

well said.

[Washington-Capitals]

lol nukacola, im pretty sure NGP was in development right after PSP was released. If you arent working on the next rendition of whatever it is you make whether it be games or toaster, you are not making a smart decision.

Anyways, i do understand the point the developer is trying to make. If you do look at consumer trends, you will see that the smartphone technology it seems everyday is getting better exponentially. Open a newspaper or watch tv and you see new rendition of Samsung's Galaxy S or iPhone 6 etc. With the crazy advancements Google has made with the android platform there are lots of possibilities.

Where sony and nintendo might have a problem is, they put lots of development time into NGP and 3DS but a year or two down the road, the average consumer will have a smart phone that will be just as powerful or more powerful then the NGP / 3DS etc. That's the point i think this guy is trying to make or at least what i think he is trying to make. Technology is moving to fast.

[Reibooi]

@Washington-Capitals

As far as I'm concerned the power or tech behind a smart phone means squat. Reason being is they are not dedicated gaming platforms and they may be able to make games that LOOK good but never play good because they are phones with no real dedicated control. Sure there are a few exceptions to that statement but then again there is a exception to every rule.

[nycredude]

Washington-capitals

All that advancement and still missing buttons. And lets not forget who has the largest lineups of developers. If Sony just get one or two of their developers to focus on just portable cheap titles like on the ios or android then there would be more games than we could keep track of.

I'll take one peace walker or gow psp game over 1,000 mobile game. Just saying they are two different breeds.

[mastiffchild]

IDK. Sony sold plenty of PSPs in the face of this mobile uprising and DS dominance,didn't they? Who'd say they won't this time as well?I'm guessing similar figures(60million plus) would do again for NGP and f they stop the hacks why shouldn't it be enough?

As a gamer I barely ever take my iPhone with me. As it's a crappy phone compared to my Sammy (poorer performance online, poorer touchscreen for the job and way weaker reception and camera)and nowhere near the games platform a DS or PSDP is I've no reason to use it really even if I do periodically try to make use of it for an exclusive JRPG or whatever but even though a couple of those are great thee's still better on PSP/DS and just as good on any other phone and ALL phones fall down in terms of their controls for proper games and not five minute skives.

NGP is going EVN farther down the great control route as well with the blessing of twin sticks,a touchy and those mental rear mounted pads-so no chance,unlike iPad/iPhone/Android tablet phones of my fingers and thumbs akl over the screen playing SF. Cos that's why phones are shit for games and NPG/DS/3DS are SO much better if you actually care about the quality of your portable game play.

You can develop games around the touch screen all phones now have but you'll never beat sticks and buttons for the vast majority of game genres and you'd expect a dev like Remedy to get that-how shit would Alan Wake have been on iPhone/ios? Controls would have killed it like MGSTouch and SF4 for mobiles-and Sony won't NEED huge numbers to make a profit from this machine as i'm suspecting PSP, minus the piracy, would have been fine. 60million isn't crap,you know and is plenty tos upport devs and games alike.

[miyamoto]

So does this statement mean MS has no intension of doing a handheld?

Nintendo has already shown its hand on their latest handheld which is basically a DS with 3D screen with new features:
1. glassless 3D screen
2. an analog nub like the PSP's
3. accelerometer/gyroscope
4. etc

Not a huge leap in innovation compared to the GBA to DS leap - a touch screen, dual screen,etc. But Nintendo's stregth is on its target market not the hardware. With Nintendo's vice grip hold on the kiddie market that will assure its longevity for the next 4 to years.

Sony on the other hand has made a huge move more akin to the 'GBA to DS' leap in innovation that is more up to date or future proof with smartphones, tablets, laptops in terms of functionality & more competitive in terms of games for hard core & casual alike. Plus new features:

1. a huge back catalog of games
2. two analog sticks
3. touch screen functionality
4. competitive CPU & GPU
5. HD graphics
6. front & rear facing cameras
7. accelerometers/gyroscope
8. force feed back
9. GPS
10. 3G
11. Android OS
12. etc

Sony is known for developing future proof and long lasting hardware. Compared to the PSP the NGP sports an Android OS that means future games will still work on the NGP even if its considered old hardware seven years from now.

And finally, NGP could be the right machine to reinforce Sony's 19 & up gamer market philosophy.

But the NGP will be classified under the Android group of gaming devices giving it huge leverage and potential in terms of game development.

[jetlian]

company waits to start R&D. The second a product comes out the next ones in production! Anyway most of what remedy said is going over your fanboy heads

These companies are public trading(most of them) they are bound to make the most money with minimum effort. Mobile games are making more money then standard gamin.

Given that fact the industry could shift weather you like it or not. If uncharted ngp really is close to ps3 version sony can not afford only 1-2 million sales. the cost to perofit won't be there

edit: axel that list is nice and all problem is nothing on there is future proof! All sony did was add everything phones are doing except the PHONE!

you can't get 3d glassless on phone and thats nintendo's hook! Sony is relying on power far to much. I'm getting ngp over 3ds simply for the games but hook wise 3d is better.

imagine 3d uncharted on ngp!!! sony really should change it no matter what

[NukaCola]

Thanks for the WELL SAID, but jesus, this is my third one and I still am at 3 bubbles. What do I have to do to get some more talking privelages here.

[TheDivine]

Ngp reinvention WHAAAAA???? Its a psp with better hardware, i think he means REINVENT as in do something new and exciting, make a new market. Its true in my eyes, il still get a ngp and 3ds as im a sucker for new toys but not many outside of hardcore gamers will get a ngp as opposed to 100 mil on the app market.

[a_bro]

look at the control configuration.

[sikbeta]

By reinvention what he is referring? stop making games more immerse, complex, with more length and with way more development work and start making tiny games that are good for a couple minutes of entertainment and worth 2 bucks just because that kind of games sell most on the ifawn and smartphonez? none of these guys realize that those games sell because they're everywhere and are so damn cheap... unbelievable...

[Pedantic91]

He makes a game on the IOS and it does fairly well and then says Sony and Nintendo need to reinvent the portable market without trying to make a game for neither the NGP using the twin analouge sticks and it's rear touchscreen nor the 3DS with the use of it's 3D just to see how that would work out.

Sounds like to me he was stealth advertising the Iphone/Ipod.

My 2 cents.

[dc1]

I wonder what would happen if the average mobile game cost 29.99 USD?
I wonder if my wife, her two sisters and the countless other family members that couldn’t care less about the DS, PSP, NGP would buy them. I mean.. 'worddrop' and 'Scrabble' for 30 bucs.. really? ¬_¬

In short, we are talking about different demographics. Smart phone 'penny' apps should not be compared to elite hand held gaming. I expect a little more savoir-faire from a game developer. Or.. maybe he's in the process of building out a flash light game for the IPAD.. Oh..wait. Yeah, there's an app for that.

[--------]

+Funny

OT: Reminds me of Valve talking sh-t about PS3...then what happened? Steam came to PS3.

[ATiElite]

....whoa! Elite hand held Gaming! what are you some kind of Elitist? You must be one of those PC Gamers or something.

Now if I said "Console casual gaming should not be compared to Elite PC Gaming". I would get crucified.

I'm just joking with you...I understand your point and i feel the same way. Smart phone games are not the same as hand held games like the 3DS and NGP.

[dc1]

Good stuff - I love your avatar pic!! You must be a PC Elitist as well ;)

Regarding consoles: I had them all. My gaming focus is on the PS3 and PC primarily.

Can’t wait to pick up the NGP.

Edit:
O_o.. Forgive me ..I'm a little late to the party. 'ATI'+'Elite' ..I see what you did right there.. you ARE a PC Elitist! With respect that is!!! +Bub to you!

[Raendom]

Alan Wake dev needs to stfu and realise Japan alone is enough to make the NGP sell up to 20Million units (should be double if they price it right and have a long system cycle).

[Whitey2k]

wtf does he know they never developed a game for the ps3 not psp

[VampiricDragon_]

blah blah blah more bs

hes developed 1 ios game and he thinks hes unbiased huh?

[midgard227]

says the Alan wake dev lmao, mobile gaming is lame, its for casuals thats it

[THC CELL]

ngp will be awesome. alan wake was terrible.

[stealth500k]

"smartphones and tablets offer mind blowing value to gamers"

Really? I thought it just offered shovelware with little content for a cheap price

[koehler83]

For me, they cater to different aspects of my life.

My iPhone is always in my pocket ready to waste 5 or 10 minutes on the bus or in a waiting room. It's rare that it engages for more than 30 minutes and I usually would rather not waste the battery to do so.

My PSP (and soon NGP) is for extended absence from my console. If I leave for a weekend or more, my PSP always comes along. It doesn't fit in my pocket, but it fits in my bag.

iPhone = Snack
PSP/NGP = Meal Replacement

[lochdoun]

Whatever, now get back to work on new Alan Wake!

[stealth500k]

you only hear this bullshit from developers who dont develop handheld games

[Tripl3seis]

he needs to stfu he never made a game for the ps3,3ds or psp all he needs to do is make alan wake 2 and thats it.

[zero_gamer]

Not a chance, idiot. Nintendo gamers are content with Mario and Zelda. NGP buyers have Uncharted and LBP to look forward to. No real gamer craves shovelware garbage marketed to the lowest common denominator.

[Tommykrem]

Well, he's got a point. Mobile gaming is on the rise, but I don't know if it'll really tap that much into the sales of dedicated gaming devices once they get on the same technical level. What's important is that both 3DS and NGP focus on gaming, because PSP lost a lot against cell phones in terms of connectivity and extra features after less than a year on market. The DS needs to be less about the touch screen, since you can get that on everything now, and that alone won't sell devices anymore. And yes, sure enough there's 3D this time, but how long until that's either a useless gimmick or mobiles are doing the same thing.

[mastiffchild]

Yeah,it's two entirely different things. five minute skives for your phone and meatier games for yourproper handheld gaming machine.the controls will always dictate this until someone surrenders the idea that a phone still needs to be reasonably compact-otherwise where's the room for buttons and sticks?

We've tried Sf and MG and FPS games on Android tabs and Ipads/phones and they just don;'t compare to the controls they're meant to have and never can. If the NGP were a fully featured android phone AS WELL as a new games platform would people buy THAT instead of a phone PLUS a DS/PSP/whatever? I doubt it because,again,it's two different markets . Even though NGP will possibly be capable of android apps(clearly capable of running them just don't know what systems it'sending up with myself)the people who love their iPhones aren't going to be mainly gamers.

I see no reason for there not being room for both products-and a couple of each of them too. No phone,as of yet, can compete with a games console in portable form and no games machine is going to appeal to people who only have "room" for a phone in their portable lives. The result is two markets with a slight overlap from busy gamers and avid technophiles-but serious gaming is gong to remain the bastion of dedicated game platforms while the apps will be fond on both kinds of machine for now(as will watery,weak versions of meatier games on phones for those content with crap controls-not anyone seriously into their gaming).

If I had to i'd gowith a ten quid mobile for calls and texts and an NGP/3DS for my mobile gaming to be honest as my iPhone, and my Sammy, just can't offer the depth of gaming I like.

[Darkiat]

Ha ha ha, no.

[ATiElite]

Nintendo and Sony will not loose the mobile market to cell phones. They are two different markets IMHO. The level of game play on 3DS and NGP are far deeper than the on-rail or linear experiences of most iphone games.

I know I know the iPhone has some very good games but if i'm on a road trip with a car load of kids i guarantee you they all will be packing 3DS and/or NGP along with their cell phones and i'm sure 1 or 2 will have a laptop as well. the mobile market has plenty of room.

As far as the Alan Wake Dev...STFU! You guys still owe Microsoft a lot of money cause Alan Wake was a total financial failure and I don't think you qualify to give out advice to companies making Billions.

[heylo]

button-less gaming sucks horsed*ck!
PSP and DS are reaching the 200Mio mark as this guy trolls

[Troll_Police]

Alan Wake devs don't deserve to talk when they made a game that no one bought.

[nevin1]

no question these smartphones are interupting the future of gaming handhelds. Thats why I think its odd the 3G version of the NGP should of been a full fledge smartphone aswell. basically combine the NGP and the Xperia Play.

There still a market for traditional gaming handheld though.

[Orionsangel]

Nintendo needs to reinvent it's primitive online service.

[dragonelite]

You guys know he is right the moment NGP drops mobile will also have that kind of power and changes are if you need to pay $300 plus. Im guessing they will go for a mobile then a pocket console.

[TacoTaru]

I don't get it. I play lots of games on both my DS and PSP. I have an IPhone that has a couple of games but other than dinking with word games for 10 minutes here or there I don't play games on my phone. I'm not sure that the people that play games on their phones would actually buy the kinds of games that are played on portables. I don't think there is any reinvention needed. If I had access to IPhone games on my portables I wouldn't buy them anyway.

[diehardgamer1000]

LMFAO!!! an Alan Wake dev talk shit? do us all a favor and first make a decent game will ya?

[nevin1]

you people aren't looking at the big picture. more and more people are buying smartphones than PSP/DS/3DS. Even kids 18 and under have smartphones. And i bet you so called core gamers carry around your phones more than your PSP/DS/3DS.

[Burning_Finger]

Well, that's one way to bring out people's attention..

[BrianC6234]

Yawn. Who cares what this idiot thinks? Alan Wake developer? Big deal.

[blackburn10]

I don't know about everyone else but I hate phone games. Every time I hear. 'Angry Birds sold so so million'. I ask 'Why?' It is just some cheap simplistic game that wouldn't sell if it cost the price of a normal game. If NGP games were $1.99 they would fly off the shelves too.I still want a NGP because it is a GAMING MACHINE. Not a phone that does gaming on the side. It is dedicated to gaming.Also I am mot sure what is with the constant stupidity of saying the NGP should have been a phone. Have you seen an NGP? Does it look like it could be a phone? Do you think they could reach near PS3 graphics and make it a portable easy to carry phone? They barely can make it a portable gaming device.

Please just stop talking. Many people still want an NGP and don't give a flying fig about smart phones, me included. When a smart phone can crank out complex, well crafted, comfortable high quality games with joysticks, then we will talk. Until then keep your dime store games to yourselves.

[rob6021]

Lose to mobile, with their $1.99 games and minuscule production values? Sadly losing to mobile means going away for good, and $1-5 games with no production values completely dominating.

Remedy should be happy they can split into 6 studios and have no shot at making a profit against an endless sea of developers on mobile - cause you can be sure those people won't spend even $20 on a game. If reinventing something is so easy why don't you suggest how.

[supremacy]

Well while he has a point, i will also say that the revenue streams are different. 3DS and ngp games cost more therefore devs will more likey end up making more money of each game sold versus a 99cent game.

Angry bird has millions of downloads, yet no one knows for sure what percentage is bought and what percentage is not.

Sony has a smart strategy for the ngp, PlayStation suite.

That alone will tap into that indy market making these types of games. The ngp is well prepare for multiple venues of portable gaming and entertainment.

Its specs will ensure it stays relevant even after phones upgrade and the inputs will assist developers make all sorts of games for it.

Psn support, trophies, friendslist and many other things.

As for the 3DS its games will keep it afloat, i mean where else can anyone get pokemon, mario, zelda and such.

These are games that sell extremely well regardless of the asking price, same couldn't be said about angry birds, and thats a fact.

Call of duty on the go with two analog sticks, on a long road trip headphones plugged in for that surround sound and the ngp plugged to the car, man....lol

In those situations i rather not spend my phone's battery which i most likely use for its gps capabilities instead.

For as long as apple continues with its sleek designs and no buttons policy. The amount of quality ips on its device will be limited for sure.

But ofcourse this wont be a hot topic, since these guys are only looking at download numbers then making comparrisons between two different system models. Which is easy to do,but equally sad.

[TheTruth89]

innovate alan wake 2 and STFU

[Trroy]

NGP will have Skype, or a similar VoIP service, if its 3G, and it may be possible to get broadband WWW/mail service with it as well. IMO its the mobile phone space that should be worried, since it will kick the tail of every phone in existence now, and likely when its released, as a gaming platform.

I'm seriously considering dumping my cell, if I can get 3G internet service on my NGP. If I can keep Skype sleeping, and it wakes up upon receiving a call... well then I just wouldn't need a cell at all.

If it also supports Android 3.1, or somesuch, like the new Sony tablets? Well, that'd just be gravy.

Portable gaming doesn't need reinvention -- touchscreen only games are an attempt at reinventing mobile gaming, and they stink compared to the real thing. In a sense, the NGP is going to be the first platform I could honestly replace everything in my pack with -- that's reinvention if there ever was such a thing.