iPhone and iPod Touch threaten DS dominance

by Candace Savino { Jun 5th 2008 at 3:00PM }

Forbes recently wrote an article entitled "Why Apple Could Kill the Nintendo DS." We could write a more convincing argument called "Why Apple Won't Kill the Nintendo DS," but we won't waste your time. Even in Japan, a country where mobile phone gaming isn't considered the bastard child of the video game industry, the DS has become its own mighty empire.

To say that the iPhone and iPod Touch could kill the DS is a bit alarmist, but that doesn't mean they won't offer Nintendo's handheld some healthy competition. Come Monday, the App Store will launch on iPhones and iPod Touches (via a firmware update), allowing users to download games and applications straight onto their devices.

Aside from the ease of getting games, the iPhone and iPod Touch utilize ~~a stylus~~ touchscreen play, like the Nintendo DS. Trying to one-up Nintendo, Apple even added motion-sensitivity into the two machines.

We're interested to see how the App store will affect the handheld gaming market, but is the DS in danger of dying off now? Not likely.

[Thanks, Racecar!]

Tags: app-store, apple, iphone, ipod, ipod-touch

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

C02M0 @ Jun 5th 2008 3:25PM

thets stupid , a phone cant NEVER win aginst a console thet was origgenly for gaming .
a phone isnt for gaming .

Manoel @ Jun 5th 2008 3:28PM

Iphone and Ipod Touch doesnt use a stylus for touching functions. They use only the finger 'coz is sensitive to heat (it's impossible to use with a stylus --- my brother has a Iphone and I had tried once). I have tried some games made for Iphone, and they are very limited, specially why using your finger is not so good like using a stylus for DS (stylus is better a lot). The only good thing is that accelerometer, where you can tilt your Iphone for some functions (like it was showed in the Monkey Ball version for Iphone, where you tilt your cellphone for making the ball running).

tevetorbes @ Jun 5th 2008 3:36PM

I'm going to echo what's already been said:

the iPhone/iPod Touch will NEVER be superior gaming platforms to the NDS.

I guess I'm one of the few who would rather carry around 5 technologically superior gadgets that serve one purpose each than 1 gadget that does 5 things good to par at best.

Full disclosure: I own an iPhone and love it, but it will never replace my DS for gaming.

Icepulse @ Jun 5th 2008 3:37PM

"Aside from the ease of getting games, the iPhone and iPod Touch utilize a stylus, like the Nintendo DS."

Research much?

Not only doesn't the touch/iPhone use a stylus.... it CAN'T.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/iphone2.htm

I expect more, gang.

required @ Jun 5th 2008 3:38PM

The GameBoy has Warioware Twisted and Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble (accelerometers and rumble included in the game cartrige). In other words been there done that.

PiemanPieman @ Jun 5th 2008 4:22PM

No.

Covarr @ Jun 5th 2008 4:24PM

iPhode'toch doesn't have buttons. This is a major stumbling block to overcome to overtake the DS.

Josh @ Jun 5th 2008 4:37PM

While the iPhone wasn't created for gaming, the iphone does have a better display and processor than both the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP. So even though the NDS, which was created for gaming only, has market superiority now, when the app store launches on monday, all bets are off in my book. Another thing to note is that both the DS and the PSP are much cheaper to buy than either the iPhone or iPod Touch. Argue with me all you want, but it is true.

:)

HellsHammer @ Jun 5th 2008 5:22PM

DSlite $129
V.S.
Iphone $399 + a phone bill?

Not to mention the fact that the DS is sitting in the homes of 70 million people, world wide. Or that DS's library consists of hundreds and hundreds of games for DS and GBA.

But most importantly, NINTENDO doesn't make games for Iphone.

The Doctor @ Jun 5th 2008 5:56PM

OK, you want to get a new portable game system. You could spend $400 on something with a better display and touchscreen, but has a much lower library of games, limited memory and thus limited number of games you can play, and you must pay a subscription if you want it to keep working.

OR, you could spend $130 on something with a massive library of games, no limit to the number of games you can play, and free wifi.

This isn't going to affect nintendo at all.

BlackDS @ Jun 5th 2008 6:50PM

The people at Forbes are not gamers.

Anyone who is a gamer knows the iPhone has zero chance of usurping the DS.

That's not fanboy talk ... that's a FACT. :)

Peace.

Aparoid @ Jun 5th 2008 7:37PM

I totally agree with Apple. They've got legions of people that are willing to pay a few hundred dollars for a gaming experience they could get for cheaper with more familiar titles. They're geniuses!

hvnlysoldr @ Jun 5th 2008 8:44PM

I totally like to use my Swiss Army knife to play games on. Oh WAIT! There's really only two games for my all purpose device, whittling and hospital time.

Kralos @ Jun 5th 2008 9:01PM

As both a DS and iPhone owner, i can say there would be no way in hell this would happen. All hail the DS!

Jacksons @ Jun 5th 2008 11:58PM

I don't see how you can "kill" something with an install base as large as the DS. It already won.

Extra Cheese @ Jun 6th 2008 1:37AM

"Gee, I like my DS, but I wish the screen was smudgier!"

This is the only way I can see someone preferring gaming on their iPhone or iPod.

SephFinale @ Jun 6th 2008 1:57AM

Hey guys, remember N-Gage? :D?

Shamma @ Jun 6th 2008 4:26AM

What Forbes is doing is trying to drive Apples stock up. It's called the pump and dump. The people who wrote that article likely have Apple stock and when the value goes up, they will sell it to make a ton of money. Most investors are not gamers so they will see that article and value apples stock at a higher price.

Icepulse @ Jun 6th 2008 8:35AM

Well, I love my DS AND my PSP, but call me a dreamer. No one with faith in Apple ever went broke, despite their main thrust being in a business where Microsoft dominated 95% (give or take) of their specific market. I was amazed that Apple didn't fold sooner..... but look at their ingenuity. Their innovation and design savvy has put them on an untouchable level in the personal audio market. iPod is the Kleenex of the 21st century. Don't underestimate them.

The (top tier) iPod Touch has a 32gb drive in it. With a little creativity and big ambition, a development team could go anywhere with that device, given its processing power and its 3D chip. A 3gb install? Not a problem. 10 games with a 1gb install each? Easy to do, with THAT device. We just need to dream, people. The Touch could be AMAZING, with the right teams on board. People said the DS, with its inferior (to the PSP) muscle and "gimmick-y" touch screen, was just a novelty. Well, look at it now. So don't be so quick to shoot down the idea, because nay-sayers often end up looking REALLLLY stupid.