It’s hard to find fault in the Nintendo DS or the company’s incredible stranglehold on the handheld gaming industry, but all these iPhone dismissals from Big N execs had me thinking of what happened in the N64 era.
As a brief refresher, Nintendo arrogantly dismissed the new-at-the-time CD-ROM format as an inferior substitute for the tried-and-true cartridge. Mis-take! Sony subsequently owned them for such arrogance and it took Nintendo until the DS and Wii to regain their industry dominance.
Now we’re hearing the revamped iPhone 3G might have a 3D chip, and that Apple is quietly hiring games developers in Cupertino. The iPhone is no joke, folks, and while I don’t think it’s even remotely close to the DS or even the PSP in terms of its chops as a “serious gaming platform,” but there’s something coalescing there from Apple, that’s for sure.
The headline is a question for you guys, not Nintendo, who I am sure is far wiser about such things than me. What do you think?
I would be more worried about an Ipod touch. The Iphone requires a hugely expensive data plan, and although it is taking a chink of the smartphone market, the cost remains a huge barrier to most people. The Ipod touch is more of an equal to the DS, but it still costs a lot. I think Nintendo needs to keep an eye on the trends in the market, but shouldn't get to worried about the limited market of smartphones taking over their turf.
I just thought it would be of note to compare this so far…
The Nintendo DS was originally launched in Fall of 2004 and since then the cumulative sales have totaled around 100 million units. Apple released the first iPhone in the Summer of 2007 and since then (and with the inclusion of the iPod Touch to the lineup) the combined cumulative sales of Apple's platform has totaled to just short of 40 million (37 million as of April 2009). If Apple can sell 40/100 million devices in just two years what Nintendo has sold in five years I think it should be very interesting to see where the two end up. Also don't forget the DS may be one phenomenon but the iPod is an entire beast of it's own, I don't know sales figures overall but I'd be willing to bet on the iPod being a larger overall seller than the Gameboy line, but don't hold me to that feel free to find the cumulative sales of both and nail me to that one.
No.
@Devin McConnel Apple definitely has the numbers, but not everyone that bought the device did it for games. They most likely bought the device to listen to music, watch videos, surf the Internet and make phone calls (iPhone only). You look at the DS and gaming is the main focus, therefore it's easier to market games to.
At the same time though Nintendo should be concerned as Apple is trying to eat into the casual market. iPhone/iPod Touch Games aren't marketed toward hardcore, they offer a quick casual experience that takes advantage of the touch screen and/or the accelerometer. People who aren't gamers might purchase the device for the other media experiences and might discover the game market later.
So I don't think it's going to be a huge threat. They were talking about several statistics, such as:
iPhone = $600 to start
DS = $130
DSi = $180 (with 1000 points to download games)
While games:
iPhone = Supposedly free, $1, 2
DS = $20-30
DSi = Free, $2, $5, $8
And yeah, most of the iPhone "games" are simple casual time-burners. Nothing huge, no platformers, no storyline, etc.
I guess Nintendo could take notice if they wanted to, but IMO Nintendo's casual games are way more replayable, justifying the value.
And you do the math of just 1 game purchase (estimates, of course):
iPhone = $602
DS = $160
DSi = $200
I think that shows there's no threat yet.
@Joltman: I tend to agree with that, but the price thing is tricky.
People buy an iPhone/iPod touch because they expect them to many things right out of the box. Therefore, the price isn't *as* bad. I can see many people actually justifying the price because it combines many of the proven technologies that have already permeated their everyday lives (iTunes, movies, apps, phone calls). I'm still inclined to agree with Iwata though: These are two companies that are probably eying one another, but they really do come from completely different industries.
Meanwhile, no one will buy a $250 PSP Go.
i have to say they should be a little scared. i mean yes the ds is for more hardcore gamers, with exclusive titles and it does now finally have a dsware feature. but ipod/iphone has applications for everything. And ANYONE can make an app for it. which means more games total and not that annoying process of being approved by nintendo. combine that with a great music player and movie watcher. I think Nintendo should get on the ball.
i dont think the big n has to be afraid of apple's iphone/ipod touch yet, more wary than anything is what they need to be.
Yeah, everyone frames this as "iPhone vs. DS" when really, it's "iPod Touch vs. DSi". And they're a little more evenly matched; they're about the same price, as well. The iTouch has faster, nicer hardware and the DS has actual buttons for control of anything more twitchy than Bejeweled. Apple is already more of a competitor to Nintendo in the handheld market than Sony is. If Apple ever relents and lets someone make a gamepad cradle for the iPhone/iTouch, Nintendo will not be able to pretend they're not competing anymore.
Where the iPhone becomes important, though, is lock-in. Most people buying an iPhone are going to either have it for 2 years or pay as much as a DSi to cancel their plan. Whether or not they're gamers, they're a captive audience at such time as they might become gamers. While they're periodically getting exposed to the DS by going into the game section at Wal-mart or whatever, they're getting exposed to the iPhone and possibly its app store every day.
Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta get a few hours' sleep before going to get my shiny new Palm Pre, with its app store full of 12 whole apps.
Jack, for once, I agree with you. 🙂
Dont count ANY platform out. Apple products sell.
Both companies are heading in each others direction. DS -> internet capabilities, and iPhone -> gaming platform. (in addition to the ka-gillion other things it can do)
At this point Nintendo shouldn't worry about the iPhone taking over the portable video game market… yet. The iPhone isn't designed to be a gaming platform, nor was it ever.
We are about halfway through this next gen "life cycle" and Apple is taking notes. Apples major advantage is that anyone can make an iPhone app. True the dev. kits aren't as complex, or expensive as Nintendo, but look at Microsoft. They offer XNA to make games for XBL too.
There are rumors of Apple making a next gen console. I don't foresee this happening until we get closer to the end of this particular cycle.
It won't be until that point that Nintendo will have to worry. But when they do… watch out Nintendo.
Again, I can't see widespread acceptance of complex games on the iPhone, so if it becomes a serious competitor in the gaming space it'll be for the same reason that the Wii is; because it taps a market segment that wasn't being payed attention to.
So I don't see Nintendo having much to worry about actually, because I think that they actually wouldn't compete overly much. No more than say flash games compete with games sold through Steam. It may put a really huge crimp in Nintendo's goals or plans for getting people to carry their DSes around with them wherever they go, but I don't think it'll touch the core market that the DS sells to.
I have a G1, and it's definitely not a competitor. I know the iPhone has better games (G1 is better overall though), but it's nowhere even close to being in the same league as the DS. Even if Apple released an iGame or something like that, as long as whatever's after the DS has better graphics (and I think gameplay is more important too), it'll still be better. Should be backwards compatible too.
Sure Nintendo should be concerned. While the lack of physical buttons, d-pad, and joystick hamstrings the iPhone it has distinct advantages:
1. 40,000 apps and climbing.
2. Free apps and demos, downloadable over the air and wifi.
3. Recently they've added some genuinely good games.
4. Ask someone who has an iPhone AND a DS and see which one they use most. I think you'll find the DS's are collecting dust.
5. the iPhone fits in your pocket. You tend to have it with you all the time.
6. No cartridges to lose
7. Wireless connectivity – bluetooth, wifi, 3G
What is DOESN'T have is Nintendo 1st person IP which is why I'm still a big Nintendo fan. But to be honest, I wish that stuff ran on the iPhone so I didn't have to carry along a DS.
@Rob, I like your points and see some validity in them. But…
1. Of the 40,000, half are for pouring a beer and the other half are for making 'love-matches'. I exaggerate obviously, but the fact is that 40,000 apps don't make 100 useful applications.
2. Coming to the DS.
3. the DS has hundreds of great games and many more coming. Especially looking forward to Scibblenauts!
4. I have a Blacberry Bold (on par with the iPhone) and a DS and I use the DS MUCH more. My DS games last for hours. The phone conversations last minites only and the games/apps even less.
5. I have big pockets which regularly fit BOTH the DS and my Bold. I don't go anywhere without both.
6. True.
7. I have wireless Pokemon battles with my son nightly.
The one aspect that most overlook as they see challengers coming on to take down the DS is that while they try to get to where the DS is, the DS is moving on to bigger and better things.
The most telling was from comments by Mr. Miyamoto about what he was working on before and after E3. Everyday applications for the DS. I know Seattle had a pilot project with the DS at their baseball park. Ordering food from your seat, watching replays, looking up player stats and so on. Mr. Miyamota hinted at many more such uses for always having the DS on you at all times.
Just as Microsoft and Sony are now looking to start into the motion controls, Nintendo is well entrenched and MOVING FORWARD.
Yes, they definitely should be. The new iPhone 3GS packs a punch with graphics about as good as a DSi.