There's been a lot of discussion about how the iPhone doesn't pose a threat to the DS (and we agree wholeheartedly). Even so, we have to admit that the iPhone is nice in theory -- that is, having every kind of portable device wrapped up in one small package. Then again, it's also nice to have a device completely dedicated to gaming, as that inspires more confidence when it comes to our favorite hobby.What do you think, though? Ideally, would you prefer having a single, multipurpose device so that you wouldn't have to carry around a bunch of different portables? Or, would you rather have everything made with one specific use in mind?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-08-2008 @ 10:40AM
supa_s said...
Steve Jobs should know when to stop. Trying to compete head to head with Nintendo? Word of advice: leave gaming to the big boys and quit while u can.
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6-08-2008 @ 10:52AM
Gennataos said...
I'm getting to the point where I do like the idea of an all-in-one device. Carrying around a phone, iPod and DS/PSP is getting a little old.
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6-08-2008 @ 10:55AM
Lord Bowser said...
I've never held an iPhone so I couldn't judge, but my experience with all in one convergent devices has been pretty bad. Everything is performed in a pretty mediocre fashion. Maybe the iPhone will be different, but without a physical buttons I really fail to see how this will take off - in the game department, that is.
Plus, I have a PSP.
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6-08-2008 @ 10:55AM
Ricardo Gonçalves said...
the only disadvantage I see in the DS is the memory (read storage) since most cards, like r4ds, m3, only support a maximum of 2Gb of data. If those cards supported, let's say, a 4Gb card it would be much better, since you could transform the DS to an inexpensive MP3 player (note - it's already possible, but the storage capability is really low, as I said earlier).
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6-08-2008 @ 11:08AM
seso said...
Objection!
Certain card readers (i.e. the AceKard 2, and the rip-off, the EDGE card) support SDHC (High Capacity), with the ability to read the current largest commercially avialable SD cards, clocking in at *8GB.
They also claim that when the technology catches up (which, let's face it, in this day and age could very well be as far away as next week), they'll be able to handle 32GB SD cards as well.
Take That!
*this information was correct as of ... iunno, mid May? Could be outdated by now!
6-08-2008 @ 11:50AM
Ricardo Gonçalves said...
well, we learn everyday! I didn't know that, and I wish I knew that when I bought the r4ds ...
right now that's not a good investment on my part, since buying the card reader+memorycard is expensive opposed o the fact that the iphone will cost 100€ (about the same in dollars?) here. thanks for the info, cheers
6-08-2008 @ 1:52PM
Frastoglegnia said...
Seso flogged me to it -- I currently own an AceKard 2 and 4GB MicroSDHC Class 6. The speed and convenience are remarkable -- I now carry ROMs of most of the games I own on one card, which also allows multiple saves and backups. I have homebrew installed as well, and am going to try writing fiction on my DS as well, and preordered the DS-10 a month after its announcement.
However, I don't like the DS as a music/multimedia player. The audio jack's too noisy and the DS is a tad power-shy when it comes to watching films. The PSP works far better as a convergence device, the iPod Classic sounds better than both the DS and PSP, and the newest high-end Sony flash players have a better-sounding DAC (true 24-bit) than any of the previously listed devices.
I'm not happy with the PSP's Skype implementation, however. It isn't a good replacement for a cell phone that's dependent on receiving calls as well as making them -- a bit too much fussing's involved.
The real question is how much quality each individual really needs. For most of my train-riding requirements, the PSP is a good compromise. The iPhone might be a multimedia option if only it sounded a little better. The DS seems born to be used as a tiny music/writing laptop; I'll explore that idea further in July, after the DS-10's release.
6-08-2008 @ 11:07AM
McDoobie said...
I don't mind toting around multiple devices as long as they're great at what they do. Even if I owned an iPhone I'd use it for calls, text and browsing; I don't see it as a gaming device, despite having better hardware than both the DS and PSP.
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6-08-2008 @ 11:14AM
seso said...
I am a huge nerd for functionality, so if I could send texts as easily on my DS as I could on my phone, I'd dump it in a heartbeat. However, I don't think I'd like as much the ability to play DS games on my phone. I dunno, it just doesn't seem right. Call it a lack of 2 screens or whatever, it just wouldn't be a DS game without dual screens :(
When Nintendo get their arses in gear and create a plugin qwerty keyboard for the bottom of the DS (slot 2, think the XBOX keyboard), and come up with a better way to get them online, then there'll be no stopping me!
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6-08-2008 @ 11:31AM
Mark said...
I love my DS & Gameboy, also my PSP-which is one of those try to do almost everything devices (but still ends up beings just a games machine in my hands).
I personally would love one item for all occasions but can't help thinking of the saying "Jack of all trades , Master of None".
The I-phone already isn't a very good phone from what I can tell. It doesn't support the faster 3G networks so its internet is slow, Its' Camera is also an inferior megapixel to most standard phones, It lacks that price brackets GPS so already the quality is being traded off.
Would an all encompassing device just be for show? After all sexy still sells (iphone).
But then nintendo have held off on the doing it to higher specification for years (resolution on both DS & wii) for doing it differently so maybe a new contender could take on the mighty Nintendo & also Sony, I hope so as if it forces new inventiveness and better products I'd take that boot up the backside from where ever it comes.
Still for all I say I have a different device for everything..
From Nintendo,Sony,Archos, etc.. Playing on thier stengths. As I'd hate to lose one device and lose the lot in one go. It's nice to have a seperate power supplied device for when one runs out on you, even a DS can lose it's charge at the most boring times.
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6-08-2008 @ 2:03PM
Frastoglegnia said...
Mark: I agree with a lot of what you've said. But 3G is about to become a non-issue with the iPhone. Sound quality (which you must care about, since you're talking about Archos) is another matter entirely.
That said, I'm fairly psyched about this device (Gizmodo, where's the coverage?):
http://www.engadget.com/tag/Pandora/
6-08-2008 @ 12:24PM
Michael K. said...
I don't know about a single device like you're saying, but I just love my iPhone. If they put Lunar Knights, the Phoenix Wright series, and FFTA2 on it, I wouldn't need my DS.
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6-08-2008 @ 1:21PM
bryansurvive said...
hmmm.
i carry my psp around for music, video, and games daily.
i have my sidekick for communication and music.
i think an all in one would be a nice idea in a not to big package but at the same time fitting everything into one machine can possibly be the worst thing ever. battery life would suck. it probably would lag each everytime. no thanks ill stick with different items. i might spend more cash but in the long run ill also save more.
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6-08-2008 @ 1:30PM
Joe H said...
The iPhone isn't even a good phone, let alone gaming machine.
Its more like an iPod with some calling features really, put together in a pretty package for the masses. So they're going to throw in some gaming features, big deal.
I've got a DS, smartphone, and an n800 internet tablet, each of which has some games. The phone, that goes with me everywhere, so having a few games on that is nice, and I'd imagine it'll be the same way for iPhone users.
If you're tired of multiple portable devices and want a true gaming machine, I'd look into the Pandora. While it won't be a phone, it'll have emulators for many systems including PS1, as well as multimedia players, internet browser, etc, with Wifi and bluetooth connectivity.
As for me, I only bring devices based on the length of my trip. A quick trip just has me bringing the phone, if I know I'll have a few minutes free I bring my n800 to read a book on, and then for the really long trips (train rides across multiple states, etc) I bring along the DS. Honestly, my DS gets used more in my own home than it does anywhere else.
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6-08-2008 @ 1:32PM
Joe H said...
Also I should mention. I could easily get rid of the n800, and as I mentioned, I don't really bring the DS anywhere anyway. The main reason I got the n800 was for reading books on a larger screen than the 2.5" screen of the phone, otherwise I'd only have that.
6-08-2008 @ 1:43PM
Morose said...
while I certainly think it's clever that they can fit a phone and a camera and a web-browsing thingie and an media player and what they are trying to call handheld games into one shiny little tchotchke, making a financial and contractual commitment to such a device would mean that all my gadgets are running on one battery, and I'd need to carry multiple chargers to keep it running through the day.
Another problem with the convergent gizmo is that while it does many things to a degree, it does none of them as well as a dedicated single-purpose device. I have never seen a phone-camera that takes better pictures than a good digital camera, never played an ipod game that was better than its equivalent on the DS (ipod bomberman vs ds bomberman titles, for example).
my last big beef with the convergent gadget is that i can never just upgrade one thing - if i want to upgrade to a new phone, I must also trade in my gaming device, mp3 player, camera, etc, whether I want to or not. This ties in with a related problem - if I can't remember where I put my phone, my camera, mp3 player, etc have also gone missing.
I do realize that sticking with divergent gadgets means I need a utility belt, man-bag, or chewbacca-style bandolier to tote all my gadgets. I like having a gadget-bag, so this is not a problem.
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6-08-2008 @ 2:42PM
Toxic said...
When you have everything you lose the core idea of definite device, but there are irregulations in this rule. :) It's DS. =D
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6-08-2008 @ 4:26PM
BlackDS said...
Yes, I would love a device that could do everything, BUT it will NEVER happen.
The convergence of the cell phone and portable music player was inevitable. It was happening before the iPhone, and it's a huge success. Merging a phone and a gaming system, however, has so far had one collosal failure in the N-Gage.
I want my phone to be small and easy to carry around. Any effective gaming device (like the DS Lite) is too big to be a phone. Conversely, any phone (like the iPhone) is too small to be an effective gaming device.
Nintendo actually went bigger to bring us the next generation portable gaming device after the GBA SP. AFAIK the DS Lite is bigger than the GBA SP.
You need a certain screen size, room for buttons, and enough size to hold the device comfortably to make a good gaming system. If you do all of that, it's too big to carry around IMO. Like the BlackBerry is too big for me, I would never want to own one.
The people at Forbes don't realize any of this, because they're not gamers. Not everyone wants to carry a huge phone (like Oprah or Tyra), just like not everyone wants to drive a big, gas-guzzling SUV.
Peace.
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6-08-2008 @ 5:35PM
Hope said...
I feel like phone games definitely have their place in the casual gaming market. (I find myself playing Sonic the Hedgehog on my Sidekick every now and then.) But I don't feel like a convergence device that will really compete with other handheld systems will emerge because hardcore gamers are always looking for (and willing to pay for) the best specs and features (button placement, functions, etc) for gaming, and when you have devices made specifically for gaming, it would be hard for a device handling other functions to really compete. I don't think the iPhone really would appeal to hardcore gamers because, as others have mentioned, it's lack of buttons. It's really not that difficult to carry around a couple devices. (Then again, I'm a girl and used to carrying around tons of stuff in my purse XP)
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6-08-2008 @ 7:46PM
Tyrran said...
If we take a look at the market in a place like, say, Japan, where cell phones are used every day for everything, it still stands as fact that the DS Lite is damn near everywhere. Sure, there are a ton of people who enjoy playing Tetris or whatever on their cell phones (and trust me, there are some intense Japanese cell phone games) but the DS has a stronger presence and name. The iPhone has become renown as a revolutionary device for music, movies, calling and communication. People who choose to use the iPhone in lieu of a DS for gaming ideas were not the target audience for the DS in the first place. Seriously, the N-Gage was a bigger threat, and look where that ended up.
I think the iPhone will offer a different and possibly unique perspective on gaming, but ultimately not cloud the Nintendo market in the least. Now, if Steve and Miyamoto wanted to team up and make something, THERE'S a force to be reckoned with...
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