Apple's intentions to dominate handheld gaming were already pretty clear back in
March of 2008 as game studio after game studio lined up behind the iPhone (and iPod touch by extension). Now look at the graphics above. Yeah, based on the report from Flurry Analytics, Apple's casual gaming approach is carving out a nice slice of the US revenue pie related to gaming software. The PSP was hit especially hard dropping from a 20% share in 2008 to just 11% of US revenue last year. Numbers that highlight just how ridiculous
John Koller's spin maneuver was after the iPad launch. Speaking of which, you have to wonder how these numbers might be affected once developers have a chance to spread out on the iPad, looming
Nintendo 3DS or not. Especially with early data showing
robust pre-sales and games accounting for almost half of the iPad apps being tested. See that chart after the break. Mmm, pie.
posted March 23rd 2010 6:44AM
And still, comparing it to games that come out on the PSP, for example, is stupid. At least FPS and fighting games are somewhat playable on my PSP...
@Atkins
Well this is purely flamebait, then
Let's compare the sales of the PS2 to the iPhone and see where we come up?
But even with this comparison, look at DS sales compared to the iPhone's!
@Atkins His point is it's not fair to compare PSP game sales to iPhone game sales because it makes Apple look good. However, it is perfectly fine to compare Nintendo DS game sales to iPhone game sales because it makes Apple look bad.
@Darkroom
That's because not everybody plays games on there iPhone and the DS is for games only.
@r34p3r
My point here is, there are so many people out there who really, truly believe that the iPhone is a PSP / DS killer. These types of people need a reality check.
@r34p3r Are there any Eliminate Pro (4 way online deathmatch FPS) type games for PSP or DS? Or all solo play/ local wifi?
@Darkroom
That's because the App Store just came out, like 2 yrs ago.
There's about 50 million iDevices out there right now, as of Apple's most recent figures.
There's way more DS's out there, the DS has been out since November 2004!
@THJ
There are quite a few multi-player PSP games, including SOCOM. You can even game share with a few titles. I have a feeling that you knew the answer to that question before you even asked it.
@r34p3r
Without Pokemon, the iDevices will never take off as portable gaming devices!
@r34p3r i would really like to meet these people... no one in there right mind especially gamers think that the iphone is better than a psp ffs..
@r34p3r
What is impressive about the data include:
1. iphone/ipod increased their market share by almost 4x in one year.
2. The number of games sold is probably even more impressive given that a LOT of iphone/ipod games are in the sub $5 range. I doubt many DS games are in that range. So Apple was able to increase their 'revenue' share by 4x, would imply their number of games sold metric is even more impressive.
3. With the ipad they have another platform that is probably more suitable for interactive gaming that even the current iphone/ipod line up.
4. PSP is the most impressive platform of the 3 in terms of hardware and high quality interactive games software of the bunch, yet it seems to be losing steam. One reason could be that people prefer more casual games for portable devices and use thier xbox or PS3 for the higher intensity gaming...
5. Nintendo is the undisputed king of gaming. BUT Apple has shown once again HOW you gain market share. You do it NOT by copying the competition but by offering a different value proposition. Apple always tries to play in the blue ocean and stay away from shark invested low margin markets. If you asked gamers whether they would ever use an iphone for gaming I bet here on Engadget Apple would have gotten 0% votes. Yet here we are - Apple at 20% revenue. Impressive.
Whether you love or hate Apple, their execution is fantastic they have shown again and again and again....they know how to read the market!
@r34p3r "My point here is, there are so many people out there who really, truly believe that the iPhone is a PSP / DS killer. These types of people need a reality check." HAHAHAHA, you obviously passed kindergarten, being able to view and understand simple pictures.
Look, I'll see if you can graduate elementary school, I'll define "killer" for you.
(N.) to cause of death: the causal agent resulting in death
Killers will force parents to shelter or alter their childrens' behavior. Therefore, going from 20 to 11% in revenue (albeit in the US) and cause erratic behavior by the parent of which spawned it, it's obviously a killer looking for a death blow. Sony said "the market didn't understand the PSP go", no, Sony didn't understand the market. So either a) Sony is suicidal with their protection measures or b) Apple (with the help of the DS) is the PSP killer.
I think the real crux, where you might save yourself, is to say that while the Apple devices aren't competitive for hardcore gamers the market only needs 1 hardcore portable gaming machine. That's a fair point, and while the PSP might be sick, they had a bad vision for their good product, hence they are on the run.
@Atkins
the sale comparisons aren't very informative, there could a million of free hangman games downloaded versus a million of final fantasy games sold on the ds
@Edobe
Well, I admit there are some great games on the iPhone, thing is, most games that are sold, are under the genre of "Games" in the app store, when most of them are basically like a childish game of tic tac toe, or something original, but no effort put in, that are 99c each, with nasty reviews...
Where as to a real gaming system, has to have all of these major approvals, and have to be created by big companies, and that takes a long time. Months to years even.
@r34p3r
Totally agree. You simply cannot compare the two experiences. The PSP is so much better at EVERY aspect of gaming.
My typical gaming experience on the iPod Touch.
1. I'm bored waiting for a haircut.
2. I whip out my Touch and look for new games.
3. Find a cheap game that looks decent.
4. Purchase, install.
5. Play until my name gets called.
6. Maybe play the game again if I get bored in the next week or so - most likely I never touch the game again.
On the PSP there are games that I am still playing for a year or two after purchase. Sure the games cost a heck of a lot more, but the experience between the two devices is night and day.
@Atkins Looks cooked anyway
@jaffreywali - Well, I think its also due to Sony's ability to talk fast and deliver slowly.
Yea, thats it Sony keep delaying that PSP phone and watch MS and WPS7 and all its Xbox Live integration take the remanding 11%. Sayin...
@r34p3r
The pathetic thing about it is that the iPhone is merely a smartphone and playing games is far down at the bottom of the list of things it can do and yet it's still kicking the revenue crap out of the PSP. When you've got a non-gaming device dumping all over a strictly gaming device, I'd say that SONY had better get its act together. I hear that their high-tech PSP Go is already a failure. Anyone ever tried to make a phone call on a PSP?
@Darkroom
I am not an Apple fan boy but come one. iPhone/iPod Touch's sold 75 million as of Feb(number from iPad announcement by apple).
As of Feb this over 125 million DS's and growing by the end of the year it will be closer to 140 million DSs and 85 million iPhones/iPods.
Still gaming is strong on the iPhone/iPod and it is a selling point. People only like to carry one device and the iPhone suffices for quick on the fly games. Its not a surprise to see it growing fast.
@r34p3r
Really? 44% are games?!
I don't have any games on mine. At least not any that I use. I've got Paper Toss and Ragdoll blaster (Both free)...
@r34p3r Looking at the graph, maybe you need a reality check?
@r34p3r
The only thing really biased about this is the exclusion of revenue from Java games. I'm pretty sure there is still a huge Java game market, and the quality of a majority of iPhone games are similar to Java mobile games. It will change the numbers a bit.
I'm not surprised about PSP losses though, because the PSP Go was pretty much universally panned, although it is hard to say if it is truly a loss to the iPhone OS (meaning people actively switching from PSP to the iPhone) or is it just a general loss because of the PSP Go (which can be fixed by releasing new hardware).
2010 should see a similar increase for apple. Also, what's an iPad touch?
@Edobe
Think of it as the DSi XL for the iPod Touch.
@r34p3r They compare by market share, not types of games.
44% games? I was hoping for more serious stuff.
I don't know why, iPhone is a shit platform for games. I've yet come across a single game that plays well on an iPhone. I take that back, BeJewelled is awesome and card games work great. But real games? Are garbage touchscreen and using the accelerator is a joke.
People purchase games on impulse because they look awesome on the iPhone but how many people actually play them? Have you tried Peggle? Even that's terrible, my finger covers up the board and I can't see what the heck I'm doing.
@malexandria1
Plants Vs Zombies
*Gets back to planting sunflowers*
@malexandria1
i wouldn't say it's (read: any touchscreen phone) a shit platform for games - it's all about the type of game you make
i'd love to see games like heroes of might & magic, jagged alliance, theme park, the incredible machine and cannon fodder on my android
it's the same story with full fledged game consoles - they are a shit platform for certain types of games (fps, rts), but brilliant for others
@mrqs You are correct, I was being a bit hyperbolic. I'm sure there are some good games on the iPhone, I just haven't found any. I'm always continually disappointed at how poorly the controls work, so I've given up on the idea of gaming on the iPhone. I do want to try Plants vs. Zombies.
@malexandria1 If you have a hard time w/ Peggle on the iPhone, maybe gaming is not for you.
@malexandria1
You don't know why you hate it? Let me give you a hint, turn the iPod touch around, see the Apple logo? Yea.. exactly.
@Wesscoast Why do Apple Fantards assume that anytime anyone criticizes Apple it's only because we hate Apple Products? The fact that I'm complaining about gaming on the iPhone couldn't possibly mean that I actually OWN an iPhone? If I hated Apple so much I wouldn't even be able to comment in this thread to begin with.
For the record, I own almost All of Apple's products - AppleTV, iPhone, iPod Touch, Macbook and will probably be dumb enough to get an iPad. But I don't think their stuff is as awesome as fanboys think. They are decent and do certain things well, but they aren't the end all be all of tech and they certainly don't "just work."
@Hobsie
Absolutely. Plants vs. Zombies is utterly brilliant. Frankly, it's the most fun that I've had with a video game in years and it is perfectly suited to the iPhone despite being a port.
I was enjoying Ghouls & Garters (clearly an undead thing going on here) but PvZ has kicked that one into touch.
@malexandria1
Perfectly put, I own an ipod touch and I love it, heck I think I will even be buying the new one in the end of the year. Enough of being called an apple hater every time you point out something you don't like about the iProducts.
@Hobsie
Good ports does not make iPod a viable gaming platform.
@malexandria1 +1 I also have many Apple made products but I am far from huge fanboy. Honestly, It isn't just Apple there are fanboys for every product now a days. When people spend a lot of money on a product they feel they need to defend that product even though every consumer related technology has its flaws.
@malexandria1
What??? Peggle??? If you had any idea how many hours of my life I've spent on that game... It's probably the best mobile game I've played in my ENTIRE LIFE
@Hobsie Turret games are boring.
@malexandria1
"If I hated Apple so much I wouldn't even be able to comment in this thread to begin with. "
so much irony, it hurts.
@malexandria1
Try plants vs zombie on iPhone. Hardcore gamers may not call it a real game. But form me its one heck of a game. It entertains me it even keeps me awake a night. Its even easier to control on multitouch screen. Most of the people that used it says the same thing about PvZ.
There is not that many hardcore gamers out there, hardcore gamers are usually people who have way too much time in their hands. I both have PSP and DSi but I seldom use them, because I don't carry them everywhere I go. But as for casual gamers that carries a smartphone its a different story. iPhone/iPod as a gaming platform is unique because of its multi-touch and accelerometer controls.
What I am waiting for is an accessory for the iphone that will give it a physical controller and buttons. Add an extended battery to it and it is much better. But I guess it never materialized, but the concept is promising.
Fart app isn't a game
Hardly a fair comparison when PSP and DS games cost over $25/£25 and iPhone games cost $5/£5.
@Sheppard
And last I checked there were not thousands of free "LITE" versions of DS games that get misleadingly counted in all this. It still amazes me no one calls Apple out when they make their claims about the number of apps while counting gimped versions of their apps.
@Sheppard
"by revenue"
@mrqs
Ah...I see now
@Tes
misleadingly = FAIL
@mrqs
I understand that but if a game is good more people will buy the game at $5 than people at $25.
@Sheppard
Which is a major reason for the platform's success, and an indicator of where the market thinks that portable games should be, price-wise. Nintendo/Sony and their publishers are terrified of the iPhone for this reason... they're destroying the perception of how much a portable game should cost.
@camroncake Commenting neither.