Entelligence: Mobile gaming is no longer child's play

Every Thursday Michael Gartenberg of Jupiter Research contributes an interesting item of gadget-related research data. This week he looks at mobile gaming:

With the emergence of the Nintendo DS in the coming weeks and the Sony PlayStation Portable close behind, it's time to take a look at what the portable gaming market is all about. As device manufacturers and content developers cater to broader audiences, JupiterResearch expects the installed base of game devices will only increase over time. In order to address demand for games among niche audiences willing to pay a premium for multifunctional devices, hybrid devices (that are not dedicated to games) will account for a small but important segment of growth for an estimated two percent of the installed base by the end of 2004 to seven percent of total sales in 2009. Similarly, the audience of gamers that play at least five hours per week on their handheld devices will grow, as the installed base of devices increases and as such devices better accommodate game play.

When looking across portable device capabilities it's important to note, video games appear as a top feature ahead of both music and imaging—two applications classically associated with the portable device market. In fact, video games are the most highly prized media application by online adults—ranking fifth out of a list of features for mobility.
It's safe to say that mobile gaming is emerging not only as a challenge and replacement cycle for the traditional Gameboy but also as a growth market segment that will have strong appeal beyond traditional markets.

Question posed: "What are the top three functions you use most frequently on a portable device? (Select top three.)" Source: Jupiter Research/Ipsos-Insight Consumer Survey (7/03), n = 2,085 (consumers who carry portable devices, US only) © 2004 JupiterResearch, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation.

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