Mobile Computing News

Photo: Apple

Apple very publicly came out and announced they were now taking the gaming market very seriously and, somewhat veiled and somewhat vividly, took shots at both Nintendo and Sony. Nintendo responded by calling Apple the new enemy. Now with Nintendo revealing the well-received Nintendo 3DS, we look at the implications the new gaming handheld has for Apple’s mobile OS and its gaming ambitions.

Hardware advantages

With the improved touch technology, coupled with the built-in gyroscope for motion gaming and the built-in 3D technology, one has to feel the Nintendo 3DS has both matched the iPhone’s hardware features and exceeded them, too. Add a d-pad and an analog nub, as well as buttons for gamers who prefer classic tactile feedback gaming, the Nintendo 3DS is undoubtedly the superior gaming handheld.

Aah, but that business model

But being the superior gaming hardware does not necessitate superior sales. Where Apple has been taking chunks out of Nintendo and Sony both is in its business model in that iPhone gaming titles are predominantly priced in the $0-$3 range whereas Nintendo 3DS games are likely to cost $30-$40 each. Given the higher purchasing power iPhone owners have simply because of demographics coupled with the impulse buying because of the attractive price point, Apple may prod away at the Nintendo DS and the imminent Nintendo 3DS fortress. Even then, though, nothing necessitates Nintendo won’t have a micro-games platform of its own, right?

And that other factor

Photo: Nintendo

And the other factor Apple may have in its favour, through both its iPhone gaming and iPad gaming mobile OS platforms, is that people purchase the devices for reasons outside of gaming. The Nintendo 3DS, however, will be purchased for its gaming capabilities. This reality could mean two things: one, Nintendo will have the more engaged audience since they know what they are there for, resulting in an advantage to the Japanese company. Or it could mean Apple would have a greater base audience to market to outside of those who buy their devices for applications, resulting in far better leads than Nintendo.

Who will win?

It’s hard to say which gaming hardware will emerge the out and out winner, here. The one thing that is for certain is Apple and Nintendo both are probably the two most admired technology companies in the world right now and neither company seems to know how to do any wrong. But in a head-to-head competition for consumers’ dollars in the gaming segment, Apple may be in over its head. Or, on the flip side, Nintendo has never faced a company with more rabid (and comparatively wealthy) fans than Apple, resulting in Jobs’ platform pulling an upset.

The Nintendo 3DS is certainly more interesting as gaming hardware to us but that means nothing compared to actual dollars spent. And the success of Apple’s mobile OS platform suggests it would not be wise to treat the company lightly.