[Messany]

In this morning's Wall Street Journal, the venerable financial newspaper touched on the study published this weekend by DFC Intelligence that predicts that games for the iPhone and iPod touch will be the" principal drivers for growth in the overall portable and mobile gaming market" within a period of only five years.

Although Apple and its designated spokespeople have always offered the left-hand compliment that portable gaming devices like the DS and PSP are awesome yet strikingly inferior to the iTouch, for example, Apple is yet to truly back up that confidence with an all-out push for mobile gaming dominance. I guess you could say that portable gaming just hasn't been their "thing."

But that will likely change.

DFC, which is based in San Diego, estimates that the overall market will grow by just 8% to $11.7 billion by 2014 from $10.9 billion in 2008. The bulk of that–about $6.3 billion–will still come from dedicated portable game devices like the DS and PSP, but that market will shrink by about 27% from 2008 over that period. Revenue from iPhone and iPod touch games, however, are expected to soar to more than $2.8 billion in 2014, compared with a mere $46 million in 2008.

In other words, Apple may not even have to make a conscious decision about placing greater emphasis on portable gaming. The revenue streams from what's already available (and becoming available in the Ap Store) could be sufficient to prompt Apple to consider themselves to be among the portable gaming giants of the industry.

In recent days, for example, a wide range of popular new games from EA were introduced for the iPhone and iPod touch: "NBA Live," "EA Sports FIFA 10," "Mystery Mania," "BOGGLE," and "Command & Conquer Red Alert." What do all of these games have in common? Apple didn't spend a fortune making them, yet they stand to make a fortune by virtue of their mere existence and availability through the app store.

“Dedicated portable game systems are not going to go away, but Apple is really driving the growth,” said David Cole, an analyst with DFC.

So here's the million dollar question. If Apple is really in the driver's seat, how long before Apple either wakes up and realizes it ... or begins flexing the muscle it has and ramps up efforts to become the dominant mobile gaming force it has the potential to become?

Image via theiphoneblog.com

[rhekt]

yup this looks good..apple full speed ahead.

[fearls101]

As the iPhone becomes more and more popular and expanding throughout the globe game developers are going to start taking the iPhone more seriously. EA has already shown their support by producing some pretty high quality games and im sure other competitors have already begun designing games.

All apple needs to do now is sit back and enjoy the fact that their product is becoming a great gaming device that will in turn sell more iPhone/iTouch and they'll continue receiving their share of app sales.

Just give it some time, 3.0 has only been out since summer and there have been some amazing app improvements in every category

[Masterz1337]

IMO, all Apple needs to do is create some little device that will plug into the dock and give the system a D-Pad above the iDevices and buttons near the dock, and it can instantly be a formidable game machine.There's only so much you can do with multitouch and accelerometers. If they had an attachment for buttons it would could play games just like the PSP or DS, in addition to the touchscreen and accelerometers. Developers would love it and Apple could enjoy an even larger game market.

[bbillh77]

I feel like a kid when we are slow at work and I get out my psp give me good games on miphone I will pay

[aperry]

The iPhone and Touch are pretty lame gaming devices. Obviously they have the CPU and graphics horsepower for gaming, but a touchscreen and accelerometer control scheme is fundamentally flawed. I love it for simple games like tower defense, but anything more than that requires a control pad.

[riku98523]

God I hope not iPhone and iPod touch are horrible gaming devices. The DS works because its got buttons still. No one can ever top the GBC and GBA though not even the DS can top the GBC and GBA.

[Antman217]

Touchscreen, accelerometer no thanks d-pad and buttons for me please I'm stickin to my psp for portable gaming but for everything else iPhone ftw!

[tudtran]

I think so. I like an all in one device. Apple should be on top of the list. Plus the games is so much cheaper.

[ecd5000]

until icontrolpad comes out or if apple releases their own they have nothing, the iphone/ipod touch controls are too "finger cramping", most games has awkward controls so until something is done i think that they dont stand a chance but could put a small dent into portable game devices.

[wearmaize]

I have a PSP and I have an iPhone and although the iPhone is great for casual gaming, it doesn't compare if you play Madden or FIFA. You really need the tactile controls to get immersed into it. The only games I have for the PSP are Madden and FIFA, but when I'm at home and looking for something to really get immersed in, it's a PSP all the way. If I have just 5 minutes, I'll go for Pocket God or Skee Ball on the iPhone. But I use both.

[rwin84]

Apple has changed the world...

[staterunner180]

iControlPad - Add real gaming controls to your iPhone! This is what we need. But made by Apple and has support for ALL iDevices.

[modmy3GS]

Originally Posted by Messany

In this morning's Wall Street Journal, the venerable financial newspaper touched on the study published this weekend by DFC Intelligence that predicts that games for the iPhone and iPod touch will be the" principal drivers for growth in the overall portable and mobile gaming market" within a period of only five years.

Although Apple and its designated spokespeople have always offered the left-hand compliment that portable gaming devices like the DS and PSP are awesome yet strikingly inferior to the iTouch, for example, Apple is yet to truly back up that confidence with an all-out push for mobile gaming dominance. I guess you could say that portable gaming just hasn't been their "thing."

But that will likely change.



In other words, Apple may not even have to make a conscious decision about placing greater emphasis on portable gaming. The revenue streams from what's already available (and becoming available in the Ap Store) could be sufficient to prompt Apple to consider themselves to be among the portable gaming giants of the industry.

In recent days, for example, a wide range of popular new games from EA were introduced for the iPhone and iPod touch: "NBA Live," "EA Sports FIFA 10," "Mystery Mania," "BOGGLE," and "Command & Conquer Red Alert." What do all of these games have in common? Apple didn't spend a fortune making them, yet they stand to make a fortune by virtue of their mere existence and availability through the app store.



So here's the million dollar question. If Apple is really in the driver's seat, how long before Apple either wakes up and realizes it ... or begins flexing the muscle it has and ramps up efforts to become the dominant mobile gaming force it has the potential to become?

Image via theiphoneblog.com

It will never be as good
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It can compare with ds and better but not with psp

[Boker]

GTA on the iPhone... YES! killing hookers on the go, I LIKE!?