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AtomHandhelds will dominate game market, says Yoichi Wada
If you don’t agree with the headline, you should take a look at the Media Create sales that are released every week detailing Japan’s top selling hardware and software. Handhelds are a dominatin’.
According to the Financial Times, Square-Enix head honcho Yoichi Wada claims that the handheld video game market will dominate in sales this year compared to the superiority of the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. Why is that? Yoichi Wada says:
“There are too many specs – and you also need a high-definition TV, a broadband connection and a deep knowledge of gaming – these consoles are mismatched to today’s environment. In a year or two years they will fare better.”
Though I don’t necessarily agree with “a deep knowledge of gaming” as anyone with a mind and keen interest can learn to play a video game and start learning about video games, Wada-san is right about the demographic. Not a lot of homes here both in the States and Japan house an HDTV; so in order to get “the very best” from your PS3 or Xbox 360, you’d have to own an HDTV to be impressed by said visuals.
Evidence of his stance can be found when Dragon Quest IX was premiered to be exclusive to the Nintendo DS. I bet you were shocked.
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6 Responses to “Handhelds will dominate game market, says Yoichi Wada”
June 11th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Although I do believe it will happen one day, especially in Japan, this bozo is not saying this as a fortune teller but as someone from a company that’s busy coughing sequels and remakes on lower hardware in order to gain more profit out of popular franchises.
June 11th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Well, he is right in the heavy investment part where a lot of homes don’t have yet. I myself only have a 23″ Sony Wega LCD, even though I’m enjoying the full HD 1080 feature, I’m alrdy feeling games on the PS3 and 360 look too small and would like to get a yet larger widescreen LCD. Also, some games demand you to have HD in order for it just to look right, like the import “Blue Dragon”. At first I played the game via a regular cable at 480i (I got the Jpn core system) and the text look ridiculously small and the screen is letter box. I don’t get to see how the game is supposed to be seen until after hooking it up w/ a component cable. It’s not rocket science, but getting all these equipment does add up and the new HD LCD TVs certainly have tons of specs if one is knowledgeable.
June 12th, 2007 at 3:08 am
“Not a lot of homes here both in the States and Japan house an HDTV”
…and you have no idea about europe ;p
June 12th, 2007 at 7:49 am
I don’t care about handelds. Maybe this’ll help to heighten the difference between ocident and orient tastes. Bring the hardcore games on and **** square.
June 12th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Consoles are all well and good, I would’ve never imagined DS would be my most played system, but for those who are working, it’s perfect for long commutes and convenient for short burst of play. At any rate, the DS is making a killing in sales in Jpn, w/ titles friendl to all ages and gender.
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June 11th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
When he says, “a deep knowledge of gamingâ€, I assume he means “hardcore” gamers and the likes. It might take casuals and newbie like gamers to get used to be in the know how, if he’s going that route. How many people didn’t set up their HDTVs correctly and thought they had HD?