Three Reasons Why A Microsoft Handheld Will Always Fail

The handheld market belongs to Nintendo. Nintendo are the handheld Gods, and there is no question about that. However, with the PSP, Sony has managed to carve itself a slice of that market (that it may or may not lose with the PS Vita, which has had a troubled launch, but may yet recover). Collectively, Sony and Nintendo have an entire market by the balls (Nintendo more so than Sony), but considering how profitable handhelds have helped Sony and Nintendo through rough spots in the past (Nintendo with GBC and Pokemon in the N64 days, and the GBA/DS in the Gamecube days; Sony with the PSP during the disaster that was the PS3 launch), it might be a very logical question: why has Microsoft not ventured into the handheld market yet? After all, it would only make sense to do so, especially considering how profitable handhelds are, and considering how they can often offset the heavy losses consoles can lead a company to suffer (which means they would have been very useful for Microsoft back when the 360 was bleeding money).

However, here are seven reasons as to why a Microsoft handheld is always doomed to fail:

3. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THEM IN THE MARKET

Like the larger gaming market in general, the handheld gaming market can be neatly trifurcated into the super casual, the core enthusiasts and the tech junkies. Apple, and to a lesser extent Android, has an iron grip over the super casual market. iOS gaming, with 99 cent apps and Angry Birds, is enough to satisfy the needs of that market, and that won't change. Nintendo has the largest slice of the market- it rules the core enthusiasts with its handhelds, and its handheld exclusive franchises like Pokemon and Advance Wars. Sony has the final niche- the tech junkie. It is the segment of the market that the PSP appealed to, and it is the segment of the market the PS Vita will appeal to.

What segment of the market will Microsoft appeal to? They can't go after the iOS segment- one could argue they already tried with Windows Phone 7 and failed. Going against Nintendo is pure foolishness, and it would take them down. So that leaves the Sony segment of the market. Sony has already manufactured a tech heavy handheld with the backing of its first party that it selles at a heavy loss. What would Microsoft do? Make an even more powerful handheld? Sell it at an even bigger loss? Isn't that missing the point entirely?

2. THE HANDHELD WILL HAVE NO THIRD PARTY SUPPORT

Third party support for a handheld never comes from western developers and publishers. Western developers and publishers see handheld as third tier development platforms. A handheld always gets its premier games from Japanese developers. This was the case with every single Nintendo handheld, and it was the case with the PSP. The PS Vita is struggling right now because it has no Japanese software.

Microsoft has failed at achieving any sort of market penetration with its Xbox brand in Japan. They have failed to gain any significant third party support and then retain and sustain it. A Microsoft handheld would fail at gaining any traction with Japanese developers, and with the Japanese market, and it would therefore be an exercise in futility.

1. MICROSOFT HAS NO GODDAMN FIRST PARTY

More than anything else, a handheld is always sustained by its first party games. Nintendo handhelds always sell because you know you're getting a new Mario Kart, a new Pokemon, a new Advance Wars and a new Zelda. The PSP sold on the back of games like God of War: Chains of Olympus. Third parties often neglect handhelds because, as stated above, they see them as second and third tier platforms. In situations like these, it is up to the console manufacturer to sustain the handheld.

But Microsoft has no first party to sustain its system with. What franchises would be exclusive to an Xbox handheld that you would buy it for? Halo? Forza? Fable? And...?

And why wouldn't you just play those games on a home console? More than even Sony's games, Microsoft's games are centered and constructed around the home console experience. Heavy Xbox LIVE integration, long quests and missions, and control layouts all point to a console centric development philosophy (which is also evident in Microsoft's failure to handle PC gaming). How will they sustain a handheld platform exactly?

---

And there you have it, folks. A Microsoft handheld is doomed to fail, no matter what. So all you lemmings rejoicing prematurely at the PS Vita's 'failure,' STFU. At least Sony has the balls to tackle the handheld market. Microsoft won't even f*cking dare to enter it, because it knows it'll fail. And say what you will, the Vita will have a rough start, but will then go on to sell about 50 million units at least. Not as much as the 3DS, but an awful f*cking lot.

So much for 'failed system,' huh?

lolMShandheld.

Wait, you're mad about people trolling the Vita. I thought you were pretending to be a sheep. :?

The things butthurt does to people.

Wait, you're mad about people trolling the Vita. I thought you were pretending to be a sheep. :?

The things butthurt does to people.

waltefmoney

[QUOTE="waltefmoney"]

Wait, you're mad about people trolling the Vita. I thought you were pretending to be a sheep. :?

The things butthurt does to people.

RulerofGondor

Who chose a different approach to the market, the Apple approach.

[QUOTE="RulerofGondor"][QUOTE="waltefmoney"]

Wait, you're mad about people trolling the Vita. I thought you were pretending to be a sheep. :?

The things butthurt does to people.

waltefmoney

Who chose a different approach to the market, the Apple approach.

And failed at that as well. Microsoft has no viable handheld device in the market. It's useless to argue otherwise.RulerofGondor

So you've gone from "they didn't even try" to "they failed." Are you admitting you were wrong?

[QUOTE="RulerofGondor"]And failed at that as well. Microsoft has no viable handheld device in the market. It's useless to argue otherwise.waltefmoney

So you've gone from "they didn't even try" to "they failed." Are you admitting you were wrong?

So I have a question as an answer to your question- is iOS gaming handheld gaming in the traditional sense?RulerofGondor

No, but is a company "not trying" by selecting an alternative route? Sony got slaugheted and will probably get slaughtered again, with all their first party games and everything.

[QUOTE="RulerofGondor"]So I have a question as an answer to your question- is iOS gaming handheld gaming in the traditional sense?waltefmoney

No, but is a company "not trying" by selecting an alternative route? Sony got slaugheted and will probably get slaughtered again, with all their first party games and everything.

The PSP was slaughtered? 70+ million units and one of the most successful and profitable systems of all time is slaughtered?RulerofGondor

It was slaughtered by the DS which sold twice as much. And I'm gonna need to see a source for all that profit, considering how the system was plagued with piracy and several third party devs have complained about their games doing poorly.

[QUOTE="RulerofGondor"]The PSP was slaughtered? 70+ million units and one of the most successful and profitable systems of all time is slaughtered?waltefmoney

It was slaughtered by the DS which sold twice as much. And I'm gonna need to see a source for all that profit, considering how the system was plagued with piracy and several third party devs have complained about their games doing poorly.

So...you mean to say nintendo is the king of handheld even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?

P.S: windows phone is already on the market by the way.
""most successful and profitable systems""

LOL except the fact that the psp had a higher piracy rate then the ds did there is a reason most games sold like s*** on the psp.

If we talk only about the west, you are absolutely correct. It was in Japan that the system beasted thoughRulerofGondor

Okay, let me summarize:

you made this thread pointing out crucial facts as to why Microsoft SHOULDN'T make a handheld, then you proceeded to laugh at them for not making a handheld and taking a different approach to the market, simply because people are laughing at the Vita for doing poor at launch all while doing the exact same thing with WP7. Kay.

The biggest reason why their handheld will fail: no one wants one and MS knows that.

If Microsoft trys to get into mobile gaming, I think that they will build on windows phone (which, I believe is going to take off in the near future) and create a gaming echosystem, they won't create the hardware themselves but most likely have some xbox mobile certification (that is what I would do). I also think that there will be handheld gaming devices that come out running android (I am honestly supprised that PSP vita doesn't run it).

Fail thread is fail. These say hi to all handhelds:

So...you mean to say nintendo is the king of handheld even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?

P.S: windows phone is already on the market by the way.
""most successful and profitable systems""

LOL except the fact that the psp had a higher piracy rate then the ds did there is a reason most games sold like s*** on the psp.

WilliamRLBaker

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"]

So...you mean to say nintendo is the king of handheld even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?

P.S: windows phone is already on the market by the way.
""most successful and profitable systems""

LOL except the fact that the psp had a higher piracy rate then the ds did there is a reason most games sold like s*** on the psp.

crippled_ram

So...you mean to say nintendo is the king of handheld even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?

P.S: windows phone is already on the market by the way.
""most successful and profitable systems""

LOL except the fact that the psp had a higher piracy rate then the ds did there is a reason most games sold like s*** on the psp.

WilliamRLBaker

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"]

So...you mean to say nintendo is the king of handheld even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?

P.S: windows phone is already on the market by the way.
""most successful and profitable systems""

LOL except the fact that the psp had a higher piracy rate then the ds did there is a reason most games sold like s*** on the psp.

D4W1L4H

how hard is the concept to understand? ""even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?"" and I do not belive one second the 3ds sold more then the ds at its time.

[QUOTE="D4W1L4H"][QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"]

So...you mean to say nintendo is the king of handheld even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?

P.S: windows phone is already on the market by the way.
""most successful and profitable systems""

LOL except the fact that the psp had a higher piracy rate then the ds did there is a reason most games sold like s*** on the psp.

WilliamRLBaker

how hard is the concept to understand? ""even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?"" and I do not belive one second the 3ds sold more then the ds at its time.

[QUOTE="crippled_ram"]

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"]

So...you mean to say nintendo is the king of handheld even though currently they are getting their a**** handed to them by smartphones and ipods?

P.S: windows phone is already on the market by the way.
""most successful and profitable systems""

LOL except the fact that the psp had a higher piracy rate then the ds did there is a reason most games sold like s*** on the psp.

WilliamRLBaker

The handheld market belongs to Nintendo. Nintendo are the handheld Gods, and there is no question about that. However, with the PSP, Sony has managed to carve itself a slice of that market (that it may or may not lose with the PS Vita, which has had a troubled launch, but may yet recover). Collectively, Sony and Nintendo have an entire market by the balls (Nintendo more so than Sony), but considering how profitable handhelds have helped Sony and Nintendo through rough spots in the past (Nintendo with GBC and Pokemon in the N64 days, and the GBA/DS in the Gamecube days; Sony with the PSP during the disaster that was the PS3 launch), it might be a very logical question: why has Microsoft not ventured into the handheld market yet? After all, it would only make sense to do so, especially considering how profitable handhelds are, and considering how they can often offset the heavy losses consoles can lead a company to suffer (which means they would have been very useful for Microsoft back when the 360 was bleeding money).

However, here are seven reasons as to why a Microsoft handheld is always doomed to fail:

3. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THEM IN THE MARKET

Like the larger gaming market in general, the handheld gaming market can be neatly trifurcated into the super casual, the core enthusiasts and the tech junkies. Apple, and to a lesser extent Android, has an iron grip over the super casual market. iOS gaming, with 99 cent apps and Angry Birds, is enough to satisfy the needs of that market, and that won't change. Nintendo has the largest slice of the market- it rules the core enthusiasts with its handhelds, and its handheld exclusive franchises like Pokemon and Advance Wars. Sony has the final niche- the tech junkie. It is the segment of the market that the PSP appealed to, and it is the segment of the market the PS Vita will appeal to.

What segment of the market will Microsoft appeal to? They can't go after the iOS segment- one could argue they already tried with Windows Phone 7 and failed. Going against Nintendo is pure foolishness, and it would take them down. So that leaves the Sony segment of the market. Sony has already manufactured a tech heavy handheld with the backing of its first party that it selles at a heavy loss. What would Microsoft do? Make an even more powerful handheld? Sell it at an even bigger loss? Isn't that missing the point entirely?

2. THE HANDHELD WILL HAVE NO THIRD PARTY SUPPORT

Third party support for a handheld never comes from western developers and publishers. Western developers and publishers see handheld as third tier development platforms. A handheld always gets its premier games from Japanese developers. This was the case with every single Nintendo handheld, and it was the case with the PSP. The PS Vita is struggling right now because it has no Japanese software.

Microsoft has failed at achieving any sort of market penetration with its Xbox brand in Japan. They have failed to gain any significant third party support and then retain and sustain it. A Microsoft handheld would fail at gaining any traction with Japanese developers, and with the Japanese market, and it would therefore be an exercise in futility.

1. MICROSOFT HAS NO GODDAMN FIRST PARTY

More than anything else, a handheld is always sustained by its first party games. Nintendo handhelds always sell because you know you're getting a new Mario Kart, a new Pokemon, a new Advance Wars and a new Zelda. The PSP sold on the back of games like God of War: Chains of Olympus. Third parties often neglect handhelds because, as stated above, they see them as second and third tier platforms. In situations like these, it is up to the console manufacturer to sustain the handheld.

But Microsoft has no first party to sustain its system with. What franchises would be exclusive to an Xbox handheld that you would buy it for? Halo? Forza? Fable? And...?

And why wouldn't you just play those games on a home console? More than even Sony's games, Microsoft's games are centered and constructed around the home console experience. Heavy Xbox LIVE integration, long quests and missions, and control layouts all point to a console centric development philosophy (which is also evident in Microsoft's failure to handle PC gaming). How will they sustain a handheld platform exactly?

---

And there you have it, folks. A Microsoft handheld is doomed to fail, no matter what. So all you lemmings rejoicing prematurely at the PS Vita's 'failure,' STFU. At least Sony has the balls to tackle the handheld market. Microsoft won't even f*cking dare to enter it, because it knows it'll fail. And say what you will, the Vita will have a rough start, but will then go on to sell about 50 million units at least. Not as much as the 3DS, but an awful f*cking lot.

So much for 'failed system,' huh?

RulerofGondor

whether they make a handheld or not, they still own the world. they make a thing called "Windows" you know. i don't think they need to make handhelds to make money.

[QUOTE="RulerofGondor"]

whether they make a handheld or not, they still own the world. they make a thing called "Windows" you know. i don't think they need to make handhelds to make money.

live-a-live

[QUOTE="RulerofGondor"]

The handheld market belongs to Nintendo. Nintendo are the handheld Gods, and there is no question about that. However, with the PSP, Sony has managed to carve itself a slice of that market (that it may or may not lose with the PS Vita, which has had a troubled launch, but may yet recover). Collectively, Sony and Nintendo have an entire market by the balls (Nintendo more so than Sony), but considering how profitable handhelds have helped Sony and Nintendo through rough spots in the past (Nintendo with GBC and Pokemon in the N64 days, and the GBA/DS in the Gamecube days; Sony with the PSP during the disaster that was the PS3 launch), it might be a very logical question: why has Microsoft not ventured into the handheld market yet? After all, it would only make sense to do so, especially considering how profitable handhelds are, and considering how they can often offset the heavy losses consoles can lead a company to suffer (which means they would have been very useful for Microsoft back when the 360 was bleeding money).

However, here are seven reasons as to why a Microsoft handheld is always doomed to fail:

3. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THEM IN THE MARKET

Like the larger gaming market in general, the handheld gaming market can be neatly trifurcated into the super casual, the core enthusiasts and the tech junkies. Apple, and to a lesser extent Android, has an iron grip over the super casual market. iOS gaming, with 99 cent apps and Angry Birds, is enough to satisfy the needs of that market, and that won't change. Nintendo has the largest slice of the market- it rules the core enthusiasts with its handhelds, and its handheld exclusive franchises like Pokemon and Advance Wars. Sony has the final niche- the tech junkie. It is the segment of the market that the PSP appealed to, and it is the segment of the market the PS Vita will appeal to.

What segment of the market will Microsoft appeal to? They can't go after the iOS segment- one could argue they already tried with Windows Phone 7 and failed. Going against Nintendo is pure foolishness, and it would take them down. So that leaves the Sony segment of the market. Sony has already manufactured a tech heavy handheld with the backing of its first party that it selles at a heavy loss. What would Microsoft do? Make an even more powerful handheld? Sell it at an even bigger loss? Isn't that missing the point entirely?

2. THE HANDHELD WILL HAVE NO THIRD PARTY SUPPORT

Third party support for a handheld never comes from western developers and publishers. Western developers and publishers see handheld as third tier development platforms. A handheld always gets its premier games from Japanese developers. This was the case with every single Nintendo handheld, and it was the case with the PSP. The PS Vita is struggling right now because it has no Japanese software.

Microsoft has failed at achieving any sort of market penetration with its Xbox brand in Japan. They have failed to gain any significant third party support and then retain and sustain it. A Microsoft handheld would fail at gaining any traction with Japanese developers, and with the Japanese market, and it would therefore be an exercise in futility.

1. MICROSOFT HAS NO GODDAMN FIRST PARTY

More than anything else, a handheld is always sustained by its first party games. Nintendo handhelds always sell because you know you're getting a new Mario Kart, a new Pokemon, a new Advance Wars and a new Zelda. The PSP sold on the back of games like God of War: Chains of Olympus. Third parties often neglect handhelds because, as stated above, they see them as second and third tier platforms. In situations like these, it is up to the console manufacturer to sustain the handheld.

But Microsoft has no first party to sustain its system with. What franchises would be exclusive to an Xbox handheld that you would buy it for? Halo? Forza? Fable? And...?

And why wouldn't you just play those games on a home console? More than even Sony's games, Microsoft's games are centered and constructed around the home console experience. Heavy Xbox LIVE integration, long quests and missions, and control layouts all point to a console centric development philosophy (which is also evident in Microsoft's failure to handle PC gaming). How will they sustain a handheld platform exactly?

---

And there you have it, folks. A Microsoft handheld is doomed to fail, no matter what. So all you lemmings rejoicing prematurely at the PS Vita's 'failure,' STFU. At least Sony has the balls to tackle the handheld market. Microsoft won't even f*cking dare to enter it, because it knows it'll fail. And say what you will, the Vita will have a rough start, but will then go on to sell about 50 million units at least. Not as much as the 3DS, but an awful f*cking lot.

So much for 'failed system,' huh?

live-a-live

whether they make a handheld or not, they still own the world. they make a thing called "Windows" you know. i don't think they need to make handhelds to make money.

They already have a very nice mobile OS and are on the verge of releasing what could be the first proper iPad competitor -- why would they want to make a handheld?

[QUOTE="D4W1L4H"] Nintendo is getting their ass handed to them? :lol: Wut

The ONLY reason it wouldn't sell well: it wouldn't have Japanese support.

Funny thing is, people said the same thing about the Xbox.

MS doesn't need Japan.

The oly reason Vita isn't doing well is because it cost more than what most want to spend on a handheld.

A balance Sony has never understood.

Funny thing is, people said the same thing about the Xbox.

MS doesn't need Japan.

The oly reason Vita isn't doing well is because it cost more than what most want to spend on a handheld.

A balance Sony has never understood.

HalcyonScarlet

I assume that's in response to people saying MS lacks Japanese support to make a handheld work

In which case you need to understand how different the console and handheld markets are.

As it stands most of the biggest console game makers are western companies whereas both the PSP and DS handhelds are dominated by Japanese software support.

3. THERE IS NO PLACE FOR THEM IN THE MARKET

RulerofGondor

Windows based tablets says Hi.

2. THE HANDHELD WILL HAVE NO THIRD PARTY SUPPORT

RulerofGondor

Windows based tablets says Hi.

1. MICROSOFT HAS NO GODDAMN FIRST PARTY

---

And there you have it, folks. A Microsoft handheld is doomed to fail, no matter what. So all you lemmings rejoicing prematurely at the PS Vita's 'failure,' STFU. At least Sony has the balls to tackle the handheld market. Microsoft won't even f*cking dare to enter it, because it knows it'll fail. And say what you will, the Vita will have a rough start, but will then go on to sell about 50 million units at least. Not as much as the 3DS, but an awful f*cking lot.

So much for 'failed system,' huh?

RulerofGondor

Pathetic sub-HD garbage.

Microsoft Windows based tablets > Sony Vita.

Samsung Series 7 Slate with Intel Core i5-2467M (17 watts). Intel Ivybridge (17 watts) can deliver near Xbox 360 level performance on a tablet e.g.F1 2011 @ medium details and ~1280x720p.

-------------

AMD Trinity APU 17 watts version with similar performance as AMD Llano A8-3520 (35 watts).

AMD Llano A8-3500M playing Battlefield 3 PC DX11 gameplay example @ 1280x720p HD

AMD Llano A8-3500M playing Deus Ex Human Revolution PC gameplay example @1360 X 768p HD

Alan Wake PC would run well on AMD Llano A8-3500M at proper 1280x720p HD resolution not some sub-HD Xbox 360.

tomshardware.com/reviews/a8-3500m-llano-apu,2959-22.html

The power use in the above graph is a result of a controlled test on an external monitor, so we repeated this metric again, this time using the laptop's own display. The A8-3500M laptop lasted two hours and 12 minutes. Assuming the Intel laptop used the exact same battery, it would run for one hour and 22 minutes.

This is very impressive. Not only does the A8-3500M get about twice as much time out of its battery, it does so while delivering far better graphics performance. The implications of this are profound: a Llano laptop user might be able to play a mainstream 3D game for an entire two-hour flight with decent frame rates, while the Intel Core i5-based platform would only last for half of the flight with choppy performance. There does, in fact, seem to be validity in AMD's excitement over its improved power story, and of course this is a real advantage when it comes to mobile devices.

Current AMD Llano A8-3500M in already close to Intel 17 watt form factors.

[QUOTE="HalcyonScarlet"]

Funny thing is, people said the same thing about the Xbox.

MS doesn't need Japan.

The oly reason Vita isn't doing well is because it cost more than what most want to spend on a handheld.

A balance Sony has never understood.

SW__Troll

I assume that's in response to people saying MS lacks Japanese support to make a handheld work

In which case you need to understand how different the console and handheld markets are.

As it stands most of the biggest console game makers are western companies whereas both the PSP and DS handhelds are dominated by Japanese software support.

Was that not the case before MS entered the console market. Most games on home consoles were Japanese based too. MS is a big part of why there is so much western support for home consoles. They would do the same for a handheld if they wanted.

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"] *looks at a bicycles, motorbikes* hmmm look I can get from point A to point B...including methods which are more fuel efficient than cars...yep seems to be the exact same market to me. Infact your right it literally isn't the same market all automobiles have is motor enthusiasts keeping it afloat and bicycles have houndreds of millions of people keeping them afloat. lol when are people gonna realize if your in the vehicle industry, skateboards, bikes then your competing with each other...hell if your in the transport industry which vehicles are apart of you are competing with trains and other such things which is why we have heard quite a few times about so and so public transport ticket pricing drops affecting car sales.D4W1L4H

[QUOTE="D4W1L4H"][QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"] *looks at a bicycles, motorbikes* hmmm look I can get from point A to point B...including methods which are more fuel efficient than cars...yep seems to be the exact same market to me. Infact your right it literally isn't the same market all automobiles have is motor enthusiasts keeping it afloat and bicycles have houndreds of millions of people keeping them afloat. lol when are people gonna realize if your in the vehicle industry, skateboards, bikes then your competing with each other...hell if your in the transport industry which vehicles are apart of you are competing with trains and other such things which is why we have heard quite a few times about so and so public transport ticket pricing drops affecting car sales.WilliamRLBaker

or better yet ipads aren't competing with laptops because they dont come with keyboards right?

Until MS releases a gaming handheld one cannot say it will surely fail.. who knows it might be a well priced, solid handheld which offers interesting functions along an amazing games library...

People think that unless you dethrone Nintendo in the handheld market its authomatically a failure... thats wrong thinking imo !!

Why even discuss this? There is no indication what so ever that MS would create a portable system and MS' strategy is to take over your living room anyway.

[QUOTE="WilliamRLBaker"][QUOTE="D4W1L4H"] FixedD4W1L4H

#1 REASON WHY A MICROSOFT HANDHELD WILL ALWAYS FAIL ???

RROD IN YOUR PANTS.....

OUCH !!!

or better yet ipads aren't competing with laptops because they dont come with keyboards right?

WilliamRLBaker

What? The tablet is the advancement of laptops due to being more accessible/portable, it will eventually die. It's the "next gen" laptop.

Well, it should be like this because the laptop has no purpose to live anymore. Everything will eventually become touch based, it's the direction technology as a whole is heading towards.

fail like the vita or more? :twisted:

Always fail :o they haven't even tried yet but that coming with the more expensive Elite model of next gen Xbox 1337 that includes the fully integrated MS handheld. :P