Growth for Sony, Nintendo handhelds "has peaked"

October 23rd, 2009, 16:19 Posted By: wraggster

Games for the iPhone and iPod touch are to account for 24 per cent of the portable gaming market by 2014.

That's according to new research by DFC Intelligence, which estimates the handheld and mobile games market will account for $11.7 billion in sales in five years time.

"The dedicated portable game systems from companies like Nintendo and Sony are still expected to lead the market, but it appears growth for these devices has peaked," commented analyst David Cole.

"The platforms from Apple are expected to be responsible for the bulk of market growth over the next few years."

Of 8000 people surveyed by DFC Intelligence in the Europe and the US, 69 per cent of respondents in Europe and 54 per cent of North Americans had played a game on their mobile phone in the past year, with 36 per cent of European and 45 per cent of US respondents paying for an application. The App Store was named the most popular service for purchases.

Around 29 per cent of those surveyed owned a Nintendo DS, while 15 per cent said they already owned an iPhone or iPod Touch.

"With the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple has finally delivered mobile developers a platform with an attractive business model and a rapidly growing installed base of active consumers," offered Michel Kripalani, president of Oceanhouse Media.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...lds-has-peaked

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