Providing market intelligence for more than 35 years

USA Today

What's PlayStation Vita got that my smartphone doesn't?

Sales of dedicated handheld systems have declined even as more Americans play video games. About 135 million people play at least one hour a month, up from 58 million in 2008, according to the research firm Park Associates.

Though computers and traditional home consoles remain the most popular devices, younger players prefer mobile phones, the firm says in a recent report. And three-fourths of those who own tablets play games on them.

Handheld systems have a market "for the time being," says Parks Associates research analyst Pietro Macchiarella. "As long as handhelds manage to deliver unique experiences, there will be room for them on the market."

From the article, "What's PlayStation Vita got that my smartphone doesn't?" by Mike Snider

Previously In The News

Taking aim at gaming consoles

But Nintendo was the last console system to add Netflix streaming and could gain from adding other TV and movie content. "That is something Nintendo has been weak on," says Pietro Macchiarella, res...

Roku unveils its latest: Streaming Stick

The stick will be compatible with the new MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) standard. MHL provides power to the stick from the HDMI input, so the device won't work with most TVs — even most new one...

Roku unveils its latest: Streaming Stick

Currently, only a handful of TVs from Toshiba and Samsung are MHL-compatible, says Parks Associates analyst Kurt Scherf. The new sets from Best Buy will be MHL-compatible, too. "You'll see a lo...