Is Apple intent on dominating the world of handheld gaming?

The world of handheld gaming is a very lucrative business indeed. With gadgets such as the Sony PSP attracting more 'hardcore' gamers, and the Nintendo DS attracting scores of both serious and casual gamers, it is very clear that there is a large market for handheld video games. In recent years, this is an industry that has been dominated by the two heavyweights of Nintendo and Sony, but a surprise attack is being mounted on the handheld market, from an unlikely source. Apple.

After the release of the Apple iPad, it is worth taking stock of this new development in the market, and taking a look at whether Apple have what it takes to take on companies such as Nintendo; and, with that being the case, if they have the ability to deal a serious blow to Nintendo's gaming market.

Apple's assault on the handheld gaming market began with the launch of the App Store, for the iPhone. Along with smaller, third party developers, it did not take long for bigger publishers to sign up to the App Store, with big names such as Konami and EA signing on to develop games for the iPhone. With the release of the iPhone 3GS, mobile gaming took on a new dimension, as the faster process and more optimised internal architecture of the iPhone 3GS allowed for extra benefits such as higher resolution graphics. This, in turn, led to the development of bigger and more complex iPhone games.

While the upcoming release of the fourth version of the iPhone, mobile gaming is sure to be a focus for Apple, but before that phone is released, Apple will be bringing mobile gaming to a new market, with the release of the iPad.

As a gaming platform, the iPad provides two key benefits over the iPhone: firstly, it has a faster Apple A4 processor, which benchmark tests seem to suggest is considerably faster even than the iPhone 3GS; and secondly, it has a much bigger screen, which measures 9.7 inches from corner to corner, as opposed to the 3.5 inch screen found on the iPhone. With this larger screen comes a higher screen resolution, and that can only help in providing the user with high-end, graphically rich games. It is very telling that some of the most anticipated apps to be appearing on the iPad are games; they are also not just any games, but high profile titles such as Mirror's Edge, Resident Evil 4 and an iPhone version of the Need For Speed franchise.

Based on that evidence, it would seem, at face value, that Apple do pose a serious threat to their rivals in the handheld gaming market, Nintendo and Sony. Interestingly, however, it seems that Nintendo do not see things that way, instead saying that Apple poses very little danger to them. The view of Nintendo, as has been reported by Destructoid.com, is that games on the iPhone are there to be experienced in 'bite-sized chunks', and as a form of casual gaming to be taken advantage of, for example, when catching the train home from work. Hence, Nintendo imply that the iPhone cannot deliver long-term, immersive gaming, which is why they don't think it will be a threat to the Nintendo DS.

However, perhaps it would be unwise for Nintendo to ignore the threat the iPhone and iPad collectively pose. Even if their opinion is correct, it seems unlikely that Apple will be happy with letting these devices remain as casual games systems, and with big names such as EA, Capcom and Konami developing games for the App Store, it can only be a matter of time before Apple do make a serious attack on the handheld gaming market. Given the loyalty their fans exhibit, that could be a very serious threat to Nintendo's dominance.