Thanks to a recent back injury, Adam Sessler was forced to spend a lot of time laying on his couch. Since it was difficult for him to sit upright, Adam spent a lot of time gaming on his PS Vita and his iPad, which got him thinking about handheld gaming. In this week's Soapbox, The Sess discusses handheld consoles, iOS devices, and how they factor in when it comes to gaming on the go.
Sessler's Soapbox: Handheld Gaming »
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cuy612
psvita we love you !!!!!
rad_shart
I agree with Sess, handheld games serve a need. They provide entertainment that fits the modern mobile lifestyle and play-anywhere model. The console and pc environment allow for more immersion and total player engagement. The latter allows for a richer and deeper escape into a new world for a few hours at a time. It is that entertainment that transcends flicking birds for a few moments and creates a lasting connection. Something we need more and more these days.
Also Sess... did you hurt you back carrying your bag of vitamins home from the pharmacy?
Aaron82
I never take my DS Lite, 3DS, or Vita anywhere.
I buy platforms for the games.
lowkevmic
I don't know why or how anyone thought that handhelds would ever take the place of home consoles. Just like tablets to PCs, a handheld gaming device is designed in the same fashion. Where as you'll get the initial fun and experience of a console but in the palm of your hands that you can take everywhere with you, which means also a very limited experience. But it doesn't replace your console, and I don't think they were ever meaning to. Remember, the same folks who make the Vita and the 3DS, continues to look at their consoles as their main source of income. So portables were just another way the gamer can be constantly connected to their product, until eventually they return home to play their console.
What I will say is that I do think portable will eventually get to a place where we will see products coming out as strong or pretty close to what we see on console. But like Sessler said, for him and I'm sure for many others who play handhelds, it serves a very small and specific purpose. Which is to be a simple distraction or time killer while being anywhere away from home. I've owned a PSP, and I can count on one hand howmany times I played it at home, when I have a library of games and a console right in front of me. It was more so a replacement for a newspaper while dropping a deuce, or something I played on the bus on my way to work. But when I want a full gaming experience, with a game that has way more depth, then I will always return to my console.
Audioaddict
Handheld gaming became much more prevalent in my life after getting married and having to share the remote control. Resident Evil Revelations has made sitting through shows like Dance Moms, Grey's Anatomy, and Army Wives much more bearable.
Chandledorf
Sounds like misaligned your vertebra. Ive had struggles with herniated disks and out of line vertebra a lot from my job. A buldged disk is actually an inflamation so at first you should put ice on it ,20 mins on and 40 mins off. No heat! Afterwords have a chiropracter crack it. Sounds bad but they can twist your torso and reallign your spine with a big crack. One of the best things I've ever done for my back is yoga. It's girly but it loosens your tight muscles that are holding your spine in the wrong position & helps slide them back into place. You could also have your wife help you crack your back. Lay on your side in a sort of fetal position & then have someone put one hand on your shoulder and another on your hip. Have them push as if you were going to push your crotch to face the ground & you chest to face the sky. This is what my chiropractor does & you can do it at home. Light back strengthening exercises along with yoga will change your life when it comes to back pain.Hope this advice helps Adam : D if you ever actually see it.
cluckhead123
the ps vita is the best hand held out there if u dont want to get sucked into a long console game like uncharted or ninja gaiden play a arcade type game on it like super star dust delta dont hate on the hand helds (ps vita love)
hadlee73
I agree with Ses in that there will always be a place for handheld gaming, but it will never replace current consoles (or PCs for those who prefer that as their primary gaming device). My handhelds (3DS, PSP and PS Vita) are my main source of gaming for trips and travelling between work (I have to endure long bus trips for work, so handheld gaming is a god-send). I haven't been able to adjust to the "lite" kind of gaming offered by phones and iDevices, but that's probably because I've been brought up on deeper games that have existed since the 80s (C64, Amiga, NES, early PCs etc).
Luke_nx01
The Vita is still laughable to me: it makes its pitch on "bringing console experiences to a handheld", but console experiences aren't what I want to play when I am on the bus! I nee something I can turn on for about five minutes, make progress save and put away instantly, otherwise I'll look like an idiot walking about with a game system in my face.
Kingofscarecrows
the thought of adam buying porn in a sleazy book store with a big trench coat and that sam fisher beard will sustain me through the year on visual humor, thank you
R3$0n8
The future of hand-held gaming? Nonexistent. Dead within a five, maybe 10 years. The future of portal gaming? There words. "Heads Up Gaming." Full on augmented reality. Some games maybe you need a controller for, or first person shooters that you play with a controller that looks like a nerf gun or laser tag gun. Or maybe some new style of gaming that we haven't even thought of yet.....point is, the future isn't in your hand, its in your head.
Also, Dennou Coil. Watch it.
Gabtraf
When it comes to me with handhelds, either I have to have an RPG, puzzle, or a platformer. Now I don't expect it to kill the console market, that'd be absurd, but I usually get games that usually have crazy post-game content, that'll keep me busy whenever I'm not at home. (though others would most likely stick with puzzles for their handhelds, and that's fine too!)
lilhotdude1313
Personally I just love playing a long RPG on my DS. When I get into an RPG I like the ability to play it anytime even if I'm at home with "better" home consoles. To me handhelds offer a more personal experience and that may be why I've played my DS for longer periods than any home console.
Nintendoforce
adam doesnt play his 3DS???
lucidity
Personally I'm with Adam, handhelds don't interest me.
That said, the mobile market is way too big to ignore.
Ipad HD sold 3m just on opening weekend.
joughy
Adam...were you really playing Infinity Ward 2? hmmmmmmm haha (1:27)
Ashley_Si
I think all consoles will be portable eventually. It'll come down to the tech being the same and the manufacturers asking "Do we really need two different systems just one portable and one chained to a tv." We'll end up with a portable system that can just dock up to a tv and charge while you use a controller and be picked right back up when you're ready to go without breaking the game at all.
sadago
In your quest to effectively adopt another basketball team s narrative all for the sake of enjoying the ongoing tournament (but only for a few select weekends), you ve already kind of summed up your views on mobile versus console gaming: diverting, but not so much depth of experience. Cool. (And not a bad day s result for working on your back; you must be a pro.)
So which gaming system best represents your beloved UCLA Bruins?
(and also, Rock Chalk, Jayhawks)
stealth20k
NOBODY CARES ABOUT IOS
UNEMPLOYEDxxxxJEDI
Nintendo owns the gaming handheld market. PS Vita doesn't even come close, eventhough it's great hand held console. Kids don't want to play cheap games on I pad/phone, they want to play Pokemon, Mario, and other DS/3DS games. Other hand held consoles, came and went. In the end Nintendo is still there as the king of portable gaming
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