3 ms·

I think the assumption is that everyone is carrying a bag now anyway. When the GBA came out, most people were still not carrying mobile phones so you had a pock

by sylens 2y ago

I think the assumption is that everyone is carrying a bag now anyway. When the GBA came out, most people were still not carrying mobile phones so you had a pocket free besides wallet and keys

dagmx 2y ago
Idk where you live, but bags are not any more common in my experience than in the 90s. The more likely reality is that gamers have different expectations today. The kinds of games you’d play on everything prior to the 3DS are things you’d play on mobile phones now. That leaves the middle area of more high fidelity games, with better ergonomics and closer to home consoles. That’s what the Switch , the PSP and Vita and 3DS occupy. They can’t compete anymore in the absolute mobile end of gaming space , so moved into the space in between. That requires larger devices to provide the experience gamers want that they can’t get on the average phone till recently.
ekianjo 2y ago
The untold story is that most modern portable gaming happens at home.
- musicale 2y ago
  I see lots of people playing smartphone and tablet games, usually at max volume, on public transit, in stores, at dining locations, and in many other public spaces. Mostly anti-social gaming and/or child sedation, though I saw multiple players playing the same online game once. But I think you are on to something, and not just that kids (or adults) don't go outside or interact with friends as much as they did in the past. It's just very enjoyable and comfortable to curl up with a portable game system at home, much as one could with a good book (if we still read books.)
  - ekianjo 2y ago
    Oh yes, there is portable gaming happening outside, that's for sure. My point is that's a minority of the actual portable gaming. People typically have more free time at home, and there is less of a barrier to play games when not in public, and less distractions. Anyway, that's just a hunch, I don't really have numbers to support that claim.

by sylens 2y ago

I think the assumption is that everyone is carrying a bag now anyway. When the GBA came out, most people were still not carrying mobile phones so you had a pocket free besides wallet and keys

dagmx 2y ago

Idk where you live, but bags are not any more common in my experience than in the 90s. The more likely reality is that gamers have different expectations today. The kinds of games you’d play on everything prior to the 3DS are things you’d play on mobile phones now. That leaves the middle area of more high fidelity games, with better ergonomics and closer to home consoles. That’s what the Switch , the PSP and Vita and 3DS occupy. They can’t compete anymore in the absolute mobile end of gaming space , so moved into the space in between. That requires larger devices to provide the experience gamers want that they can’t get on the average phone till recently.

ekianjo 2y ago

The untold story is that most modern portable gaming happens at home.

musicale 2y ago
I see lots of people playing smartphone and tablet games, usually at max volume, on public transit, in stores, at dining locations, and in many other public spaces. Mostly anti-social gaming and/or child sedation, though I saw multiple players playing the same online game once. But I think you are on to something, and not just that kids (or adults) don't go outside or interact with friends as much as they did in the past. It's just very enjoyable and comfortable to curl up with a portable game system at home, much as one could with a good book (if we still read books.)
- ekianjo 2y ago
  Oh yes, there is portable gaming happening outside, that's for sure. My point is that's a minority of the actual portable gaming. People typically have more free time at home, and there is less of a barrier to play games when not in public, and less distractions. Anyway, that's just a hunch, I don't really have numbers to support that claim.