Handheld game systems like 3DS and PlayStation Vita are facing competition unlike anything their predecessors ever had to deal with. Like it or not, phones and tablets are eating into the market for handheld games. That’s not to say dedicated gaming handhelds are dead or that no one wants the type of experiences they can provide anymore, but there is a lot more pressure on Nintendo and Sony than there has been in the past. Sony, especially, is faced with a less-than-desirable position; whereas Nintendo has a massive war chest and a system in 3DS that has done relatively well since its price cut, the Vita, like Sony itself, has been struggling worldwide.
Part of what makes iOS and Android devices so attractive to some people are their respective app stores. Although the cost of iOS devices in particular might be rather high, once you get one, you have access to what can feel like a never-ending stream of App Store games that typically cost very little. That’s a major point of distinction between iOS devices and the Vita; while the latter has access to cheap games from the Minis line, those have never really gained much traction. The bulk of the games you’re likely to spend your time playing are full-priced, $40 games and smaller, downloadable titles that cost more than most iOS fare like Plants vs. Zombies ($15), Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack ($8), and Super Stardust Delta ($10).
