Microsoft Handheld Console ?

WIBSBOT · 29 May 2007 at 15:45

Will Microsoft ever release an handheld console to rival Nintendo and Sony ?

Would it be a good thing for the handheld market - shake it up a bit ?

From looking at the sales figures of the DS and the PSP against the 360, PS3 and Wii, surely Microsoft would have to be mad not to want a slice of the hand action ?

Inoshishi · 29 May 2007 at 15:53

I dont think any hand held manufacturer will ever come close to nintendo.

XPE · 29 May 2007 at 15:56

WIBSBOT said:
From looking at the sales figures of the DS and the PSP against the 360, PS3 and Wii, surely Microsoft would have to be mad not to want a slice of the hand action ?

a lot of the handheld market is in japan and ms console stuff just doesnt sell in japan.

Manlove is my forte · 29 May 2007 at 15:57

Sony with the dominance of the PS2 imo has not made that big an impact on the Handheld market. MS does have bags of cash, but I think that they would be over stretching themselves by making another media devices. How well has the Zune done?

I think they should focus on the home console market and look to keeping, improving their market position there before entering the portable market.

It would simply be bad business sense if they attempted it. Anyone studying (studied)Porters 5 forces can tell you that the Handheld market is not currently worth entering.

WIBSBOT · 29 May 2007 at 16:01

Kronologic said:
Anyone studying (studied)Porters 5 forces can tell you that the Handheld market is not currently worth entering.

What is Porters 5 forces ?

Surely a market that is worth so much money is worth getting a slice of the pie ? Even if it's just a small slice ?

Mr Men · 29 May 2007 at 16:04

MS will want to crush Sony in the home console market first then maybe wipe out Nintendo in the handheld market, but would be tough unless they got the rights to Pokemon then they would sell.

Memphis · 29 May 2007 at 16:24

WIBSBOT said:
Surely a market that is worth so much money is worth getting a slice of the pie ? Even if it's just a small slice ?

Just because it's a small device, doesn't mean the R&D costs wouldn't still be quite large. That then makes the "small slice" even smaller.

Manlove is my forte · 29 May 2007 at 16:25

WIBSBOT said:
What is Porters 5 forces ?

Surely a market that is worth so much money is worth getting a slice of the pie ? Even if it's just a small slice ?

Its a way of looking at a market to see how competitive it is and how likely you are to succeed in that market iirc.

The 5 forces are

1) Threat of new Entrance - Likely new enterants into the direct market
Nintendo new hand held
Sony New console
New Upstart console

2) Buyers power - Power of consumer to effect prices and product spec
Graphics Spec
Battery Life requirements
Price cap
Screen Size
User interface
Physical size
Media requirements
Media compatibility
sound quality
etc

3) Threat of substitution product - Any Product that consumer could spend their money on (does not have to be in same market)
mp3 players
Home cinema equipment
TVs
Furniture
rival handheld consoles
home consoles
computer components
car tuning parts
mobile phones
pdas
laptops
online gambling
sports equipment
etc

4) Suppliers Power -Power of suppliers to effect prices and product spec
all parts capacity availability and capability, contracted pricing agreements

5) Industry Competitors - Anyone likely to compete for the consumers cash
Sony
Apple
Nintendo (primary console competitors)
Any Electics company performing well in market
Any Software Company Performing well in market
Any Non Electronics/Software market business with alternative lifestyle product.

barnettgs · 29 May 2007 at 16:27

Well, you're missing one vital thing: games.

If Microsoft entered portable market, what games can they offer? I suspect it would be take a lot more than that.

malachi · 29 May 2007 at 16:40

Didnt MS once say they have no intention of releasing a hand held console due to development work in the PDA market?

WIBSBOT · 29 May 2007 at 16:57

Mr Men said:
MS will want to crush Sony in the home console market first then maybe wipe out Nintendo in the handheld market, but would be tough unless they got the rights to Pokemon then they would sell.

It could be many, many years before and if MS wipe any competitors out in the home market.

barnettgs said:
Well, you're missing one vital thing: games.

If Microsoft entered portable market, what games can they offer?

Do what Sony have done and port a load of home console (xbox) games ?

Surely if Microsoft don't have any device in the handheld market soon, the costs of development will prohibit them from ever entering the market ?

I never thought I would see a music player from Microsoft, but then they released the Zune. No matter how bad the Zune may be compared to similar devices, at least they have their foot in the door so to speak. Surely, if nothing else, with Zune mk2 they could include games capability and go from there ?

commodore16 · 29 May 2007 at 16:59

I think they ought to fix the 360 first then some of us might buy em

Oh and what would support be like? I would be scared that they would drop a handheld like they did the xbox when it still had plenty of life left in it.

I mean BLC 2007 and Pro Evo 6 never made it on the xbox along with many other major's. :mad:

Manlove is my forte · 29 May 2007 at 17:06

WIBSBOT said:
It could be many, many years before and if MS wipe any competitors out in the home market.

Do what Sony have done and port a load of home console (xbox) games ?

Surely if Microsoft don't have any device in the handheld market soon, the costs of development will prohibit them from ever entering the market ?

I never thought I would see a music player from Microsoft, but then they released the Zune. No matter how bad the Zune may be compared to similar devices, at least they have their foot in the door so to speak. Surely, if nothing else, with Zune mk2 they could include games capability and go from there ?

Cost of development is not the problem. Its brand awareness that will be the issue,

I predict the Handheld market will be tied up by 1 dedicated console (nintendo) and mobile phones/pdas.

Microsoft would be much better advised to support this market from a software point of view, and look to getting the mobile(phones and PDAs) manufacturers to support their games, rather than investing in a dedicated console. Sony will not be able to sustain this market once the Phones get *** power to play more advanced games imo.

sgx.saint · 29 May 2007 at 17:09

Anyone seen this article?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6683231.stm

barnettgs · 29 May 2007 at 17:11

WIBSBOT said:
Do what Sony have done and port a load of home console (xbox) games ?

So they will play more of the same as it was played on consoles? Hardly new, isn't it?

"andy" · 29 May 2007 at 17:25

i cant see them bothering , its a market proven already to be too hard to crack , Nintendo have it locked down

the PSP has done well (cant say 24million PSP is bad..)but its still very poor compared to Nintendo handhelds.

thought the zune would have done better than it has too

also whats stopping them adopting a complete new music format and forcing windows users to use it, then making there handheld support it

, too cheeky ?

barnettgs said:
So they will play more of the same as it was played on consoles? Hardly new, isn't it?

cant play your console on the train/plane travel though can you , if they're games proven to be liked by people i dont see a problem with hand held ports of them at all.

have nintendo said anything about a new handheld , id quite enjoy playing the virtual console games handheld

FrankJH · 29 May 2007 at 18:33

sgx.saint said:
Anyone seen this article?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6683231.stm

I saw this on another site a few days ago (think it was anandtech but not sure) personally think this is more a gimick than anything that will actually sell PSP's or extend their use. Yes the screen is bigger but is it really necessary to have something that big for a video call? Not sure it will work but you never know.

I really want the PSP to succeed, but to my mind Sony will need a second generation to really get the interoperability with the PS3 and other ideas really working.