Fans of Peter Parker, listen up: Activision (NASDAQ:ATVI) plans to bring its Spider-Man 2 game to the upcoming Nintendo DS handheld system. (No definitive date has been set yet.)
Was there ever any doubt? Ol' Spidey will colonize any viable platform. Both Marvel (NYSE:MVL) and Activision will benefit when this software hits the shelves, as the Spider-Man game franchise has already converted millions of players to its three-dimensional mythos.
And let's not discount the benefit Nintendo will reap as well. All new gaming platforms possess an ultimate need: A great slate of software to power a selective advantage in the marketplace. In fact, a killer application is the best thing a platform can have; Halo for Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox system immediately comes to mind. How many people do you know who purchased an Xbox for that game alone? How many intend on buying it in anticipation of the sequel? My point is made. Companies such as THQ (NASDAQ:THQI) and Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) would certainly like to come up with their own system-driving software.
Spider-Man 2 won't constitute a killer app for the DS, but it will get things moving for Nintendo, which must ensure that its new portable unit is an unqualified hit in order to maintain its dominance of the handheld gaming arena. Sony (NYSE:SNE) will eventually be competing with its own handheld device called the PSP, so nothing is guaranteed (don't worry, a Spider-Man game is reported to be heading to this machine as well). In addition, it will be very interesting to see how sales of the Gameboy Advance system fare in relation to the launch of the DS, which is scheduled to occur in November. The best outcome will be two separate markets of buyers; cannibalization would, of course, please no one (except for Hannibal Lecter, perhaps).
I can't wait to see how Activision uses the two screens -- the primary hook of the DS system. I also can't wait to see how games released by Activision on the DS eventually add shareholder value for investors.
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Fool contributor Steven Mallas owns none of the companies mentioned.
