Thanks to the rise of superpowered mobile devices and the market's cool response to Nintendo's (OTC BB: NTDOY.PK) Wii U, consoles have begun to look like an endangered species. However, consoles have grown into much more than simple game machines and are unlikely to become extinct any time soon.
The ever-evolving console
Even if I give up my first-person shooters for more casual games -- which is unlikely -- my console will have a place by the television. My Microsoft
I'm not alone in keeping my console. According to a recent study by NDP, 60% of people who purchase mobile games haven't reduced their spending on consoles. Tablets also don't make much of a difference. A study by Resolve Market Research found that only 14% of Apple iPad owners wouldn't purchase a console after getting their hands on a tablet. Nor do tablets put much pressure on portable consoles. Only 26% of tablet owners said they wouldn't buy one. I find it even more encouraging that both of these numbers dropped a little more than 10% year over year. This makes sense, since consoles provide a different gaming experience from a touchscreen device like a tablet.
What's really happening
It seems that rather than eating into the gaming market, the new gaming platforms actually expand it. Facebook, smartphones, and, to a lesser extent, the Nintendo Wii have brought gaming to scores of consumers who couldn't be bothered to learn the complex control schemes and gameplay mechanics of the average blockbuster console game. For the first time since Pong hit the scene, there's a real market for simple games.
In this light, Electronic Arts'
How to play this game
Because the platforms are so new, you'll probably see the biggest growth in mobile and social gaming, but I would place my bets carefully. I don't think Zynga has anything special to offer, but other Fools disagree. I also can't get excited about Glu Mobile
As fellow Fool Anders Bylund has previously noted, the video-game industry is a moving target. Investors should find plenty of opportunities as casual gaming continues to grow, but they shouldn't declare consoles dead just yet.
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