On the Future of Portable Game Consoles - Analysis & Forecasts

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Context

1.2 Purpose of Report

1.3 Definitions

2.0 The Business Landscape for Portable Game Consoles

2.1 Mobile Device Convergence Today

2.2 The Emergence of Personal Mobile Devices

2.2.1 Mobile Phones

2.2.2 PDAs

2.2.3 PGCs

2.2.4 Portable Multimedia Players

2.2.5 Merging Robust Console-Quality Gaming with Other Applications

2.2.5.1 Adding Other Media Applications to PGCs

2.2.5.2 Adding Console-Quality Robust Gaming to Mobile Phones

2.2.5.3 Adding Console-Quality Gaming to PMPs

2.3 The Evolution of Electronic Gaming

2.3.1 Electronic Gaming - A Generational Perspective

2.3.2 Recent Generations of Electronic Gaming

2.4 Hardware and Software Sales Trends

2.5 Competition and Market Share

2.5.1 The Resilience of Nintendo vs. the Strength of Sony

2.5.2 PGC Market Share

2.6 Barriers & Risks to Entrance

2.6.1 Hardware Production

2.6.2 Product Differentiation

2.6.2.1 Platform Development

2.6.2.2 Content

2.6.3 Access to Distribution Channels

2.6.4 Marketing Expenses

2.7 Barriers and Risks to Exit

2.8 Threats by Replacement & Substitution Products

2.8.1 Multimedia Phones

2.8.2 Portable Multimedia Players (PMPs)

3.0 Company and Product Profiles

3.1 Sony Corporation

3.1.1 Company Profile

3.1.2 Product Profile

3.1.3 Marketing and Sales Strategies

3.1.4 Accessories, Updates, and Add-ons

3.1.4.1 Firmware Upgrades

3.1.4.2 Present and Future Accessories of Note

3.1.5 Strengths

3.1.6 Weaknesses

3.2 Nintendo

3.2.1 Company Profile

3.2.2 Product Profile: Game Boy Advance SP

3.2.3 Product Profile: Game Boy Micro

3.2.4 Product Profile: DS/DS Lite

3.2.5 Marketing and Sales Strategies

3.2.6 Accessories, Updates and Add-Ons

3.2.7 Strengths

3.2.7.1 DS/DS Lite

3.2.7.2 Game Boy Advance Line

3.2.8 Weaknesses

3.2.8.1 DS/DS Lite

3.2.8.2 Game Boy Advance Line

4.0 Forecasts

4.1 Key Forecast Assumptions

4.1.1 Hardware Release Assumptions

4.1.2 Technological Enhancements for Next Generation PGCs

4.1.2.1 6th Generation (2007-2008)

4.1.2.2 7th Generation (2011-2012)

4.1.3 Device Release Schedules

4.1.3.1 Nintendo Device Releases

4.1.3.2 Sony Device Releases

4.1.3.3 Microsoft Enters the Market

4.1.4 Impact of Dynamic Variables

4.2 Average Sales Prices of PGCs for Forecast Period

4.3 Unit Sales Forecasts

4.3.1 Discerning Regional Variations in Sale Forecasting

4.3.2 PGC Unit Sales - Asia

4.3.2.1 Japan

4.3.2.2 The China Factor

4.3.2.3 Annual Unit Sales - Asia

4.3.3 PGC Units Sales - North America

4.3.4 PGC Unit Sales - Europe

4.3.5 Global PGC Unit Sales

4.4 Revenue Forecasts

4.4.1 PGC Revenue - Asia

4.4.2 PGC Revenue - North America

4.4.3 PGC Revenue - Europe

4.4.4 Global PGC Revenue

4.4.5 Market Share Forecasts

List of Figures

Figure 1 Examples of Portable Gaming Consoles and Their Counterparts

Figure 2 Mobile & Portable Device Schema - Convergence Zones

Figure 3 Application Priority among Multifunction Phones

Figure 4 Electronic Gaming Timeline

Figure 5 Console and PGC Sales Since 2000 by Generation

Figure 6 US Console Hardware vs. Software Revenue Trends: 2000 - 2005

Figure 7 US PGC Hardware vs. Software Sales Trends: 2001 - 2006

Figure 8 US Gaming Sales Trends - Summary (2001 - 2005)

Figure 9 Multifunction PGC Market Share by Company (2004 - 2005)

Figure 10 Total PGC Market Share by Company Since 2001

Figure 11 Amp’d Phones by Kyocera

Figure 12 iRiver’s Portable Media Center

Figure 13 Company Overview: Sony Corporation

Figure 14 Product Profile: Sony PlayStation Portable

Figure 15 Product Image: PSP

Figure 16 PSP Firmware Upgrades (through May 2005)

Figure 17 Notable PSP Accessories - Present and Future

Figure 18 Company Profile: Nintendo

Figure 19 Product Profile: Game Boy Advance SP

Figure 20 Product Image: Game Boy Advance SP

Figure 21 Product Profile: Game Boy Micro

Figure 22 Product Image: Game Boy Advance Micro

Figure 23 Product Profile: Nintendo DS/DS Lite

Figure 24 Product Images: Nintendo DS Lite

Figure 25 Notable Nintendo DS Accessories

Figure 26 Forecast PGC and Home Console Releases: 2006 - 2011

Figure 27 Worldwide Average Sales Price: 2004 - 2010

Figure 28 Regional Sales Percentages of Newest PGCs - 2005

Figure 29 Annual PGC Unit Sales - Asia

Figure 30 Cumulative PGC Unit Sales - Asia

Figure 31 Annual PGC Unit Sales - North America

Figure 32 Cumulative PGC Unit Sales - North America

Figure 33 Annual PGC Unit Sales - Europe

Figure 34 Cumulative PGC Unit Sales - Europe

Figure 35 Annual PGC Unit Sales - Worldwide

Figure 36 Cumulative PGC Unit Sales - Worldwide

Figure 37 Annual PGC Revenue - Asia

Figure 38 Cumulative PGC Revenue - Asia

Figure 39 Annual PGC Revenue - North America

Figure 40 Cumulative PGC Revenue - North America

Figure 41 Annual PGC Revenue - Europe

Figure 42 Cumulative PGC Revenue - Europe

Figure 43 Annual PGC Revenue - Worldwide

Figure 44 Cumulative PGC Revenue - Worldwide

Figure 45 Annual PGC Market Share by Vendor Unit Shipments - 2006-2010