Square Enix’s chief executive Yoichi Wada told the Financial Times that handheld gaming is where it’s at. While the Playstation 3 and XBox 360 have superior specs, the requirements of these newer generation consoles are too burdensome for wide market penetration. “There are too many specs – and you also need a high-definition TV, a broadband connection and a deep knowledge of gaming – these consoles are mismatched to today’s environment. In a year or two years they will fare better.”

In other words, until the 2010s, expect a lot of emphasis to be placed on Square Enix’s PSP and DS development. Nintendo’s portable has sold over 35 million units globally, and Sony is shooting for 11 million PSPs shipped this year, bolstered no doubt by the slimmer PSP design which Kotaku’s sources say will be announced at E3.

Another advantage of the DS market is that there is a greater potential for reaching “non-gamers” with idiosyncratic titles like Squenix’s upcoming DS Style series including Flower Arranging DS, Yoga DS, and virtual tour guides. “There is a new breed of gamers in the market,” says Yoichi Wada. “We have to make games for all kinds of people… In the old days, we could just focus on the PlayStation or the GameBoy, but the environment has changed completely.”

Hence Dragon Quest IX for DS. From The Financial Times.

Popularity: 1% [?]