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Ask a typical gamer to name the 3 handhelds that’s currently on the market and chances are they’ll say the DS and PSP before going awkwardly silent then looking at you like you’re a fool. To be fair its not its not entirely their fault, Apple themselves have done a terrible job at promoting the iPod Touch as a games platform. Now I know what you’re thinking, “The iPod Touch is a MP3 player, not a gaming device” really? I mean REALLY? Can a device that houses some of the biggest franchises in the games industry (Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Doom, The Sims, Spore, Civilisation, Mass Effect, Silent Hill, Doom, Assassins Creed, Need For Speed and soon Grand Theft Auto, just to name a few) not be considered a game system?

Let us not forget the dozens of original titles that get added to the store each and every day, highlights include 2D platformers Castle of Magic & SpyBot Chronicles, isometric shooters iDracular & Mini-Gore, Side-scrolling brawler Hero Of Sparta, the Loco-Roco inspired Rolando, rhythm game Tap Tap Revenge, arcade racer Asphalt 4 and of course the recently reviewed Gangstar: West Coast Hustle. What makes these games even more special is that they are released incredibly cheap and often go on sale within weeks, which begs the question ‘Why spend $30 on a title like Assassins Creed on the DS when you can get almost the exact same thing on the App Store for under a fiver?’

The PSP is taking a step in the right direction by adopting Apple’s mould in the form of “PSP Mini’s” and hopefully Nintendo will follow suite to breathe life in to their frankly pathetic DSi Store. Ironically though what propels the iPod Touch above the DS and PSP is the things it does outside of gaming. In addition to its gaming abilities the iTouch is also world class MP3 player, a high quality video player, it has YouTube integration, emailing capabilities, an exceptional web browser and best of all a built-in iTunes store, which allows for direct downloading of music, movies, TV shows and podcasts. The App Store also provides much more than just games, anyone who takes time out to browse the store is more than likely to find several applications (most of which are free) to assist them in their daily lives and for all you social networkers out there the store has you covered with free Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, Skype, AIM, MSN and Yahoo! Messenger apps all available to download right now.

The iPhone is slowly taking over the world but for those of you who don’t want to change you’re current network providers or simply can’t afford the iPhones hefty price tag, I wholeheartedly recommend you look into picking up an iPod Touch. And with Apple expected to announce the 3rd generation iPod Touch tomorrow, now is the perfect time to jump onboard and support gaming’s forgotten handheld.

Written By Carl Daniel

Gamertag & PSN ID: KRyPTceltrix // Email: CDaniel@TheKoalition.com

1. Kendo says:

   January 12, 2010 at 4:55 pm

   As it turns out the iPod Touch/iPhone is an excellent media system, the future is media convergence, as Microsoft has proven us with its exceptional Xbox 360 console. Apple entering the gaming market might not be so bad. I just need an iPod Touch (already have a DS Lite and PSPgo)… in order to get some games, and more media. Oh and I believe that Apple needs to get their own franchises for gaming, and the game quality on the iPod Touch platform needs to be as rich as the DS and PSP.

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