New tech does not always equal gimme gimme -- according to several prominent analysts, Panasonic is set to engage in quite the uphill battle with its new handheld, The Jungle. Both Bill Pidgeon of M2 Research and David Cole of DFC Intelligence told IndustryGamers they believe the unit is "a non-starter."
Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets said it looks like "an uphill challenge to launch a new portable gaming device unless there is some meaningful differentiation or access to proprietary content," while EEDAR's Jesse Divnich offered that its success hinges on third-party support, saying that, "with any hardware platform regardless of its quality, the absence of strong third-party support will most certainly end in failure." All valid points, but should these guys be giving the device the benefit of the doubt?
As it stands right now, we don't know much about the system other than what it aims to do: give MMO players a dedicated piece of hardware so they can take their games on the go. Given how popular MMOs are (and, in turn, how much of the cash money they generate), from a business standpoint it would seem win-win; nobody else is offering something to MMO players who may want a bit of portability. But, on the other hand, the problem is -- at least according to these analysts -- that the handheld doesn't particularly fill a void that can't be filled by a netbook or laptop.
Reader Comments (34)
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:14AM PhilipJWitow said
Hmm, perhaps a more interesting question would be whether it can outsell the PSP Go. :o
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:14AM Kaminaaa said
If this can be REALLY good at playing MMOs like WoW then I can see a market for this. But aside from that...
Why buy this over a 3DS? o_O
Why buy this over a 3DS? o_O
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 9:14AM Negatron said
@Kaminaaa Not at an attack, but im just saying, this thing might be able to play an MMO (WoW) but the question is, do you want to? lol
Mouse Keyboard fit so well for a reason i think. My former roommate plays WoW on a laptop using the stylus pad, no mouse. My blood pressure raises when i see this. He's a literal noob with 4 years of playtime exp under his belt..
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Mouse Keyboard fit so well for a reason i think. My former roommate plays WoW on a laptop using the stylus pad, no mouse. My blood pressure raises when i see this. He's a literal noob with 4 years of playtime exp under his belt..
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:22AM Ballistic H said
Their last gaming system was the 3DO...
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:32AM BFBeast666 said
@Ballistic H Not entirely true, the 3DO was only produced in license, much like the MSX computers' specs were implemented by a couple of different firms like Sony or Philips. Panasonic (and later Goldstar) were the only firms that Trip Hawkins managed to license his system to.
But anyways, I don't know if Gamespot made this up, but from one of their last "on the spot" newsflashes (the one for Oct. 5) I got the impression that this thing only plays browser-based MMOs, which would downgrade this tech to a glorified portable web browser. And to have THAT, I'd only need to fire up my netbook.
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But anyways, I don't know if Gamespot made this up, but from one of their last "on the spot" newsflashes (the one for Oct. 5) I got the impression that this thing only plays browser-based MMOs, which would downgrade this tech to a glorified portable web browser. And to have THAT, I'd only need to fire up my netbook.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:26AM Pure Black World Tendency said
Joystiq, why do you fail to mention that there is also a pez dispenser and port-a-potty on this device?
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:29AM KazamaSogetsu said
Main issue with portable gaming and MMOs: you can't pause a MMO.
"brb guys, gotta get off the tram"
I see a very, very narrow niche for them to fill with that thing, specially considering that any average laptop can run WoW, for example.
"brb guys, gotta get off the tram"
I see a very, very narrow niche for them to fill with that thing, specially considering that any average laptop can run WoW, for example.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:32AM koehler83 said
Can it play Final Fantasy XIV?
Nah.. didn't think so.
Nah.. didn't think so.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:38AM dcy123 said
i would like to see Everquest online adventures for this i know its a ps2 game but i had no problems with a controller and a keyboard combo, now a game like wow i don't see this working at all.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:44AM DeeZeee said
Weight in? It's going to fail, bottom-line, end of story...
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:52AM Unvrfd said
Oh wow, tell us something we don't know.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 8:53AM LowKeyyyy said
MMO on the go for hardcore MMO players?
do they even know that MMO players rarely go outside?
do they even know that MMO players rarely go outside?
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 9:05AM Icupnimpn2 said
@EEDAR's Jesse Divnich
Have you never heard of Nintendo, Mr. Analyst?
Have you never heard of Nintendo, Mr. Analyst?
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 9:07AM Negatron said
They mention MMO's on the go...To what extent? There are so many addons used ( for WoW etc) much less control needs for any MMO player. Whether they be a casual or hardcore player. Ranging from social emotes to on the fly commands for communicating or what have you.
Nice pitch, stupid idea. I guess the same 200 people that raced out to buy items like the NGage by Nokia will go and pick this up until factories close after 2 months. bwahaha
Nice pitch, stupid idea. I guess the same 200 people that raced out to buy items like the NGage by Nokia will go and pick this up until factories close after 2 months. bwahaha
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 9:48AM DangerMouse001 said
So, uhh, where do i put the waffle batter?
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 2:53PM jumpshot said
@DangerMouse001 I just want to know how to clean the grease trap. http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060426205143/uncyclopedia/images/8/89/Griller.jpg
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Posted: Oct 6th 2010 9:53AM zigie said
a few things to consider things!
Don't lie to me... gimmy spec!
The real mmo junky won't even look at this. All of them want to step away from society's circle not find things that could bring it (the circle) closer...
If it costs less then 500, odds are they would rather by one of those internet cheap laptops then take the chance of jungle fever not working...
Used to be a mmo junky *scratches arm* and it's the 3rd support & spec that will sell this... nothing else... like making an app that syncs all your layout from your mmo games to this thing... THAT is something... usually took me an hour to setup my layout on an other computer.
Don't lie to me... gimmy spec!
The real mmo junky won't even look at this. All of them want to step away from society's circle not find things that could bring it (the circle) closer...
If it costs less then 500, odds are they would rather by one of those internet cheap laptops then take the chance of jungle fever not working...
Used to be a mmo junky *scratches arm* and it's the 3rd support & spec that will sell this... nothing else... like making an app that syncs all your layout from your mmo games to this thing... THAT is something... usually took me an hour to setup my layout on an other computer.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 9:56AM Bluebreaker said
Any Linux based MMO's??
If it could play FF14 or WoW then I'd might bite since my own gear can't play FF14 as of yet.
If it could play FF14 or WoW then I'd might bite since my own gear can't play FF14 as of yet.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 10:27AM Misfit Toy said
@Bluebreaker
Agreed. Who thought this was a good idea? Seriously?!? Of the three main operating systems out there (Windows, MAC OS, and Linux), Linux is way at the bottom.
Not much support. So...so stupid. I get that Linux can be more stable and take up less resources, but its irrelevant when your whole platform is based off of MMO gaming compatibility.
This is a /facepalm combined with a /headshake
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Agreed. Who thought this was a good idea? Seriously?!? Of the three main operating systems out there (Windows, MAC OS, and Linux), Linux is way at the bottom.
Not much support. So...so stupid. I get that Linux can be more stable and take up less resources, but its irrelevant when your whole platform is based off of MMO gaming compatibility.
This is a /facepalm combined with a /headshake
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 10:15AM Nickel said
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!
I saw this picture several times yesterday while surfing Joystiq and Engadget and I thought it was a retro-gaming piece and didn't bother even reading the title.
This thing is HUGE!
I saw this picture several times yesterday while surfing Joystiq and Engadget and I thought it was a retro-gaming piece and didn't bother even reading the title.
This thing is HUGE!
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 10:23AM Misfit Toy said
Can't Panasonic make a gaming machine that isn't ugly???
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 10:33AM Arikado said
Open source it. Make an app store. Give it really impressive hardware for less than a $150 price tag. Then maybe, just maybe, it has a chance in today's market.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 11:22AM reebo said
It's quite obvious from the way it looks alone that many people wouldn't give it a second look.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 12:20PM The Joy of Painting w Bob Ross said
Spoiler Alert: It's gonna flop.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 12:38PM tchuks said
This is gonna fail harder than the DVD Rewinder.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 12:38PM JL Rival said
Wow, the Atari "Jaguar" will finally have a Panasonic "Jungle" to frolic through with the rest of the defunct gaming hardwares. You can also say it will be quite... the N-Gageing sight . ;D
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 2:48PM Teh Rei said
Sounds like history does repeat itself.
3DO failed, and this is predicted to fail.
Although it does look pretty good.
3DO failed, and this is predicted to fail.
Although it does look pretty good.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 3:13PM RyogaVee said
@ctg867 Um, If i remember correctly, N64 pretty much was dead halfway into its life cycle.
Posted: Oct 6th 2010 3:37PM mxwp said
Analysts are spot on with this, even though it makes common sense to us consumers. Why would a MMO junkie get this over a laptop?
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