Handheld fan sites: Why are they so scarce?

[Jeckidy]

I've noticed that websites dedicated to handhelds like DS, Gameboy, Game Gear, etc. are rare. You'll always see a website dedicated to classic and modern home consoles but the handheld communities seem to be sporadic. What's up with this?

[FuturePrimitive]

On handhelds, typically their hardware is based off of currently or previously available consoles, computers, Android platforms, etc. That might be part of the reason why handheld fan sites are harder to find.

[DarkDragon]

http://toucharcade.com/ is pretty good.

[Assman]

On handhelds, typically their hardware is based off of currently or previously available consoles, computers, Android platforms, etc. That might be part of the reason why handheld fan sites are harder to find.

Good point. Like with the Game Gear, who cares? It's a Master System with a larger master palette and a smaller screen, and the exclusives don't really justify it enough. Usually when you hear about the Game Gear now, it's from someone who wants to consolize it or play the games on an SMS/Genesis.

I think it goes a bit deeper than that, though. It's hard to say what it is exactly. I know for me personally, I lost interest in playing on handhelds years ago. I just don't really want to experience a game on a device with an obtuse grip, tiny screen and limited battery life. When it comes to modern handhelds, that shit isn't even on my radar.

[midnightrider]

If anything picked up a more casual fanbase, it would have been handhelds.

[Doppelgamer]

Most of the writers and web page designers who wanted to, went blind beforehand due to the small screens?

[NeoZeedeater]

Good point. Like with the Game Gear, who cares? It's a Master System with a larger master palette and a smaller screen, and the exclusives don't really justify it enough. Usually when you hear about the Game Gear now, it's from someone who wants to consolize it or play the games on an SMS/Genesis.

It's sad how little respect the Game Gear gets. The SMS takes some wind out of it but it still had exclusives like Shinobi 1 and 2, GG Aleste 1 and 2, Fantasy Zone Gear, Zenki, Return of the Jedi, Crystal Warriors, The Berlin Wall, Ninja Gaiden, Super Columns, Triple Trouble, Yaiba, Coca Cola Kid, etc.

Some of the games it shares with the SMS have notable differences (Dragon Crystal, Psychic World, Alien Syndrome, Wonder Boy III).

And there are some that are different enough from 16-bit versions to be worth playing (Devilish, Sokoban, Shining Force: Hajya, Galaga '91, Fatal Fury, Dropzone).

[Jeckidy]

It's sad how little respect the Game Gear gets. The SMS takes some wind out of it but it still had exclusives like Shinobi 1 and 2, GG Aleste 1 and 2, Fantasy Zone Gear, Zenki, Return of the Jedi, Crystal Warriors, The Berlin Wall, Ninja Gaiden, Super Columns, Triple Trouble, Yaiba, Coca Cola Kid, etc.

Some of the games it shares with the SMS have notable differences (Dragon Crystal, Psychic World, Alien Syndrome, Wonder Boy III).

And there are some that are different enough from 16-bit versions to be worth playing (Devilish, Sokoban, Shining Force: Hajya, Galaga '91, Fatal Fury, Dropzone).

I totally agree with you! Psychic World for instance, is like a totally different game on GG! And even the worst game on GG is not as bad as the worst on Game Boy, so definately quality over quantity! I'm already an SMS fan, so I obviously like the GG as well.

[cheaterdragon1]

Finding good fansites in general is hard these days for most consoles. Sega-16 has to be the best one I've ever seen and it was the biggest inspiration for me when creating my N64 site.

[KitsuneNight]

you would think that the psp would garner its fair share of fan sites
its a great machine with a huge library thats more then just ports

[DarkDragon]

I just noticed Magic knight Rayearth for Game Gear (import) is only 20 bucks brand new. Wow, thats F'n cheap. Must have to do with the handheld market not being as popular as the console market.

[Conan]

i loved Final Fantasy Adventure, i loved all the exclusives on the monochrome gameboy. Even some ports are entirely new games, Ninja Gaiden , Castlevanias, Contra.


The Zelda game when it wasnt in color, man late night with a flashlight under my sheets hiding from the parents playing games when i was supposed to be sleeping.

[Guntz]

I wish there were more sites like Sega-16. Not many actually have an archive of articles and a solid forum backing it. Micro-64 will one day be a similar beacon of N64. I don't think the N64 has quite matured just yet. There was a big jump in demand for cardboard and paper, but those people don't play games.

[Txai]

Racketboy has really well-written articles for handhelds: http://www.racketboy.com/guide/retro-gaming-101

Also, this guy was doing a top 100 Game Boy games with lots of detailed info for each game. Alas, he stopped mid-way: http://satoshimatrix.wordpress.com/2...-games-100-91/