With all the whiz, bang, pop and shining shimmer that come with 10,000 apps and nearly 2500 games at the App Store, the iPhone has emerged as a serious player in the world gaming. So much so that it has started drawing comparisons with specialized and established handheld gaming devices.

It is true that the App Store has been flooded with free and low-priced games and their popularity and sheer number have already posed some serious challenges for the Sony PSP and the Nintendo. But does that really mean the iPhone is already a serious challenger for these established empires in the gaming world?

Let’s us look at some “hard” facts first.

The Sony PSP, like the iPhone, is a gamer’s haven. It is a device with pretty robust multi-media capabilities, optical disc format and Internet connectivity among many others nifty advantages like the WiFi and even wireless telephony.

The candybar model weighs 280 grams (9.88 ounces). It has a 11 cm LCD screen that is capable of 480×272 pixels video playback with 16.7 million colors.  And on either side of this rectangular console you have the array of buttons, directional controls and analog nub.

Note: If you want to have full fledged article on the Sony PSP, visit the feature on the device, where else but Wikipedia.

Compared to that, the iPhone has a much simpler hardware. With only the central home button and the super-sensitive touch screen, the iPhone looks sleek, weighs less and gets easily snugged into the back of your jeans. Only, its screenspace is lesser.

Still, the number of games is about  compared to the games available for Sony PSP and Nintendo. (FPL)
What could be the reason that this new arrogant entry with a smaller screen space and lesser support for multimedia is invading into the Nintendo, Sony realm of video game? They could be the following:

1.  Variety: Software, hardware and other technicalities aside, the kind of games played on the PSP has an essentially different nature than that on the iPhone. The Sony PSP is essentially a device tailor made for arcade classics.  For instance, titles like 2006 FIFA World Cup, 300: March to Glory, 50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit Edition pop up when you think of typical PlayStation Portable games.

Note:Check for an extensive list of PSP portable games here.

The iPhone on the other hand have a richer diversity. You have many iPhone versions of the arcade classics that are available for other devices. For instance, you can play an arcade classic like PacMan on both Sony PSP and the iPhone. But have you ever thought of playing Crossword Puzzle, Sudoku, Vocadocu or Hangman on the Sony PSP?

2.    Touch screen, accelerometer, and the joy of tangibility: With the options to tilt the device, touch the screen and pinch through the screenspace the iPhone opens up a brave new world in handheld gaming that is growing steadily beside the established arcade empire at the App Store.

Games like Bubble Rap came into the being just after the iPhone platform was created. (And of course the App Store.) Games like Rescue Angels where you touch to adjust the elevation and angle of an arrow to shoot is another breed. And then you have the tailor-made for iPhone  games like iBowl, iBaseball and Flick Fish. These games highlight the nifty-ness of the iPhone hardware like nothing else. Also games like Jelly Car or Trace are pretty much tailormade for the iPhone.

In a nutshell –if you are going to drag, drop, touch or trace –the iPhone is your device.

3.    Price: The average price of an iPhone game is $0.99 to $9.99. For Sony and Nintendo, that range shoots up to $10-$40.

4.    The App Store: Buying a PSP game can sometimes be a bit hazardous.  (The process). Compared to that, the App Store’s super-smooth 1-click digital deals are a buyer’s ultimate dream.

Purely from a gaming point of view the iPhone scores, in terms of bringing in more physical engagement with the game –Touch, tilt, pinch, flick, swish and all. Also it’s much more handy and easy to easy. Plus, if you do want a console experience you have innovative accessories to get that from the iPhone itself
I know people will disagree with me (citing the larger screen space and the ability to connect the PSP with even larger screens) but I have had this experience. I was an avid Play Stationer before. And initially I had serious problems adjusting to the iPhone’s touch screen and device tilting modes of playing. However, things have changed and now I do find myself using the iPhone more. Plus, it’s also much easier, sleeker and stylish to carry the iPhone around than the PSP.

Gonzague de Vallois, Senior vice-president of publishing at Gameloft tells Technewsworld:

Throughout the next year, we anticipate seeing titles with more in-depth gameplay, in addition to licensed games that have been traditionally available for console…As more games become available on the App Store, the iPhone will be a strong competitor with its multi-purpose functionality and entertainment capabilities.

I would even argue that the iPhone will be changing the domain of handheld gaming itself. We will soon a see a mass exodus (from both users and developers) from the console world to the i-world.

Do you agree? Do you disagree? Tell us about your experience.