Is a PDA a video game system?

[Porkchop]

After reading, in this forum, about using PDAs to keep video game list for hunting in the wild, I bought a Palm Zire 72 off ebay and have been loading Excel game list like mad. With the PDA I got 3 SD cards with games on them. These SD card come with lables just like a game for the N64 or any other cart based system. They are just much much smaller.

I got to thinking about this and wondered if it takes a cart and plays games does that make it a video game system?

You could say no it does not because it was designed to do things other than play games, but if you use that logic then the PSP is not a video game system because it was designed to play movies.

What do you think?

[AFGiant]

I'm pretty sure IGN lists it as a system...

[Blanka789]

I don't consider it a dedicated gaming system, but emulation and some games are available. It's a nice thing to have regardless, but I wouldn't really call it a game system.

[CrimsonNugget]

It's better classified as a computer system. It wasn't really designed with gaming in mind.

[Slimedog]

The C64 plays carts and I wouldn't call that a gaming system either. There is a definite line between gaming system with extra features and computer that happens to play games.

[davepesc]

I would say it is a gaming system in the same way a cell phone is a gaming system. They both can be used to play games, but that's not their primary function.

Now with consoles adding non-gameplaying features and the Swiss-Army PSP, that line is getting a bit fuzzy.

[Joker T]

I would say yes,

Simply because the make games specifically for it. I would also say this because I consider my PC to be a gaming system.

[Trebuken]

I think it has to be considered a 'gaming system', it's of course not a console. I think the question is whether or not it should be considered a handheld system. With gizmo's like the Zodiac, GP32, Gizmondo, and with the PSP and DS increased functionality I think the line has been blurred.

Personally I think it qualifies as a handheld, in the same sense that a C-64, or Atari 800 would be a console.

Trebuken

[cyberfluxor]

I'd have to go with saying it's not a video game machine. It's similar to a miniature personal computer. You can download games on it and emulate, but you can't just go out and buy a game cartridge or cd that loads up like a game; They require installations.

[Flack]

I would say no (even though I love mine!). I would define a video game system and something that was primarily designed to play video games.

By that definition the PSP is a gaming system, as it was primarily designed to play games, and watching movies secondary.

I wouldn't say a Palm Pilot was primarily designed to play games. It's primarily an organizer, unlike say the GP32, which plays games first and does other things secondarily.

It is true that the line is getting fuzzy. BTW, I have a perfect version of Ms. Pac-Man for my Zire 72, as well as a couple of good Poker games and a great bowling game. There's a lot of good stuff out there available for it!