Scaler Xbox Gamespot

Scaler Xbox Gamespot

Scaler Xbox Gamespot

At last count, Nintendo held 70 percent of the handheld market with its DSi, while Sony sold a meager 11 percent with its PSP. The rest of the market was shared by smartphones like the iPhone and the Droid series.

But all that is about to be ancient history.

In perhaps the most innovative year in gaming technology since the battle of the XBox 360 and the PS3 began in 2006, the showdown between the Nintendo 3DS and the Sony NGP takes the reality of portable gaming systems to the level of sci-fi.

Who will win? Who knows, but the playing field is certain to become more level and much more interesting.