Handheld Games Shipments Reloading

Shipping goods may not be a game but the growing business of handheld games should provide strong expansion in shipments this year, according to a new forecast.

The iSuppli electronics industry research firm said Wednesday shipments of handheld video game systems should grow 4.9 percent in 2009 and at an even faster rate in the next few years as game-makers look to keep their products fresh.

The iSuppli forecast is for 5.2 percent average annual growth from 2009 to 2013, pushing the industry from 49.4 million units in 2008 to 63.5 million units by the end of the forecast period. Revenue will grow even faster, rising at an annual average rate of 6.4 percent to $8.1 billion.

The firm said the growth could accelerate if Sony and Nintendo, the dominant players in the field, roll out new platforms earlier than 2011.

Lightweight but pricey, the handheld games typically are shipped in bulk from Asia and then distributed by truck to electronics stores such as Best Buy and smaller game stores.